Senator Bernie Sanders grew visibly agitated and abruptly ended an interview after being asked whether his progressive ally, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, should run for the Senate.
During a pre-taped segment for ABC’s This Week, host Jonathan Karl questioned the Vermont senator about Ocasio-Cortez’s future, asking, “Would you like to see her join you in the Senate?” Sanders, 83, had just praised the congresswoman for her efforts in advancing progressive causes.
The question appeared to strike a nerve, as speculation swirls over whether Ocasio-Cortez might challenge Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for his seat in 2028.
“Right now we have, as I said, just a whole lot of people in the Congress. OK, Jonathan, thanks,” Sanders responded tersely before standing up abruptly and walking off camera.
Karl attempted to continue the interview, calling after Sanders, “Wait, I got one more — I got one more. This is an important question.”
Clearly irritated, Sanders dismissed the line of questioning, saying, “No, you wanna do nonsense. Do nonsense. I don’t want to talk about inside-the-beltway stuff. I got 32,000 people [at my rallies].”
Karl pointed out that Ocasio-Cortez had been travelling with Sanders on his nationwide “Fighting the Oligarchy Tour,” which had drawn large crowds in cities such as Las Vegas, Denver, and parts of Arizona.
After some back-and-forth off camera, Sanders reluctantly returned to his seat to answer Karl’s final question—whether he would run for office again given the enthusiasm surrounding his recent rallies.
“Right now I’m very proud that the people of the state of Vermont sent me back to the Senate with 63% of the vote,” Sanders responded. “I’m Vermont’s senator. That’s what I do. And I’m very happy to do it. I am 83 years of age. And I’m tired.”
Sanders, who won reelection to his fourth Senate term last November, will not be up for reelection until 2030 when he will be 89 years old. He remains the second-oldest senator, behind Iowa’s Chuck Grassley, 91.
Throughout his political career, Sanders has championed progressive policies and helped expand the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which he co-founded when it had just five members. Today, the caucus boasts nearly 100 members.
While Sanders refused to speculate on Ocasio-Cortez’s future, he continued to praise her work, saying, “Alexandria is extraordinary. I am so impressed by her work in Congress and her — just, she inspires young people all over the country.”
