Senator Bernard
Sanders, the independent from Vermont, plans to run for president as a
Democrat, becoming the only official party challenger so far to Hillary
Rodham Clinton.
According to people
familiar with the senator’s plans, he will release a statement on
Thursday and make a more formal announcement of candidacy later next
month in Vermont. That event will likely take place at City Hall in
Burlington, where he was mayor.
Mr. Sanders, who
considers himself a “Democratic Socialist,” has been traveling recently
in early nominating states like Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina
to gauge interest in his candidacy.
While considered a
long-shot for the Democratic nomination, Mr. Sanders could be another
voice drawing Mrs. Clinton to the left because of his progressive views
on trade, health care and corporate lobbying.
“Are we prepared to
take on the enormous economic and political power of the billionaire
class, or do we continue to slide into economic and political
oligarchy?” Mr. Sanders said on his website.
Mr. Sanders’ plans were first reported by VPR News, Vermont’s public radio station.
According to a Federal
Election Commission filing, Mr. Sanders has $4.63 million on hand for
his 2018 Senate re-election campaign. That money can be transferred to
his coffers for a presidential race.
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