Sanders named to Senate leadership post

Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersJoe Biden wins New Jersey primary Biden wins Delaware primary Military madness in the age of COVID-19 MORE (I-Vt.) is joining the ranks of Senate Democratic leadership next year. 

 

Sanders was named chairman of outreach during a closed-door Senate Democratic caucus meeting Wednesday morning.

 

In the role, Sanders will be in charge of reaching out to blue-collar voters who flocked to President-elect Donald TrumpDonald John TrumpNew Jersey incumbents steamroll progressive challengers in primaries Tucker Carlson ratchets up criticism of Duckworth, calls her a 'coward' Trump on Confederate flag: 'It's freedom of speech' MORE this year. 

 

Sanders told reporters that he has a "heavy responsibility to help shape the priorities of the United States government."

 

"I'm going to do everything that I can to make sure that the budget that leaves the United States Congress is a budget that represents the needs of working families and a shrinking middle class and not billionaires," he said.

 

Sen. Debbie StabenowDeborah (Debbie) Ann StabenowACLU calls on Congress to approve COVID-19 testing for immigrants Senators press IRS chief on stimulus check pitfalls Democrats warn Biden against releasing SCOTUS list MORE (D-Mich.) said Sanders was brought into the leadership to better represent the different factions of the Democratic caucus in decision-making.

 

"We want to expand on that, and he will be reaching out to all our allies," she told reporters. "We have a tremendous amount of talent in our caucus and we want to make sure everyone is contributing."

 

Sanders, however, will not have a top-ranking position in the leadership.

 

Incoming Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerTrump may be DACA participants' best hope, but will Democrats play ball? Pompeo: US 'certainly looking at' ban on Chinese social media apps like TikTok Russian bounties revive Trump-GOP foreign policy divide MORE (D-N.Y.) installed Stabenow as chairwoman of the Democratic Policy and Communications Center (DPCC) — the job Schumer held in the 114th Congress as the third-ranking member of leadership. The DPCC chairman has traditionally been in charge of coordinating the floor and messaging strategies.

 

Sanders will keep his post as the senior minority member of the Budget Committee, which will give him a high-profile platform in the next Congress, when Republicans are expected to use the budget process to repeal ObamaCare.

 

Sanders mounted a fierce challenge to Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonSusan Collins signals she won't campaign against Biden Cuccinelli says rule forcing international students to return home will 'encourage schools to reopen' Clinton labels ICE decision on international students 'cruel' and 'unnecessary' MORE in the Democratic presidential primaries, winning more than 20 states before eventually conceding and endorsing Clinton. He frequently campaigned for her and against Trump in Midwestern swing states. 

 

Sanders is one of three new members to the Senate Democratic leadership team. Schumer has also tapped Sens. Joe ManchinJoseph (Joe) ManchinGeorge Floyd and the upcoming Texas Democratic Senate runoff Energy companies cancel Atlantic Coast Pipeline Trump nominee faces Senate hurdles to securing public lands post MORE (D-W.Va.) and Tammy BaldwinTammy Suzanne BaldwinBiden campaign adds staff in three battleground states Clinton, Buttigieg among Democrats set to hold virtual events for Biden Warren top choice for VP for some Black progressives MORE (D-Wis.) to the leadership team, which has 10 positions. 

 

Baldwin will serve as Senate Democratic Conference secretary and Manchin will serve as vice chairman of the DPCC.