Sanders named to Senate leadership post

Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersObama book excerpt: 'Hard to deny my overconfidence' during early health care discussions Americans have a choice: Socialized medicine or health care freedom Ocasio-Cortez says Democrats must focus on winning White House for Biden 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 TrumpTrump admin to announce coronavirus vaccine will be covered under Medicare, Medicaid: report Election officials say they're getting suspicious emails that may be part of malicious attack on voting: report McConnell tees up Trump judicial pick following Supreme Court vote 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 StabenowDemocratic senator votes against advancing Amy Coney Barrett nomination while wearing RBG mask Healthcare, retirement security seen as top issues for older voters, lawmakers say Dems to focus on issues, not character, at Barrett hearings 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 SchumerGraham dismisses criticism from Fox Business's Lou Dobbs Lewandowski: Trump 'wants to see every Republican reelected regardless of ... if they break with the president' Democratic Senate emerges as possible hurdle for progressives  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 ClintonHouse Judiciary Republicans mockingly tweet 'Happy Birthday' to Hillary Clinton after Barrett confirmation Hillary Clinton tweets 'vote them out' after Senate GOP confirm Barrett CNN: Kayleigh McEnany praised Biden as 'man of the people' in 2015 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) ManchinDemocratic Senate emerges as possible hurdle for progressives  Susan Collins and the American legacy Democrats seem unlikely to move against Feinstein MORE (D-W.Va.) and Tammy BaldwinTammy Suzanne BaldwinInfrastructure, energy investments urgently needed to create U.S. jobs Senate Democrats call for ramped up Capitol coronavirus testing Baldwin calls for Senate hearing on CDC response to meatpacking plant coronavirus outbreak 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.