Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said in an interview with NBC News that he will encourage progressive voters to still back Democrats on the ticket in November even if moderates are victorious in the primaries.
I think he’s just being pragmatic. He endorses progressive challengers in the primaries, and then he urges his supporters to support Democrats in the general instead of splitting the liberal/leftist vote and handing the Republicans a win. He often gets blamed for losses anyway (Hillary supporters are still mad) and he’s made some bad picks (Fetterman and Platner come to mind), but the growing success of progressive and DSA candidates this year might be vindicating this as long-term strategy.
I think he’s just being pragmatic. He endorses progressive challengers in the primaries, and then he urges his supporters to support Democrats in the general instead of splitting the liberal/leftist vote and handing the Republicans a win. He often gets blamed for losses anyway (Hillary supporters are still mad) and he’s made some bad picks (Fetterman and Platner come to mind), but the growing success of progressive and DSA candidates this year might be vindicating this as long-term strategy.