April 08, 2020
Vermont senator and Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders announced Wednesday that he has dropped out the 2020 primary race, leaving former vice president Joe Biden as the presumptive Democratic nominee.
The decision comes after a series of overwhelming primary defeats, in which Sanders struggled to repeat the success his progressive platform had against Hillary Clinton in 2016.
The coronavirus pandemic significantly hampered the efforts of Sanders' grassroots base during the past month. Without rallies and events — no longer possible during the crisis — Sanders' trailing campaign was all but reduced to livestream and television appearances.
Sanders conceded Wednesday that there was no viable path remaining for him to secure the Democratic nomination.
Today I am suspending my campaign. But while the campaign ends, the struggle for justice continues on. https://t.co/MYc7kt2b16
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) April 8, 2020
During the COVID-19 crisis, Sanders has become even more strident about his Medicare for All platform and the need to provide financial security for millions of Americans who have been left without jobs in the past month. He vowed to remain an active voice in U.S. politics in the months ahead as the country confronts the pandemic.
"Together we have transformed American consciousness as to what kind of nation we can become," Sanders said Wednesday.
With Sanders' departure from the Democratic field, modern progressives have lost ground to the moderate coalition backing Biden from the traditional bases of the party.
"While we are winning the ideological battle and winning the battle among young people across the country, I have concluded that the battle for the Democratic nomination will not be successful," Sanders said.
Biden's path to challenging President Donald Trump in November now appears to be solidified.
An average of recent national polls monitored by Real Clear Politics shows Biden currently has an edge of 49.8% over 43.7% for President Trump. A CNN poll published Wednesday indicates a slim majority of Americans now disapprove of the president's response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite dropping out on Wednesday, Sanders urged his supporters to continue their work to assemble delegates who can exert progressive influence during the Democratic convention, which is scheduled to take place in Milwaukee from July 13-16.
