Bernie Sanders reportedly wanted Harris to be Biden's running mate, even over Elizabeth Warren


Sen. Kamala Harris' (D-Calif.) vice presidential nomination disappointed a lot of progressives. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) reportedly wasn't one of them.
After exiting the Democratic primary race and effectively conceding the presidential nomination to former Vice President Joe Biden, Sanders stayed close to Biden and helped shape some of his campaign platform. That took form both through a set of Biden-Sanders unity task forces, and in Sanders influencing Biden's vice presidential pick, Bloomberg reports.
Sanders' advocacy pushed Biden to the left on a few issues, though it didn't get Biden to embrace signature progressive policies such as the Green New Deal or Medicare-for-all. But when it comes to Biden's running mate, Sanders reportedly got his top choice: Harris. Sanders "saw the California senator as the best boost for the ticket's chances against Trump," an anonymous source close to Sanders told Bloomberg. Sanders expressed his support for the Biden-Harris ticket on Sunday, telling ABC News he predicts an "overwhelming majority of progressives" will vote for them because they "understand that it is absolutely imperative that Donald Trump be defeated."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Bloomberg report is especially surprising considering Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sanders' close friend and fellow progressive, was also strongly considered to be Biden's running mate. Harris, Warren, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and former National Security Adviser Susan Rice were reportedly Biden's final four contenders.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
The Japanese rice crisis
Under The Radar Japan's staple food is in short supply and everything from bad harvests to rising tourist numbers is being blamed
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 13, 2025
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - waiting it out, hiring freeze, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 cracking cartoons about broken nest eggs
Cartoons Artists take on plummeting value, sound advice, and more
By The Week US Published
-
White House pushes for oversight of Columbia University
Speed Read The Trump administration is considering placing the school under a consent decree
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court backs wrongly deported migrant
Speed Read The Trump administration must 'facilitate' the return of wrongfully deported migrant Kilmar Ábrego García from El Salvador, Supreme Court says
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Two judges bar war-powers deportations
Speed Read The Trump administration was blocked from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport more alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump pauses some tariffs but ramps up China tax
Speed Read The president suspended most 'reciprocal' tariffs for 90 days and raised his tariffs for China to 125%
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine nabs first Chinese troops in Russia war
Speed Read Ukraine claims to have f two Chinese men fighting for Russia
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
IRS chief resigning after ICE deal on taxpayer data
Speed Read Several IRS officials are stepping down after the tax agency is forced to share protected taxpayer records to further Trump's deportation drive
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Musk and Navarro feud as Trump's trade war escalates
Speed Read The spat between DOGE chief Elon Musk and Trump's top trade adviser Peter Navarro suggests divisions within the president's MAGA coalition
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, China up trade war risks with tariff threats
Speed Read China said it would 'fight to the end' after President Donald Trump threatened an additional 50% tariff on Chinese imports
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published