Sanders defends endorsement of progressives after Fetterman criticism

Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAYThu, July 30, 2026 at 10:44 PM UTC

9

Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders defended his endorsements of progressive candidates in midterm races after Democratic Sen. John Fetterman said in a recent CNN interview that the 84-year-old politician was “not helping.”

During the interview with CNN’s Manu Raju on July 28, Fetterman suggested Sanders “maybe sit a few out,” referring to the senators' endorsements of progressive candidates such as Abdul El-Sayed in the Michigan Senate race.

“Maybe sit a few out, Bernie,” Fetterman said of the Vermont senator. “You’re not helping.”

In response to Fetterman’s comments, Sanders said he would not be following the Pennsylvania senator's advice.

“John — not going to take your advice,” Sanders said during a July 29 appearance on CNN. “We’re going to work as hard as we can not only to elect El-Sayed, but Peggy Flanagan in Minnesota and strong congressional candidates across the country who have the guts to start taking on big money and representing workers.”

Sanders’ endorsements

In the lead-up to November’s midterm elections and during Democratic primaries, Sanders has endorsed several progressive candidates, causing more moderate Democrats to push back against the Vermont senator.

According to CNN reporting, Sanders has endorsed more than 90 candidates, helping progressive candidates defeat House incumbents in New York City and Colorado.

Advertisement

More recently, Sanders threw his weight behind Abdul El-Sayed, who is currently running against moderate Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens.

The endorsement seems like it could pay off in next week's primary, as a poll released July 30 by Emerson College/WLNS/WOODTV showed El-Sayed leading Stevens by 15 points.

An unlikable Democrat?

Fetterman’s comments against Sanders come as the Pennsylvania senator has become a deeply unpopular figure in his home state. According to a Quinnipiac University poll released earlier in July, more than half of Pennsylvania voters said they wanted Fetterman to leave the Democratic Party.

“The Democrats would like to show him the door. The Republicans seem to be welcoming him in. Thus is the political irony of Senator John Fetterman,” Quinnipiac University polling analyst Tim Malloy said in a news release.

Quinnipiac’s poll earlier this month comes as Politico reported that the GOP is quietly trying to woo the Pennsylvania Democrat to switch parties. But Fetterman rejected those speculations in an op-ed published in The Washington Post in May.

“I’d be a terrible Republican who still votes overwhelmingly with Democrats,” he said.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sanders defends endorsement of progressives after Fetterman criticism

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Breaking”