• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 

2

Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq just finished his fourth degree. He warns graduates: 'Your character will take you further than your resume'

3

Meet a 21-year-old community college student who's going to China as the first American woman welder in the trades Olympics

1

Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 

2

Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq just finished his fourth degree. He warns graduates: 'Your character will take you further than your resume'

3

Meet a 21-year-old community college student who's going to China as the first American woman welder in the trades Olympics
Leadership

Bernie Sanders’ Next Act? Infiltrating the Democratic Party

By
Dan Friedman
Dan Friedman
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Dan Friedman
Dan Friedman
Down Arrow Button Icon
June 14, 2016, 11:07 PM ET
Democratic Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders Speaks To The Media At His D.C. Campaign Headquarters
Mark Wilson—Getty Images

What’s next for Bernie Sanders? The Democratic Party will eat him.

Well, not really. But the party has already begun to gobble up Sanders’ supporters, message, and energy. And the Vermont Senator wants it to.

Sure, Sanders on Tuesday vowed to keep pushing his populist economic message through the Democratic National Convention next month, demanded concessions from his party, and lectured fellow Senate Democrats about how to appeal to his supporters. But he took those steps to get Democrats to appropriate his views. He has made it clear that he views Democrats’ desire for him to unite behind Hillary Clinton and release his convention delegates as leverage to force concessions.

Sanders reached the end of the Democratic primary fight on Tuesday when Hillary Clinton drubbed him in Washington D.C.’s primary fight, putting a cherry on top of her wins last Tuesday in California, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota.

But Sanders made demands, not concessions, on Tuesday. “The time is long overdue for a fundamental transformation of the Democratic Party,” he said at a news conference on Tuesday morning near Capitol Hill.

Sanders urged for the replacement of Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who he said is not focused on expanding the party. He demanded the elimination of superdelegates and “the most progressive platform ever passed by the Democratic Party,” at the convention.

Sanders met on Tuesday night with Clinton in Washington for more than two hours. His goal was reportedly to win Clinton’s pledge to take up his call for a a $15-an-hour federal minimum wage, infrastructure spending designed to create jobs, and tuition-free public colleges and universities.

“The American people are hurting, and they are hurting badly,” Sanders said earlier on Tuesday. “They want real change, not the same old, same old.”

Sanders met on Tuesday with Democratic senators at their weekly luncheon. Other senators said Sanders got a warm welcome and gave a lengthy speech urging colleagues to do more to show they understand Americans’ economic concerns.

“He really challenged us and said the question is whether or not the Democratic Party is going to be responsive to those issues.” Senator Dick Durbin, the second-ranking Senate Democrat, said.

Durbin called Sanders’ message “a long one,” but “a “good one. Even if some are privately irked at Sanders’ presumption, other Democrats, including Clinton, are likewise striving to pull him into the fold.

They want to put his juggernaut of a fundraising network, which has netted record amounts from small donors, to work, and they want his young supporters to get behind Clinton and the party’s congressional candidates.

In the end, though, Sanders and Democrats may look like they are fighting, but they are mostly negotiating. Their mutual interests are too great to prevent a rapid reconciliation. To advance his policy goals in the coming years, Sanders will need the support of fellow Democrats, who, according to recent polls, are in good shape to win the White House and Senate majority.

Clinton, who has already offered partial support for a $15 minimum wage and sided with Sanders by opposing a free trade deal with Asian nations, is likely to emphasize those areas of agreement to win Sanders over. Clinton is also working to try to appeal to Sanders’ backers by publicly considering progressive favorite Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts senator, as a running mate.

Montana Sen. John Tester, who heads the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, told reporters that Sanders will campaign for Senate Democratic candidates at Tester’s request.

Sanders has already noted the importance of defeating Donald Trump in the general election, signaling he will fall in line with Clinton sooner or later. Durbin said on Tuesday that while Sanders did not use his remarks to Senate Democrats to proclaim his allegiance to Hillary Clinton, his decision to challenge his colleagues to change showed that he has long served as part of the team, not as an adversary.

“For those of us who have listened to Bernie’s speeches for a lot longer than this last campaign,” Durbin said, “it was totally consistent with what he has told us over and over again.”

About the Author
By Dan Friedman
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Leadership

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Leadership

elon
SuccessIPOs
SpaceX IPO targets $28.5 trillion total addressable market, mission to ‘make life multiplanetary’ and understand ‘true nature of the universe’
By Nick LichtenbergMay 20, 2026
9 hours ago
Elon Musk sits with his fists together, looking up.
Commentaryspace
SpaceX will be worth trillions, but the space station that made it possible is worth even more — if we don’t squander it
By Tejpaul BhatiaMay 20, 2026
10 hours ago
Clinical Psychologist Daniel Wendler
ConferencesWorkplace Innovation Summit
A ‘proudly autistic’ workplace expert says putting neurodivergent employees in a typical office is like dropping a polar bear in Austin, Texas
By Tristan BoveMay 20, 2026
11 hours ago
Pay transparency is exposing a bigger problem: Most companies can’t explain why they pay what they pay
Workplace CultureWorkplace Innovation Summit
Pay transparency is exposing a bigger problem: Most companies can’t explain why they pay what they pay
By Sydney LakeMay 20, 2026
11 hours ago
Professor Jeff DeGraff.
SuccessWorkplace Innovation Summit
‘We’ve given them the short end of the stick’: Business school dean says AI could eliminate many jobs for young people—even as they lead innovation
By Preston ForeMay 20, 2026
12 hours ago
A dating expert says ghosting and quiet quitting are the same problem at their core, and corporate life has more to learn from romance than it admits
Workplace CultureWorkplace Innovation Summit
A dating expert says ghosting and quiet quitting are the same problem at their core, and corporate life has more to learn from romance than it admits
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezMay 20, 2026
12 hours ago

Most Popular

Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 
Workplace Culture
Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 
By Preston ForeMay 19, 2026
1 day ago
Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq just finished his fourth degree. He warns graduates: 'Your character will take you further than your resume'
Success
Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq just finished his fourth degree. He warns graduates: 'Your character will take you further than your resume'
By Preston ForeMay 20, 2026
16 hours ago
Meet a 21-year-old community college student who's going to China as the first American woman welder in the trades Olympics
Future of Work
Meet a 21-year-old community college student who's going to China as the first American woman welder in the trades Olympics
By Mike Householder and The Associated PressMay 17, 2026
4 days ago
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
Politics
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
By Jake AngeloMay 12, 2026
8 days ago
Dr. Bernice King on why companies that walked back DEI were never truly committed: 'If you retreat that quick…that reveals who you really are'
Workplace Culture
Dr. Bernice King on why companies that walked back DEI were never truly committed: 'If you retreat that quick…that reveals who you really are'
By Preston ForeMay 19, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of May 20, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of May 20, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 20, 2026
17 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.