Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont remains the strongest voice on the left. He makes the most compelling argument, with the greatest conviction and has the most success communicating on issues of central importance to the broadest spectrum of voters.

Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election because he was the most compelling and dynamic candidate. Not necessarily compelling and dynamic in a good way but compelling and dynamic in the sense that he had the clearest vision and most dynamic delivery of that message. Yes it was a dark and false vision and one that is quite likely to lead to great suffering for many Americans but it did not lack an identifiable theme.

The Democratic Party went to war with Sanders in 2016 and 2020 in an effort to derail his presidential runs. Sanders as the Democratic presidential candidate was the worst thing they could imagine. Until election night 2024. Joe Biden was a good President and Kamala Harris was a good presidential candidate. However Sanders represents something more dynamic, something that frightens the Democratic establishment but inspires the voters, a vision for reform and a vision for economic justice.

The American people are angry. They see inequity and clearly feel that from an economic standpoint they are victimized by a system that is rigged against them. Donald Trump will not be a champion for working Americans, he will be a champion for wealth and governmental corruption on a scale not seen in the United States since the Great Depression. Unfortunately the people who voted for him could not see that and many may not see it until generations of their hard fought victories are undone.

What the Democratic Party needs is a vision. Professionalism and competence are not enough. They need a defining goal a clarifying purpose. Something greater than, “Donald Trump is bad.” Donald Trump is bad but that doesn’t offer working Americans s path forward, it only ends up being grievance politics. Not an inspiring rational for political action.

Bernie Sanders has been the ideological engine of the Democratic message for at least 8 years, arguably longer. But he is not allowed to be the standard bearer. Trump is both ideological engine and standard bearer for the Republicans and hence he won. It’s not likely that Bernie Sanders will at his age be able to mount another Presidential campaign, but he can do a great deal to lead the left to higher ground in this troubled moment.