Campaign Says Bernie Sanders Intends to Participate in Next Democrat Debate

Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) campaign said Tuesday the presidential hopeful intends to participate in the next Democrat debate in April, if in fact the Democratic National Committee (DNC) holds one at all.

Sanders’ campaign confirmed the Vermont senator will join a debate next month if the DNC schedules one. While the DNC previously indicated it would hold another debate, none is currently on the schedule for April, likely due to the growing uncertainty spurred by the Chinese coronavirus outbreak.

“Senator Sanders is still running for president,” Sanders campaign official Mike Casca said, according to the New York Times. “If there is a debate in April, he plans to be there.”

DNC spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa “declined to say whether a debate would still take place in April as planned or move later in the calendar to follow primary contests from several states that have switched from April to June.”

She has, however, said the Democratic National Convention is still slated to proceed in July.

“There are no plans to cancel the convention and we are not considering a rules change at this time,” Hinojosa said, according to Politico. “Contingency planning is a routine part of preparations for any convention.”

The news comes as several states, including Ohio, Louisiana, and Kentucky, move to postpone their elections amid the pandemic.

Joe Biden (D) holds the delegate lead, 1,214 to Sanders’ 910. A candidate needs 1,991 pledged delegates to secure the nomination on the first ballot.