Democratic hopeful Bernie Sanders said he'd rather be on the campaign trail than stuck in Washington D.C. for Donald Trump's impeachment trial that could stretch on for weeks.

The Vermont senator said Thursday he was worried about losing valuable time in his campaign as the Senate gathered for a ceremonial session to mark the start of the president's impeachment trial.

The proceedings, led by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, will last up to six days a week for an unknown period of time and could cut into upcoming caucuses and primaries.

'I would rather be in Iowa today. There’s a caucus there in two and a half weeks. I’d rather be in New Hampshire, and Nevada, and so forth. But I swore a constitutional oath as a United States senator to do my job, and I’m here to do my job,' Sanders said to reporters Thursday.

Bernie Sanders said Thursday he'd rather be on the campaign trail in Iowa or Nevada than on Capitol Hill for President Donald Trump's impeachment trial

The Democratic hopeful complained about the poorly-timed trial saying: 'I would rather be in Iowa today. There’s a caucus there in two and a half weeks. I’d rather be in New Hampshire, and Nevada, and so forth. But I swore a constitutional oath as a United States senator to do my job, and I’m here to do my job'

On Thursday House Democrats presented their articles of impeachment to the Senate and each senator took an oath committing to impartial justice. Bernie Sanders pictured signing that oath on Thursday

Sen. Bernie Sanders: "I would rather be in Iowa today... I would rather be in New Hampshire and in Nevada and so forth, but I swore a Constitutional oath as United States senator to do my job and I'm here to do my job." pic.twitter.com/7BJYSXvs8q — The Hill (@thehill) January 16, 2020

The 78-year-old said he believed citizens in those key states would understand that he can't be there due to his work commitments.

Tensions are running high in the 2020 Democratic primary race ahead of the Iowa caucuses on February 3, followed by the New Hampshire primary on February 11 and the Nevada Democratic caucuses on February 22.

It's not clear when the trial will end. White House aides hope it will end by the State of Union address on February 4. But top Senate Republicans anticipate it will extend past then.

Fellow presidential candidates Sens. Michael Bennet of Colorado, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts will also have to take time off the campaign trail for the trial.

While the senators will be holed up in the Senate chamber with no cellphones allowed, their opponents Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg will keep campaigning without any restrictions.

Even though Sanders couldn't be in Iowa as he wanted to, he held an impromptu press conference in the Capitol basement on Thursday where he touted his main campaign points of health care and addressing poverty.

'While we go forward with this impeachment trial, I hope the American people understand that we have not forgotten that in this country, outside of Washington, D.C., today, there are millions of people who are struggling economically, millions of people who cannot afford their prescription drugs or their health care,' he said.

'We've got to deal with this impeachment trial, but we cannot forget the very serious problems facing the American people,' he added.

Last year Sanders missed about half of the Senate's votes as he was focused on his presidential campaign.

On Thursday House Democrats presented their articles of impeachment to the Senate and each senator took an oath committing to impartial justice. Chief Justice John Roberts pictured banging the gavel to adjourn the first session of the trial of Donald Trump

In Thursday's session each senator took an oath administered by the Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to uphold impartial justice

On Thursday House Democrats presented their articles of impeachment to the senators with House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff leading a team of six impeachment managers.

In that meeting each senator took an oath administered by the Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to uphold impartial justice.

When Warren was asked how she would deal her derailed campaigning schedule, she said she's organized for supporters and family members to campaign in her place.

'That impeachment trial is going to show once again to the American people, and something we should all be talking about, is the corruption of this administration. That is what lies at heart of it. It is about Donald Trump putting Donald Trump first. Not the American people. Not the interests of the United States of America,' she said.

The campaigns are reportedly trying to make the best of the scheduling debacle by chartering planes for late night flights back to Washington and organizing town hall events hosted via phone or video chat, according to the New York Times.

Sanders will try to campaign on his social media by hosting live-stream events.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York will also be dispatched on the campaign trail for Sanders and Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts for Warren.

Sanders and Warren clashed in a heated exchange on the debate stage in Iowa on Tuesday where Warren accused him of calling her a liar on national television

Sanders and Warren sparred several times during the Tuesday debate in Des Moines, Iowa

On Tuesday Sanders and Warren clashed in a heated exchange on the debate stage in Iowa where Warren accused him of calling her a liar on national television.

In the debate Sanders denied Warren's claim that he told her in a 2018 meeting that a woman couldn't beat Trump in November's general election.

'Anybody that knows me knows that it’s incomprehensible that I would think that a woman could not be president of the United States,' Sanders said in the debate.

After the debate ended, Warren appeared furious and confronted Sanders on the stage saying, 'I think you called me a liar on national television'.

That comment was not initially aired on a microphone, but audio was released of the exchange the following day.

Sanders appeared caught off guard and asked 'What?'

'I think you just called me a liar on national TV' she repeated.

Sanders then tried to diffuse the tension by saying, 'You know, let’s not do it right now. If you want to have that discussion, we’ll have that discussion.' Warren replied saying, 'Anytime!'

On Thursday Sanders said he and Warren have not spoken since that confrontation.