Getty Sanders: Schumer, Pelosi and Ellison are the leaders of the Democratic Party

When asked who the leaders of the Democratic Party are now, Sen. Bernie Sanders offered three names: Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi and Keith Ellison. He didn't include himself, despite being promoted to a new post within the party.

Sanders, speaking at a breakfast hosted by the Christian Science Monitor on Thursday, was asked who the leaders of the Democratic Party are in light of President-elect Donald Trump defeating former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential elections. The presidential election’s outcome and Democrats’ failure to retake control of the Senate has scrambled the party’s calculus and sparked widespread questioning of who actually is leading the Democrats once Trump takes office.


Sanders, an Independent who caucuses with Democrats and a favorite among liberals who challenged Clinton in the Democratic primary, didn’t mention himself. In fact, Sanders said he planned to stay an Independent even though a day earlier he was named to a new Senate Democratic leadership role focused on outreach.

"I was elected last election as an Independent, I will finish this term as an Independent," Sanders said.

Instead he deferred to the top Democrats on Capitol Hill.

“Chuck Schumer is — I voted for Chuck,” Sanders said of the New York senator, who is slated to succeed Sen. Harry Reid as the Senate minority leader. “I think Chuck is going to do an excellent job in a very, very difficult environment and his job is to bring together the diverse points of view within the Democratic Party.”

Sanders went on to also name House Minority Leader Pelosi. That comment came as a group of House Democrats are urging Rep. Joe Crowley to challenge Pelosi to lead the caucus, despite the overwhelming support Pelosi claims among her fellow House Democrats.

“Nancy Pelosi, or whoever is reelected to that position, or whoever is elected is going to have an equally difficult job. Those are the leaders of the congressional Democratic Party,” Sanders continued.

The Vermont senator also mentioned Rep. Keith Ellison, who he’s endorsed for Democratic National Committee chair. Ellison has quickly scooped up support from top congressional leaders in his bid for chairman from both the establishment and liberal wings of the party. Sens. Schumer, Reid, Elizabeth Warren as well as Rep. Raul Grijalva are backing Ellison. Ellison is running against former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Jaime Harrison.

“We don’t know who the leader of the DNC will be. I am supporting Keith Ellison,” Sanders said.

Sanders didn’t forget about Clinton though. Since the election, Sanders said he’d been on a conference call with Clinton but didn't elaborate on that call. He said, in response to a later question about whether she should continue to play a role in the party, that the former Democratic nominee “has a very important role to play in the future of the Democratic Party.”