Bernie Sanders says GOP has more working-class supporters than Democratic Party

The GOP became known as the party of the working people after Democrats decided to go after corporate money, Sanders said.

By Madeleine Hubbard

Published: March 5, 2023 3:53pm

Updated: March 5, 2023 4:15pm

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said the Democratic Party abandoned working-class Americans in favor of the elites.

"You say like they abandoned their cause to the beautiful people," HBO host Bill Maher told Sanders on Friday. "Who are the beautiful people?"

"Hey, Bill, you look really beautiful here tonight here in L.A.," Sanders said as Maher and the live audience of "Real Time with Bill Maher" laughed.

"The point that I was making is that when FDR was president, when Truman was President, even when JFK was president, you go out on the street, and you say to people which party represents the working class of America. Most people, I think, agree, would have said the Democratic Party. Today, you go out on the street, that is not the sentiment. In fact, the Republican Party probably has more adherents than the Democrats," he said.

The shift happened after Democrats decided to go after corporate money and "forget about the people who are working 50 or 60 hours a week," Sanders said.