Bernie Sanders Drops Out of Presidential Race

LGBTQ ally Sen. Bernie Sanders has suspended his presidential campaign, leaving former Vice President Joe Biden to take on President Donald Trump in the general election.

Sanders made the announcement Wednesday (April 8) during a campaign call, according to CNN.

“I wish I could give you better news, but I think you know the truth, and that is that we are now some 300 delegates behind Vice President Biden, and the path toward victory is virtually impossible,” he said in a livestream following the call. “So, while we are winning the ideological battle and while we are winning the support of so many young people and working people throughout the country, I have concluded that this battle for the Democratic nomination will not be successful. And so today I am announcing the suspension of my campaign.”

While Sanders made a strong showing in early primary states like Nevada and New Hampshire, he had garnered only 914 delegates, while Biden had secured 1,217. According to the RealClearPolitics average of polls nationwide, Biden had the support of 58.7 percent of Democratic voters, while Sanders had 33.5 percent.

Sanders exit effectively leaves Biden to represent the Democratic party. While Sanders was a favorite among LGBTQ Super Tuesday voters, Biden has had a strong LGBTQ platform, which includes enacting the Equality Act, nominating LGBTQ federal officials and judges, and reversing the transgender military ban.

According to USA Today, Sanders congratulated Biden on being the nominee in a speech given Wednesday morning, calling him a “decent man” who he plans to work with to “move our progressive ideas forward” and “defeat Donald Trump.”

According to RealClearPolitics averages, Biden beats Trump by six points (49.8 to 43.7) in the projected national election. In Georgia, however, Trump leads by about eight points (51 versus 43.5).