ISTANBUL 

Following Democrats’ blowout defeat in last week’s US elections, independent Senator Bernie Sanders on Sunday pointed to rising frustrations among the nation’s working class, citing economic inequality and corporate greed as key factors.

“Here is the reality, the working class of this country is angry, and they have reason to be angry,” he told CNN.

The Vermont senator, who caucuses with the Democrats, issued a statement after the election, where Republicans gained control of the Senate and likely the House, and Vice President Kamala Harris lost to President-elect Donald Trump.

Sanders said: “It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working-class people would find that the working class has abandoned them.”

While recognizing President Joe Biden’s “progressive” domestic agenda, Sanders argued that the party needs to address the broader economic realities facing Americans.

“We are living in an economy where the people on top are doing phenomenally well, while 60% of our people are living paycheck to paycheck,” Sanders said, stressing the need for policies that support workers, including raising the minimum wage and expanding healthcare access.

He pointed to the success of conservative states in raising the minimum wage and highlighted the importance of the Democratic Party focusing on issues that resonate with working-class voters.

On Latino voters shifting their support toward former President Trump, Sanders suggested that the Democrats’ focus on social issues may alienate some voters and that the party should prioritize economic policies to regain their support.

Trump claimed a blowout victory against Democratic candidate Harris in the Nov. 5 polls, far surpassing the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win back the White House. ​​​​​​​