Bernie Sanders Calls for ‘Fundamental Transformation of the Democratic Party’

Sen. Bernie Sanders, staying in the race at least through the Democratic primary in Washington, D.C., wants “a fundamental transformation of the Democratic Party” and sent an accompanying message from his campaign in which he appeared to renew his vows to remain in the race until the upcoming Democratic National Convention, despite Hillary Clinton being declared the party’s presidential nominee.

“The political revolution continues,” Sanders said an email message to volunteers and supporters notifying them that he will be speaking directly to grassroots supporters in a live, online video message on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. from Burlington, Vermont.

Sanders said “let me be as clear as I can be that I think the time is now. In fact, the time is long overdue for a fundamental transformation of the Democratic Party.”

Sanders also called for DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz to be removed from her post. “I do believe that we have to replace the current Democratic National Committee leadership. We need a person at the leadership of the DNC who is vigorously supporting and out working to bring people into the political process.”

He called for youth and working class citizens to become involved “the most progressive platform ever passed by the Democratic Party; a platform which makes it crystal clear that the Democratic Party is, in fact, on the side of working people,” people with low incomes and those who have no health insurance.

Sanders has stated that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump “will not be the next president.” Fox News’s Jennifer Griffin asked Sanders if his continuous refusal to endorse Clinton is helping Trump.

Let me make it very clear, if I haven’t 10,000 times previously: I think Donald Trump is totally unfit to be president of the United States. I think running a campaign based on bigotry, based on trying to separate us, based on attacking of Latinos and Mexicans and Muslims and African-Americans. It is hard for me, literally, to imagine that in the year 2016, a Republican Party would have a candidate like this.

Also on Tuesday, Sanders reportedly attended a closed-door meeting between him and his Democratic Senate colleagues. “He mentioned he has every intention of being involved in the platform process and making sure his 2,000 delegates have the opportunity to have their voices heard,” Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) said according to USA Today.

Sanders had a scheduled a meeting with Clinton on Tuesday evening to discuss the Democratic Party’s platform and whether she intends to adopt several of his progressive policies. The meeting appeared to be an attempt to avoid a contested convention for the Democrats.

Asked by a reporter if he still believes Clinton needs to win over his vote, Sanders said “I will be meeting, as you all know, with Secretary Clinton this evening and I look forward to that meeting very, very much.”

Follow Adelle Nazarian on Twitter @AdelleNaz