After the Democrats' landslide defeat in last week's US election, independent Senator Bernie Sanders pointed to growing frustrations among the country's working class, citing economic inequality and corporate greed as key factors.
"This is the reality, the working class in this country is angry, and they have reason to be angry," Sanders told CNN.
The Vermont senator made the announcement after an election in which Republicans took control of the Senate and possibly the House of Representatives, and incumbent vice president and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris lost to Republican rival Donald Trump.
"It shouldn't be a big surprise that the Democratic Party, which has abandoned working class people, realizes that the working class has abandoned them," Sanders said.
He has previously warned that the Democratic Party must address the broader economic realities facing Americans.
"We live in an economy where the wealthy are doing phenomenally well, while 60 percent of our people are living paycheck to paycheck," Sanders said.
Finally, he emphasized the need for policies that support workers, including raising the minimum wage and expanding health care.
Trump won a landslide victory against Harris in the Nov. 5 election, far exceeding the 270 electoral votes needed to take the White House.