Sanders cites retiring lawmakers when asked which Republicans he could work with

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Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.) cited retiring Sens. Lamar AlexanderAndrew (Lamar) Lamar AlexanderState, city education officials press Congress for more COVID-19 funds Hillicon Valley: Senators raise concerns over government surveillance of protests | Amazon pauses police use of its facial recognition tech | FBI warns hackers are targeting mobile banking apps Republicans prepare to punt on next COVID-19 relief bill MORE (R-Tenn.) and Johnny IsaksonJohnny IsaksonJon Ossoff to challenge David Perdue after winning Georgia Democratic primary Candidates headed to runoffs in Georgia House race to replace Doug Collins Justice Department closing stock investigations into Loeffler, Inhofe, Feinstein MORE (R-Ga.) when asked Wednesday to name Republicans he could work with if elected president. 

“Well, Johnny Isakson of Georgia, who’s recently retiring,” Sanders told co-host Meghan McCainMeghan Marguerite McCainMeghan McCain slams Cuomo, de Blasio as ‘an utter disgrace’ following another night of unrest in NYC Crowds flock to Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks over Memorial Day weekend CNN’s Cuomo pulls out massive cotton swab to tease brother after live COVID-19 test MORE on ABC’s “The View.” 

“Your dad is someone I worked with,” he continued, referring to the late Sen. John McCainJohn Sidney McCainThe Hill’s Campaign Report: Bad polling data is piling up for Trump Cindy McCain ‘disappointed’ McGrath used image of John McCain in ad attacking McConnell Report that Bush won’t support Trump reelection ‘completely made up,’ spokesman says MORE (R-Ariz.). 

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McCain responded saying he was citing people who were either dead or retiring. 

“Look, even somebody like a George W. Bush who was a very conservative guy,” Sanders said. 

“OK, anyone in office that if you were president, who you would work with on the other side?” McCain said. 

“Lamar Alexander,” Sanders replied. “Lamar is head of the committee that I’m on, the Health, Education, and Labor Committee. Lamar is a conservative Republican. Lamar is not a liar. Lamar is not a sexist. Lamar is not a racist. He’s not a homophobe. He’s a conservative guy.” 

“So I worked with your dad, I worked with other people on issues where we can come together. That’s what I think American politics is supposed to be about,” he said.

Alexander will not seek a fourth term in the Senate, and Isakson is slated to step down from his post in at the end of this year. 

Sanders’s presidential campaign tweeted out the exchange shortly after, although the clip does not include his reference to Alexander.

Sanders collaborated with McCain on reforms to the Department of Veterans Affairs after a 2014 scandal involving medical visit wait times and veteran deaths. In a follow-up tweet, Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir posted a clip of the late senator saying he was “one of the first to feel the Bern” after to their work on the measure.

Sanders, who identifies as a democratic socialist, is seen as one of the top leaders in the Democratic Party’s progressive movement, often going against the party’s establishment to push for policies like “Medicare for All” and tuition-free college.  

Republicans have taken aim at Sanders and other progressives, labeling them as socialists and looking to paint the rest of party as too far to the left. 

—Updated at 1:36 p.m.