Sen. Bernie Sanders spoke via live stream Thursday evening to tell his supporters that he will work with Hillary Clinton to transform the Democratic Party and defeat Donald Trump.
- Sen. Sanders said he will work to come up with a progressive platform to change the Democratic Party
- Said we need to defeat Donald Trump badly
- Said Democrats have left many states behind, called on progressives to run for office
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Sanders says he has had conversations with Clinton, and his campaign will work for her in the coming weeks to create a progressive party platform that transforms the Democratic Party and leads to progress in the country.
Sanders said Trump needed to be defeated, and defeated badly.
The presidential candidate does not directly say that he is suspending his campaign. He also said his delegates will turn out in force at the Democratic National Convention to make sure their progressive agenda is added and respected.
Sanders said the Democrats must execute a 50-state campaign, and start fighting to change all levels of government. He says Democrats have, for too long, allowed Republicans to take over state legislatures and promote right-wing agendas.
"We cannot ignore the fact that the current Democratic Party has turned its back on many states," Sanders said.
He also called for progressive activists to turn out and campaign for all levels of government -- from school boards to state legislatures.
"We need new blood in the political process, and you are that new blood," Sanders said.
Sanders told supporters to go to his campaign website to learn more about how to run for local office.