Joe Lieberman, a long-serving Democratic politician who was Al Gore’s vice presidential pick in 2000 before becoming independent in 2006, has passed away at the age of 82.
The Connecticut politician passed away due to complications from a fall, according to a statement released by his family.
Lieberman was the first Jewish politician on a major party’s presidential ticket. Despite winning the popular vote in 2000 by over half a million votes, he and Gore fell short of the electoral college delegates required to win the presidency following a fiercely contested counting process, which was depicted in HBO’s 2008 film “Recount.” Republican George W. Bush and his running mate Dick Cheney then went to the White House.
He ran for the Democratic Party nomination himself in 2004 but failed to garner significant support, ultimately losing the nomination to John Kerry.
First elected to the U.S. Senate in 1989, he was widely known for his moderate policies. However, after losing the Democratic primary to a more liberal rival, Ned Lamont, in 2006, Lieberman left the Democratic Party before winning re-election as an independent. He eventually departed from the Senate at the end of that term.
Lieberman disagreed with his party on several issues, while still aligning with Democrats throughout his time in the Senate. This included supporting Republican John McCain for president over Barack Obama in 2008. He later endorsed both Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden in 2016 and 2020.
Although he supported Obama’s Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare,” Lieberman was known for opposing a public health insurance option. This resulted in it being removed from the bill before its final passage into law.
More to come…
