WASHINGTON — Bernie Sanders could soon gain a powerful platform to advance his longstanding left-wing agenda: leadership of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, if Democrats flip the chamber in next week’s midterms. The 85-year-old Vermont independent has said he would push for an “extremely bold” Democratic agenda and make a Medicare for All health plan a signature priority. He has also called for raising the minimum wage, making it easier for employees to unionize, protecting workers from artificial-intelligence-driven job losses, providing tuition-free public college and increasing teacher pay. With President Donald Trump in the White House for at least two more years, Sanders’ legislative proposals would face steep odds. A committee chairmanship would nevertheless give him oversight powers and a prominent venue to press his case before voters ahead of the 2028 presidential race. Sanders has signaled he is unlikely to run for president. The Vermont senator led the committee in 2023 and 2024, but his legislative plans ran into resistance from a Republican-controlled House and more moderate Democrats. The Senate Democratic caucus and party have since moved closer to Sanders’ positions, and several potential Democratic presidential contenders are on the left, according to the report. Sanders’ committee counterpart could also shape the panel’s work. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska could become its top Republican if Sen. Rand Paul continues to lead the Homeland Security Committee. Murkowski has raised concerns about Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Joseph Geevarghese, executive director of Our Revolution, the organization Sanders founded that now operates independently, said a Sanders-led panel could put affordability at the center of the opposition party’s agenda and seek concessions from the Trump administration for working families. Geevarghese said Sanders could become the party’s de facto leader. A committee gavel would give Sanders a microphone and investigative tools, but it would not guarantee passage of his proposals. His plans would still have to navigate a divided Congress and the president’s veto power.