(JTA) – Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont Independent, has joined the Senate Democratic leadership. Sanders was named chair of outreach for the party on Nov. 16, according to reports on the closed-door Senate Democratic caucus meeting. As an Independent, Sanders was an outsider to the Democratic Party until he ran for its presidential nomination this year. His campaign garnered more than 40 percent of the primary votes and focused on addressing income inequality and targeted the country’s wealthiest echelon. In his new position, he will be in charge of reaching out to blue-collar voters who supported President-elect Donald Trump, The Hill reported. Sanders was named to the position by New York Sen.  Chuck Schumer, who was elected Senate Democratic leader, succeeding retiring Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada. This year Sanders became the first Jewish candidate to win a U.S. presidential primary and Schumer became the first Jewish politician to lead either party’s Senate caucus.