Bernie Sanders sticks with ‘independent’ label, leaves door open to run as Dem in 2020

Sen. Bernie Sanders has no plans to self-identify as a Democrat.

Asked Wednesday whether he would have more credibility if he joined the Democratic Party after running for the party’s presidential nomination and endorsing a candidate in the race to lead the Democratic National Committee, the Vermont independent said, “No, not necessarily.”

“No. 1, I was elected in Vermont as an independent, and No. 2, in Vermont you cannot register as a Democrat,” Mr. Sanders said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” — alluding to the fact that his home state does not have party registration. “You get a ballot during the primary process. I always get the Democratic process.”

Mr. Sanders caucuses with Democrats in the Senate and has left the door open to running again in the Democratic presidential race in 2020.