Could a Democrat run under an "Independent" banner for President?

[Vega]

I was thinking of this question for several reasons, mainly because of what Bernie did in the primaries - he was an independent who ran as a Democrat.

In a general election, could the reverse apply? I.E. Could a Democrat run as an "Independent", or better politically, an "Independent Democrat" on the ballot?

[ElectionsGuy]

Yes, as can a Republican. That's what John Anderson did in 1980

[Miles]

[Goldwater]

I'm pretty sure anybody can run as an Independent, it's not like they would have to make through a primary or anything.

[dead0man]

Ballot access is an issue though, no?

[Santander]

A Bloomberg or Trump type figure, maybe.

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

i'd support you, if that's why you're asking

[Vega]

i'd support you, if that's why you're asking

Well thanks.

But what I mean is could a Democrat/Republican stay affiliated as a Democrat/Republican as their political party, but run for President as a Independent, on the ballot.

[Wells]

Yes. But they would have to be a major figure in order to get votes. Say in 2020, Hillary gets renominated, but Mary Landrieu thinks that she's been too uncompromising, then she could start an Independent campaign and it would probably get some media coverage, and thus, some support. It works for Republicans, too. If somebody like Charlie Baker won the Republican primary in 2020, and Sam Brownback wasn't happy and decided to run as an Independent he could. They could still be registered in that party, but they would appear on the ballot as an Independent since Hillary Clinton and Charlie Baker were already the nominees for their party.

[Shameless Lefty Hack]

I don't think that there are any legal barriers, if that's what you're asking. You can be registered as anything and run as anything, provided you win the nomination of that party or... Don't if you're running as an I.

As for whether they'd be kicked out of the party, it depends on the circumstances. If they were challenging another Democratic nominee, they'd be likely to burn a bunch of bridges. If the nominee decided to run as an I for whatever reason, I can't imagine anyone kicking them out of the party, but it would raise a lot of eyebrows.