Can Bernie Sanders still run as an Independent after he is defeated at the Democratic Convention?

[Light63]

Let's say Bernie is defeated at the Democratic Convention in June, can he still run as an Independent to spoil the Hillary's chances to defeat Trump?

[Cha]

1. the convention is the last of July.. the 25th-28th in Philly.

And, don't have a clue about the rest.

[Light63]

3. Thanks, Cha, for correcting the dates.

My concern is if Bernie can run as an Independent after being defeated at the Democratic National Convention, Trump as well as the Republican Party would have a tremendous possibility to beat Hillary in the General Election.

[cosmicone]

2. I don't think Bernie would do that

He doesn't want Trump as his legacy - he is an honorable man. He will support Hillary and will campaign for her.

[LannyDeVaney]

7. I agree. Neither Democratic candidate would do that ...

They both know that would be counterproductive.

[2naSalit]

9. That's what I see

happening. Bernie is a formidable opponent but he's a reasonable man and, as already mentioned, honorable. I appreciate that there really has been a stern challenge to Hillary because there are so many crucial issues to be addressed on day one of the next administration that if Bernie drops out, he will support the effort to put a D in the White House. I imagine that Hillary would do the same.

I am, so far, undecided but leaning toward Clinton, my primary is some time off yet, I think... now I have to take a look, this year has been whizzing by real fast so far.

[Firebrand Gary]

21. +1

[KitSileya]

4. I guess it depends on what the deadline is for getting on the ballots in the different states

It must be after the convention, because the parties can only put their candidate on the ballots after they nominate her.

[yallerdawg]

5. Is he a man of his word?

[Light63]

6. Thank you, YallerDawg.

This video clip made me realize that Bernie is a good man who thinks for the whole instead of individualism.

[Historic NY]

19. "I do not want to be responsible for electing a RW Rep. President of the US"....

[Thinkingabout]

8. He agreed at the time he was wanting to run on the DNC primary not to run as an independent.

[dlwickham]

10. some states have a "poor loser rule"

if you run in the primary and lose, you can't run in the general election as an independent

[Her Sister]

12. this!

[Her Sister]

11. it would not make sense

He would not win!

[book_worm]

13. He won't. He has made that clear and I respect him for it.

[kjones]

14. He won't do that. nt

[FloridaBlues]

15. Don't think he can qualify on the ballots too late

[MSMITH33156]

16. He wouldn't

but it is really difficult to get on the ballot that late.

14 states would have had their deadline pass. Here is the full list:

https://ballotpedia.org/Filing_deadlines_and_signature_requirements_for_independent_presidential_candidates,_2016

If he actually wanted to go that route, his move would be to drop out now and work towards ballot access. The convention is too late. The hurdles to get on the ballot in states are actually relatively low, so he could do it. But he has to get organized and do them one at a time.

But he obviously won't do that.

[PeaceNikki]

17. I don't think he's as stupid as many of his supporters.

[beachbumbob]

18. He would have to do as a write in candidate

Not enough time to get name on ballot...same issue with trump...no time left after end of conventions

[DawgHouse]

20. He won't. He will endorse Hillary. She would endorse him too.

[displacedtexan]

22. Looks like only 18% of states allow ballot qualification past February.

Here's a link: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballot_access_for_presidential_candidates

[jmowreader]

23. No, because there's not enough time for him to do it

https://ballotpedia.org/Filing_deadlines_and_signature_requirements_for_independent_presidential_candidates,_2016

He would need to file a petition signed by a certain number of registered voters by a date selected by each state.

States that require the petitions to be certified on or before the day the Democratic National Convention opens on July 25 (electoral votes in parentheses):

Texas (38): May 9
North Carolina (15): June 9
Illinois (20): June 27
Indiana (11) and New Mexico (5): June 30
Nevada (6): July 8
Georgia (16): July 12
Delaware (3), Oklahoma (7), South Carolina (9) and Florida (29): July 15
Michigan (16): July 21
Missouri (10): July 25

That's 185 votes out of 535...to get to 270, he would basically have to sweep the states he was allowed to run in. Presidential campaigns won't give up even one vote if they don't have to; giving up thirteen whole states' worth - basically, California three times over plus Illinois for good measure - would be unheard of and ridiculous.

If Bernie wants to be president he's got to win the Democratic nomination. Nothing else works.