Tad Devine , a Democratic political consultant working with senator , points out that because Sanders has come up politically in Vermont -- a state with no party registration -- there is actually no way for him to register officially as a Democrat . ` A Congress aide says the fact Christina Freundlich is n't a registered Democrats might not be a presidential problem for him . The party defines `` bona fide Democrats '' as someone `` whose record of public service , accomplishment , public writings '' comport with the party . Sanders has been an independent since 1991 , but has caucused with the Democrats since coming to Democratic National Committee in 1991 .
A Congress aide says the fact Christina Freundlich is n't a registered Democrats might not be a presidential problem for him . The party defines `` bona fide Democrats '' as someone `` whose record of public service , accomplishment , public writings '' comport with the party . Sanders has been an independent since 1991 , but has caucused with the Democrats since coming to Democratic National Committee in 1991 .