Joe Manchin leaves the Democratic Party, files as independent

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) officially left the Democratic Party on Friday and registered as an independent.

Why it matters: Manchin, who flirted with an independent presidential bid earlier this year, has said he's not running for Senate re-election. But leaving the party could give him the flexibility to change tack and run for Senate or West Virginia governor as an independent.

The intrigue: June 1 is West Virginia's deadline for changing party affiliation in time to run for office this fall. The deadline to file for governor or Senate is Aug. 1.

Manchin is more serious about a potential governor's run than a Senate bid and is being urged by Democrats in West Virginia to jump into the race, according to two people familiar with the matter.