Likely. They would do more damage that way than if they just became blue dog Democrats.
Frankly, I think phuckin' Phlake and KaSICK are despised by most of the country! Anyway, I hope I'm correct.
(Basing my opinion on the lack of support phuckin' Phlake got in Arizona and how poorly KaSICK did in the 2016 primaries. Although, both are now darlings of the DNC media.)