Washington — No Labels, the centrist political group, is abandoning its effort to write a third-party “unity” ticket to run for president in 2024, the organization announced Thursday.
The group, which has worked for months to get potential candidates onto ballots in states across the country, said it plans to pursue its candidacy “if we can identify candidates with a credible path to office.” victory in the White House.
“None of these candidates have emerged, so the responsible course of action is for us to withdraw,” No Labels said in a statement.
“Like many Americans, we fear that the division and conflict ravaging the country will come to a head after these elections, regardless of who wins,” the statement continued. “After the election, No Labels will be ready to defend the values and interests of the common-sense American majority.”
Previously floated potential candidates for a No Labels ticket included Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, who is retiring from the Senate, and Larry Hogan, former Republican governor of Maryland. Hogan ultimately decided to run for U.S. Senate in Maryland.
Mike Rawlings, No Labels’ convention chairman, told CBS News three weeks ago that the group was continuing its get-out-the-vote efforts but had not proposed a deadline for announcing a candidate.
“I don’t think you should expect it next week,” Rawlings said. “Maybe it’ll be April. Maybe – look, we need to finish this before spring.”
No Labels has drawn scorn from Democrats, who feared that a third-party offer could siphon votes from President Biden and benefit former President Donald Trump. Before abandoning its effort, No Labels said it had qualified on the ballot in 21 states, far more than independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. So far, only one state has confirmed Kennedy qualified for office. ballot.
Progressives welcomed the news of No Labels’ plan to withdraw.
“If these reports are true, millions of Americans are relieved that No Labels has finally decided to do what it takes to keep Donald Trump out of the White House,” said Rahna Epting, executive director of the progressive group MoveOn. “Now it is time for Robert Kennedy Jr. to see clearly that no third party has a chance of winning the presidency. We must come together to defeat the greatest threat to our democracy and our country: Donald Trump.”
Alisa Wiersema contributed to this report.
Catherine Watson
Grub5
