Washington, D.C., USA – No Labels announced Thursday that they will not be running a third-party “unity” ticket against Donald Trump and Joe Biden in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. The centrist group cited the inability to find a candidate with a credible path to winning on their bipartisan platform as the reason for their decision to stand down.
Despite the lack of a viable candidate, No Labels emphasized that the American people are increasingly open to an independent presidential run and are seeking unifying national leadership. The group, established in 2010, has been organizing citizens and members of Congress through the Problem Solvers Caucus to address the extremes in politics and propose solutions to major issues facing the country.
Various names had been considered by the group for the potential ticket, including former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu. However, none of these figures ultimately joined the effort.
Former Gov. Christie expressed that the conversation around a potential independent candidacy needs to involve the American people but also stressed the importance of not inadvertently aiding in a Trump presidency. No Labels had set a self-imposed deadline of early April to finalize their ticket for the 2024 race after declaring their intention for a third-party bid.
Over the past year and a half, the group had engaged in private discussions with potential candidates to attract both former and current political figures. Despite concerns that their ticket could act as a spoiler in the election, particularly for Biden, No Labels emphasized their commitment to not supporting any candidacy that would draw votes away from one side.
Originally planning for a convention in Dallas in mid-April, No Labels held a virtual event in March to gather feedback from supporters and assess the feasibility of launching a third-party ticket. The group highlighted that their movement is just beginning, signifying their dedication to fostering bipartisan solutions in American politics.