The third-party organization No Labels held a virtual 800-person caucus on Friday where members voted to move forward with the process of creating a presidential ticket to run against President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in 2024.
While the vote reaffirmed No Labels' long-standing plan, it's still unclear what will happen next. An official ticket has not been announced at the meeting, but the team says it is moving forward with discussions with potential candidates.
“They unanimously voted to proceed with our 2024 plan and immediately identify candidates to serve on the Unity Presidential ticket. “Each of our delegates had their own interpretations of where they wanted to go forward,” said Mike Rawlings, president of the No Labels Conference.
In a statement, the organization said it would “expedite” its approach to candidates and announce the process of how candidates will be selected on March 14.
Many debated whether candidates with no labels may have eliminated themselves from the race. Sen. Joe Manchin, DW.Va., announced last month that he would not seek a bid for the White House, although he is currently on a listening tour to speak to voters across the country. Former Maryland governor Larry Hogan, a Republican, recently launched a campaign for Senate in his state.
No Labels chief strategist Ryan Clancy said, “No labels have picked up a ticket yet, and somebody is putting names out there that are floating around.”
While discussion of more potential candidates continues, No Labels is still working toward its goal of gaining ballot access in all 50 states in the fall.
Their organization says 16 states, including key swing states Arizona and Nevada, currently have no labels on the ballot.
No Labels was established in 2010 to promote bipartisanship in Washington, but it took a dramatic turn ahead of the 2024 election when it announced it would present a “unity ticket” for president as an alternative to the major parties.
With many Americans unhappy with both their potential choices for president and frustration with politics running high among voters, they argue, the time is ripe for another option.
In fact, in 2024, Robert F. High-profile third-party presidential efforts, including those by Kennedy Jr. and civil rights activist Cornel West, have seen major success in addition to No Labels and the familiar Libertarian and Green Party tickets.
Kennedy is currently working on his own ballot outreach across the country. He is currently on the ballot in Utah, collecting and submitting signatures, though he is facing a campaign finance complaint alleging improper coordination of those efforts with the super PAC American Values 2024.
The labels' entry into presidential politics has alienated some former officials, donors and allies, particularly among Democrats, who worry that any third-party candidate will draw anti-Trump votes from Biden.
Neither label denied the allegations, saying it would only support a third-party slate if it had a real chance of winning. The organization has vowed to stop its operations if the data suggests its candidate is a mere spoiler.
But much of No Labels' decision-making has been kept as private as its donors, and officials have occasionally issued contradictory statements, making it difficult for those outside the organization to understand its methods and intentions.
