No Labels says it will pull out of contests if Biden pulls away from Trump
Eden Villalovas
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No Labels, a centrist political organization attempting to support a third-party candidate for president in 2024, will halt efforts if polling early on in the race shows President Joe Biden far ahead of former President Donald Trump.
“No Labels is not and will not be a spoiler in favor of Donald Trump in 2024,” said Dr. Ben Chavis, the Democratic co-chairman of No Labels, in an interview with NBC News on Thursday.
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The group said they will make a decision after Super Tuesday and before the No Labels national convention in Dallas, which will be held on April 14, 2024.
“If we find that the polls are changed and Joe Biden is way, way out ahead, and the person who the Republicans may choose — and if they continue to choose Donald Trump, even though he’s been indicted — then No Labels will stand down,” Chavis said.
An off-the-record gathering at a think tank in Washington, D.C., was detailed by the Washington Post, describing around 40 people sharing concerns that the No Labels effort is a dangerous play.
The organization has received pushback from Democrats and anti-Trump allies, criticizing the bid for a unity presidential ticket, claiming it could lead to a Trump victory.
Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) said No Labels is wasting resources and that the organization “divides voters and has one obvious outcome — reelecting Donald Trump as president.” Her critique came in a statement to the Washington Examiner earlier this week.
No Labels is currently getting on the ballot in individual states, and the group is sparring with Maine’s secretary of state’s office about whether the organization misled voters when collecting signatures to get the party on the ballot.
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The Arizona Democratic Party has sued No Labels to keep the party off the ballot, claiming the group does not meet requirements under “Arizona and federal law” and the party committee does not “maintain a level of transparency that allows voters to understand their interests,” a party statement reads
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Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) is an honorary co-chairman of No Labels, sparking interest as the likeliest candidate for a third-party run. Manchin has not said whether he’ll run for reelection in 2024, and he has not ruled out a presidential run, telling CBS this month, “Everything’s on the table and nothing off the table.”