No Labels is abandoning its efforts to launch a third-party presidential ticket this year after multiple prospective candidates declined to jump into the race, the group announced on Thursday.
“No Labels has always said we would only offer our ballot line to a ticket if we could identify candidates with a credible path to winning the White House. No such candidates emerged, so the responsible course of action is for us to stand down,” Nancy Jacobson, the group’s founder and CEO, said in a statement.
No Labels initially hoped to recruit a “unity” ticket to put forward as an alternative to the 2020 rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in November. The group gave itself a March 2024 deadline to announce their selection, but candidate after candidate ― mostly Republicans ― turned them down.
Most recently, former Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a fierce critic of Trump, said he wouldn’t join No Labels because a run would be unsuccessful and potentially help the presumptive GOP nominee by drawing votes away from Biden.
“While I believe this is a conversation that needs to be had with the American people, I also believe that if there is not a pathway to win and if my candidacy in any way, shape or form would help Donald Trump become president again, then it is not the way forward,” Christie said last week.
Others declining a bid with No Labels include Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R), former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley (R), and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).
Democrats had worried that No Labels would pull votes away from Biden and had criticized the group for refusing to disclose its donors, fueling speculation that it is largely backed by wealthy Republicans.
In its statement on Thursday, which was first reported by The Wall Street Journal, No Labels said it planned to continue its focus on “representing unity and giving voice to America’s commonsense majority.”
“We will also remain engaged over the next year during what is likely to be the most divisive presidential election of our lives. We will promote dialogue around major policy challenges and call out both sides when they speak and act in bad faith,” the group added.
“Suffice it to say that this movement is not done. In fact, it is just beginning,” it said.