No Labels, a bipartisan organization, announced that it will not field a presidential candidate in the upcoming November election. Nancy Jacobson, the group’s CEO, stated that they were unable to identify candidates with a credible path to winning the White House. This decision solidifies the general election matchup between the two major party candidates, incumbent President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. The only prominent outsider still seeking the presidency is anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has qualified for the fall ballot in five states.
The decision by No Labels comes after months of discussions and raising funds from a secret donor list. Democrats, who were concerned that a No Labels ticket would fracture Biden’s coalition and benefit Trump, were relieved by the news. MoveOn executive director Rahna Epting expressed relief that No Labels had decided to keep Trump out of the White House. Kennedy, the remaining outsider candidate, had qualified for the general election in five states but faces challenges in his bid for the presidency.
Despite having qualified for the ballot in 21 states, No Labels could not persuade a top-tier moderate candidate from either party to embrace its movement. Delegates of the organization had voted in March to create a bipartisan presidential and vice presidential ticket, but they were rejected by several potential candidates. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Sen. Joe Manchin, former Gov. Larry Hogan, and former Gov. Chris Christie all declined the opportunity to run on the No Labels ticket. The group had considered nominating a unity ticket to appeal to voters dissatisfied with Biden and Trump.
Biden supporters had feared that No Labels would draw votes away from the president in battleground states, leading to criticism of the organization’s lack of transparency regarding donors and decision-making processes. Many of the group’s deliberations took place in secret, and the identities of all delegates were not disclosed. Despite disappointment among some members, like sales worker Dan DuPraw, who had hoped for an alternative to the two major parties, No Labels ultimately made the decision to not field a candidate. DuPraw, who was set to be a delegate to a No Labels convention, will now consider his choices between Biden and Kennedy for the upcoming election.
