Bloomberg reported that the No Labels political party has struggled to recruit a third-party candidate to run for president in the 2024 election. The outlet added that party leaders expect to announce a “decision on whether to nominate within weeks.”
Former senator and No Labels founding chairman Joe Lieberman, who passed away unexpectedly this week, recently said the organization faced a daunting” struggle to recruit a viable candidate.
The Gazette reported the centrist party has faced challenges in attracting a top-tier candidate.
The list of those who have declined No Label’s offer to have their name put forward includes Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley (R), former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and former New Jersey Gov, Chris Christie (R).
On March 20, a cautiously optimistic Lieberman told congressional reporter Billy House of HouseInSession that he believed No Labels would put forward a nominee. “I believe it is going to happen,” he said, noting that not putting a name forward was possible.
“I believe it is going to happen,” Lieberman tells @HouseInSession in an interview Tuesday, but added, “It’s possible — it’s happened before — we won’t be able to find candidates.” https://t.co/lqdAQ2e14K
— Alex Seitz-Wald (@aseitzwald) March 20, 2024
Earlier this month, Lieberman said No Labels was in talks with “a couple of quality candidates” and would make a decision within weeks.
The Washington Post reported that on March 6, No Labels leaders held a Zoom call with 832 delegates from all 50 states. The delegates were asked, “Should No Labels move forward in conversation with potential candidates for the unity presidential ticket?”
The 831 delegates voted “yes.”
Former Dallas mayor Mike Rawlings led the conference call and later said, “We have always said it is going to take a lot of courage to do this. … We are not just going to settle for anyone.”
He added that No Labels hoped to coordinate a virtual convention to put forward a nominee in April.
The No Labels website notes the party’s objective: “We must recommit to the fundamental beliefs that have historically united Americans and provided a common understanding of who we are and where we hope to go.”
The website also profiles the five “enduring beliefs that guide the No Labels” party. These beliefs include ensuring equality of opportunity, freedom of speech, the expectation that government and citizens will work together, the belief that government should operate under a balanced budget and the belief that we should prioritize policies and practices that unify, rather than divide, Americans.
