No Labels will no longer pursue a third-party presidential ticket, ending a monthslong effort to gain ballot access across all 50 states that garnered criticism from both Republicans and Democrats.
“Americans remain more open to an independent presidential run and hungrier for unifying national leadership than ever before,” the group said in a statement. “But 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.”
The announcement comes just weeks after the group voted to “move immediately” in a closed-door meeting to launch a presidential campaign despite pushback from both Republicans and Democrats that an alternative campaign could prove as a “spoiler” in the high-stakes election.
However, the group has struggled with choosing candidates to put on its alternative ticket after top contenders such as Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, both said they would not run for president.
“We will remain engaged over the next year during what is likely to be the most divisive presidential election of our lifetimes,” the group said. “We will promote dialogue around major policy challenges and call out both sides when they speak and act in bad faith. For now, suffice it to say that this movement is not done. In fact, it is just beginning.”