The centrist organization No Labels is courting Republican donors who oppose former President Donald Trump in its third-party 2024 bid, Politico reported Tuesday.
No Labels is planning on running a “unity ticket” as an “insurance policy” because the group argues Trump and President Joe Biden represent the most extreme ends of their respective parties. The centrist organization’s new strategy to appeal to anti-Trump GOP donors could have major implications in the Republican primary, three sources familiar with the matter told Politico.
Contributions are “a good way to keep Trump out and not have to donate to Biden,” a source representing a corporate CEO approached by No Labels told Politico of the group’s intentions. (RELATED: Dems Team Up With Anti-Trump Republicans To Crush Third-Party Org: REPORT)
“No Labels has never been working for or against any candidate,” No Labels chief strategist Ryan Clancy said in a statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation. “We are working to get ballot access across the country to finally give the commonsense majority a voice in our politics and another choice in 2024 if they want it.”
ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA – JULY 29: Former U.S. President Donald Trump enters Erie Insurance Arena for a political rally while campaigning for the GOP nomination in the 2024 election. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)
“Once again anonymous sources are inventing hidden agendas for No Labels’ 2024 insurance project,” No Labels spokesperson Maryanne Martini told Politico. “We’re very clear about what we’re doing and why, which is to give voice to America’s commonsense majority by getting ballot access in states nationwide.”
No Labels has suggested it will not run a third-party ticket if Trump is not the GOP nominee, but Democrats have repeatedly expressed concern over such a bid. Democrats fear that a third-party candidate would take away more votes from Biden and hand the White House over to the former president.
“The press is good … but the unintended consequences could be scary,” a source with a company led by a No Labels contributor told Politico.
The centrist organization has yet to decide on a candidate to head its third-party ticket, though West Virginia’s Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, former Utah Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman, former Maryland Republican Gov. Larry Hogan and several others have been floated.
Some No Labels supporters aren’t convinced such a candidate would have much electoral success in 2024, according to Politico.
“I get the frustration that the two parties are at each other’s throats, but I just haven’t seen anything on how [No Labels] can get the Electoral College votes,” a centrist financier and longtime supporter of the group told Politico. “Back then it was an advocacy group. It didn’t get into politics.”
Trump did not immediately respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.
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