Centrist group No Labels won’t field a ticket in the presidential election

The centrist group No Labels abandoned its ambitions for a third-party 2024 presidential campaign Thursday, saying it had failed to find candidates that had a credible path to winning the White House.

“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 group had obtained ballot access in 21 states and claimed to have a clear path for getting on the ballot in the remaining states, once candidates were nominated. But the group struggled to find anyone with significant stature who was willing to take on the role, in the face of significant opposition from Democrats who believed the No Labels effort would help reelect former president Donald Trump.

Many of the potential candidates they courted ruled out a bid, including Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.), former Maryland governor Larry Hogan (R) and former Georgia lieutenant governor Geoff Duncan (R). More recently, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) declined to run on the ticket after spending weeks looking at whether he could mount a successful third party run. He commissioned polling in 13 states before ruling out a bid.

“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 in its statement. “Like many Americans, we are concerned that the division and strife gripping the country will reach a critical point after this election regardless of who wins. Post-election, No Labels will be prepared to champion and defend the values and interests of America’s commonsense majority.

One of the co-chairmen of the group, former senator Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.), 82, died last week, after complications from a fall, his family confirmed.

News of the group’s decision was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.