No Labels Gains Momentum, Democrats Panic

Written by David Zimmermann

What’s happening: The national No Labels movement is picking up steam as it recently got itself onto ballots in 10 states, giving voters the choice of a third-party candidate in 2024. The latest approval came last month from North Carolina, and signs are showing the alternative to Republicans and Democrats is not stopping anytime soon.

• Zoom in: The nine other states include Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, and Utah. Around half are red states, while the rest are either blue or swing states, giving the party a wide range of voters for the 2024 election.

Why it matters: In red states, No Labels could steal some votes from former President Donald Trump. The party has also been vying for funds from donors who left Trump. But for now, both Democrats and Republicans believe it threatens President Joe Biden’s reelection.

• The panic: Over the summer, two Democratic groups called on elected officials to denounce No Labels, making it harder for the centrist group to gain traction. Even Arizona’s Democratic Party tried and failed to keep No Labels off the state’s ballots.

The odds: Still, most analysts agree that No Labels **does not have a real path toward the presidency or even enough momentum to prevent Democrats and Republicans from reaching 270 votes. But the group is banking on polling that shows most voters wanting to vote for someone other than Trump or Biden.