Democrats have made it known that they do not want a ‘No Labels’ candidate to launch a third party run in 2024. In Arizona, they are already suing to keep a ‘No Labels’ candidate off the ballot.
Even though ‘No Labels’ is a total mess as an organization, Democrats rightly fear that this type of candidate would hurt them far more than the Republican candidate.
A new opinion column at the Washington Post shows how deep the panic runs. This piece was written by Jonathan Cowan, president of Third Way, Rahna Epting, the executive director of MoveOn, and Patrick Gaspard, the CEO of the Center for American Progress Action Fund:
This plan for a third-party presidential bid in 2024 is dangerousAs leaders of three groups that represent various segments of the Democratic Party coalition, we don’t always agree on policy or politics. But lately, we find ourselves strongly united on one alarming issue: the possibility of a well-financed third-party presidential campaign that could help elect a MAGA extremist president in 2024.Our country is staring down a series of once-in-a-generation threats that strike at the heart of American democracy — corruption on our nation’s highest court, fundamental rights tested at the ballot box and, of course, the Jan. 6, 2021, coup attempt. Yet instead of responding to these attacks with clear-eyed determination to protect our country, the organization known as No Labels is spearheading an effort to put a third-party ticket on the ballot in every state.The group — founded in 2010 to combat rising political polarization — has said it is raising at least $70 million for the effort and is planning a convention in Dallas for April 2024. No Labels has condemned Donald Trump and Joe Biden as equally extreme and claims that their likely nominations by the major parties require another choice.We understand the sentiment that has driven donors to the No Labels banner. But there is simply no equating a party led by Biden to today’s MAGA Republican Party.
The column goes on to remind readers of what happened with Ralph Nader in 2000 and Jill Stein in 2016 and points out that Trump won states like Wisconsin and Michigan.
Last week, Jonathan Chait wrote a similar column at NY Mag:
The Terrifying Threat That No Labels Will Reelect TrumpOne underrated scenario that would enable a right-wing authoritarian like Ron DeSantis or even Donald Trump to win the presidency in 2024 is that the Republican path will be cleared by an organization called No Labels. The semi-inscrutable organization, which is lavishly funded by anonymous donors, is planning a third-party candidacy that would almost certainly peel off enough moderate voters from the Democratic ticket to ensure a Republican victory.Like a far-off meteor heading directly for Earth, a No Labels campaign is simultaneously distant yet disconcertingly likely to result in catastrophe…Given the minuscule margins by which Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in 2020, any third-party campaign would likely enable Republicans to win another presidential election simply by consolidating the right-wing base.
What’s the problem here?
Haven’t Democrats been telling us for years now that they believe in democracy?
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