No Labels
FormationDecember 13, 2010 (2010-12-13) (public launch)
TypePolitical
27-1432208[1]
Legal status501(c)(4)
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
Region served
United States
CEO
Nancy Jacobson
Nancy Jacobson (president)
Jerald S Howe Jr. (treasurer)
Andrew Tisch
Andrew M. Bursky
Dennis C. Blair
Charles R. Black Jr.
Tish Bazil
Websitewww.nolabels.org

No Labels is an American political organization whose stated mission is to support centrism and bipartisanship through what it calls the "commonsense majority".[2] No Labels was founded in 2010 as a 501(c)(4) by current president and CEO Nancy Jacobson.[3][4]

History

Founding

No Labels was founded on December 13, 2010, with the slogan "Not Left. Not Right. Forward". Its stated purpose was to organize American voters against partisanship in politics and encourage a "common ground" approach to problem solving. No Labels sought to establish chapters in every congressional district and college chapters across the United States. The effort was viewed by skeptics as an attempt to support a potential third party presidential campaign for New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2012, which he and No Labels denied. No Labels had relatively few Republicans backing it, and criticism of the movement came largely from right-wing political figures.[5][6]

Congress

In January 2013, No Labels promoted an informal "Problem Solvers" caucus in Congress for members of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The group initially began as 24 Democratic and Republican members of Congress who pledged to meet regularly.[7] Members would identify their affiliation by wearing lapel pins, particularly during events such as the 2013 and 2015 State of the Union addresses.[8][9]

In 2017, the group helped to formally start the Problem Solvers Caucus in the House of Representatives, a bipartisan group of approximately 60 congressional members.

For the 2019–2020 House term, the Problem Solvers Caucus reached an agreement with then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi on House rule changes[10] that some praised as practical and necessary,[11] while others claimed it might give House Republicans[11] and/or corporate interests[12] more power for that term.[13]

In 2021, the Problem Solvers Caucus released a "Building Bridges" blueprint for a bipartisan infrastructure deal. It was the first deal to be endorsed by Republicans and Democrats during that budget cycle.[14]

2024 presidential ticket

No Labels has stated that it would put up a bipartisan "unity ticket" as an "insurance policy" in the event that Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump are both nominated by their respective parties for the 2024 presidential general election, noting the general unpopularity of both potential candidates. In November 2023, No Labels' chief strategist, Ryan Clancy, stated that "Based on the conditions as they are, we expect to be putting up a ticket early next year".[15]

No Labels says as of July 2023 it is close to raising the $70 million that it thinks will enable it to potentially put a third-party ticket for the 2024 presidential election on the ballot in every state.[16] Democratic Senator Joe Manchin and former Republican Governors Larry Hogan and Jon Huntsman have been mentioned as potential No Labels candidates[17][18] (though Huntsman has denied interest in a presidential run).[19] As of January 2024, the organization has ballot access in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Maine,[20] Maryland,[21] Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota, and Utah.[20] Joe Lieberman announced in an interview with Fox News Sunday on August 27, 2023, that the organization plans to hold a "bipartisan nominating convention" in Dallas, Texas in April 2024.[22] The organization later indicated in a statement with Axios in November 2023 that it will instead hold a virtual convention.[23]

No Labels and its supporters cite polling showing voters' disapproval of the presumptive 2024 Democratic and Republican presidential nominees. In August 2022, No Labels released a poll of voters in eight battleground states, finding 63% of voters open to a "moderate independent" presidential candidate,[24] though Intelligencer columnist Ed Kilgore argues that once a specific candidate is chosen, polling numbers will drop dramatically.[25] No Labels' internal polling shows Biden losing the most votes from their candidacy, while a poll from Monmouth University on July 20, 2023, concluded that if No Labels' chosen candidates were more popular with conservatives, it's not clear which major party would benefit more: "The presence of a third party in the race would siphon votes from both major party nominees, but it is not apparent it would play the role of a spoiler."[26] FiveThirtyEight's review of polling on July 13, 2023, predicted at that time that a bi-partisan ticket would likely benefit Trump.[27]

The effort has been criticized by some Democrats, centrists, and Republicans who fear it could give former president Donald Trump a second term.[28][29][30][31][32][33] One report claimed that certain center-left members of No Labels' Problem Solvers Caucus were "in open revolt";[34][35] co-founder William Galston resigned in protest.[36][37] A bi-partisan group of former lawmakers launched a Super PAC called Citizens to Save Our Republic to focus on stopping No Labels' presidential ticket.[38][39] Nonprofits Third Way and MoveOn also organized a campaign to get Democrats to disavow No Labels.[40] Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie has been critical of the organization, stating that No Labels doesn't "know who they’re going to hurt".[41][42] On November 2, 2023, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, "No Labels is perilous to our democracy" since a 2024 presidential run would "jeopardize the reelection of Joe Biden as president of the United States".[43] Clancy has stated that "We don’t think Trump should ever again be president", and that No Labels would not act as a spoiler that benefits Trump.[15]

Arizona

The Democratic Party of Arizona unsuccessfully sued to prevent No Labels from recognition as a political party in the state, with the ability to place candidates on the state ballot.[44] Over 15,000 Arizona residents have chosen to register their party affiliation as No Labels, more than the margin of victory in the 2020 presidential election in Arizona.[45]

After No Labels attained recognition as a party, perennial candidate Richard Grayson opted to run under the No Labels banner.[45] No Labels has sued the Arizona Secretary of State, Democrat Adrian Fontes, to prevent candidates it did not approve of from running under the No Labels banner and using its ballot line.[46]

Maine

In May 2023, the Secretary of State of Maine, Democrat Shenna Bellows, sent No Labels a cease and desist letter after accusing the organization of misleading voters into registering for the party. She claimed that No Labels misrepresented voter registrations as petitions, and informed each registrant how to change their party affiliation. No Labels argued that Bellows' actions could amount to voter suppression and responded by stating that their organizers were instructed to ask voters to join their party, and noted that the form signed by voters is titled "Maine Voter Registration Application". While 798 people who received letters from Bellows unenrolled from No Labels, the group still had enough registered voters to qualify for the Maine ballot.[47][48] In January 2024, the party was confirmed as a qualified political party giving them ballot access.[49] No Labels has rejected a state-run primary in Maine.[50]

Funding

No Labels does not disclose its donors' identities, citing the potential for lobbying and pressure campaigns for major donors to stop backing the organization. IRS section 501(c) organizations are not legally required to disclose their donors.[51] This lack of transparency has been a major source of criticism for the organization[52] alongside critiques that the group prioritizes the wellbeing of wealthy donors instead of policies with broad appeal that could reduce partisanship.[53][54][55][12] The Intercept and Jacobin report examples of the group working to block tax increases on the wealthiest Americans and corporations.[56][57]

Early donors to No Labels include board member Andrew Tisch, co-chairman of Loews Corporation; Ron Shaich, founder of Panera Bread; Dave Morin, a former Facebook executive, and supporters of Michael Bloomberg.[58]

A 2018 Chicago Sun-Times investigation found five super PACs that were affiliated with No Labels,[59][60][61] sparking an OpenSecrets investigation identifying two more.[62] All seven super PACs were closed in 2020.[63][64][65][66][67][68][69] The Daily Beast reported that in 2018 No Labels Super PACs received more than $11 million from 53 donors, most of whom worked in finance.[53] The New Republic reported in 2023 that No Labels has received major funding from Harlan Crow, a leading donor to Republican and conservative causes.[70] No Labels has been described as a dark money organization.[53][54][71][72][73][74]

Leadership

Nancy Jacobson has been the board president since the founding of the organization and as of 2022, CEO.[75] In December 2020, No Labels announced Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, as a national co-chair (prominent spokesperson[76]) to serve alongside the No Labels founding co-chair Joe Lieberman.[77] In January 2023, former NAACP executive director Benjamin Chavis joined Hogan as national co-chair.[78] In June 2023, former North Carolina governor Pat McCrory joined as a national co-chair.[79]

Nancy Jacobson (board president and CEO) and Jerald S. Howe Jr. (board treasurer) have been on the board since the founding of the group in 2010. Andrew Tisch joined in 2012. Andrew M. Bursky joined in 2015. Dennis C. Blair and Charles R. Black Jr. joined in 2019.[80] Tish Bazil was added to the organization's website as a Board Member in 2023.[81] Previous board members include: Ted Buerger (2010), Joshua Bekenstein (2010), Mark Nunnelly (2010), Mark McKinnon (2010–2012), Nate Garvis (2010–2013), Holly Page (2010–2013), Lisa Borders (2014–2017),[80] Kenneth A. Gross (2012–2023) and Margie Fox (2009–2023).[82]

Controversies

Based on 14 interviews with former employees in December 2022, Politico described a "cutthroat culture" within No Labels which one former aide called "toxic".[83] In response to the criticism, several senior officials for the group described to Politico the complaints as coming from "aggrieved ex-workers" who could not "adapt" to a demanding office culture.[83] In August 2023, a Black former outreach manager of No Labels sued the political organization, claiming she was discriminated against because of her race and retaliated against for reporting the alleged discrimination.[84]

Politico reported that in addition to requiring non-disclosure agreements, Nancy Jacobson has been accused by former employees of asking staff members to obscure where they work on LinkedIn, allegedly, in order to make it more difficult for journalists to interview No Labels employees.[83]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "2019 Form 990" (PDF). Internal Revenue Service. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  2. ↑ Broadwater, Luke (December 15, 2020). "No Labels, Planning Centrist Push in New Congress, Taps Larry Hogan". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 18, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  3. ↑ Clift, Eleanor (April 11, 2015). "The Only Bipartisan Game in Town". Retrieved February 2, 2019. ...the non-profit group that was founded in 2010 to advocate for that elusive middle way.
  4. ↑ "A No Labels solution to Washington gridlock?". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  5. ↑ "New 'No Labels' Movement Seeks Bipartisanship". NPR. December 13, 2010.
  6. ↑ "'No Labels' short on Republicans". Politico. December 13, 2010.
  7. ↑ "No Labels To Unveil 24 Problem Solvers, Huntsman, Manchin in front of 1,300 citizens in New York City". himes.house.gov. January 13, 2013.
  8. ↑ "No Labels Makes Sure Members Are Labeled". Roll Call. January 20, 2015.
  9. ↑ "New traditions take hold for State of the Union address". LA Times. February 12, 2013.
  10. ↑ McPherson, Lindsey (November 28, 2018). "Problem Solvers to Back Pelosi for Speaker After Reaching Agreement on Rules Changes". Roll Call. Archived from the original on December 4, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  11. 1 2 "The Democratic House wants to reform democracy. It's not a panacea — but it's a start". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 8, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  12. 1 2 Pocan, Mark (December 4, 2018). "Congressman: I Was Duped By 'No Labels'". Huffington Post. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  13. ↑ Fang, Lee (November 29, 2018). "Billionaire Republican Donors Helped Elect Rising Centrist Democrats". The Intercept. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  14. ↑ McPherson, Lindsey (June 9, 2021). "Bipartisan House caucus offers alternative infrastructure plan after Senate GOP talks collapse". Roll Call. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  15. 1 2 Voght, Kara (November 7, 2023). "Joe Lieberman will not leave his fellow Democrats alone". The Washington Post.
  16. ↑ Hillyard, Vaughn; Koretski, Katherine; Gallo, Dan (July 17, 2023). "Joe Manchin and Jon Huntsman flirt with third-party 2024 ticket in New Hampshire". NBC News. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  17. ↑ Axelrod, Tal (March 7, 2023). "Larry Hogan won't close the door on third-party presidential bid in 2024". ABC News. Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  18. ↑ Robins-Early, Nick (July 17, 2023). "Manchin appearance with third-party group fuels speculation over 2024 run". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  19. ↑ Benson, Samuel (November 14, 2023). "No, Jon Huntsman Jr. isn't running for president". Deseret News. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  20. 1 2 "No Labels now an officially recognized political party in Maine". NBC News Center Maine. January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  21. ↑ "No Labels hits signature threshold to become political party in Maryland". AP News. January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  22. ↑ Cohen, Michael (August 27, 2023). "No Labels to hold nominating convention in April, Joe Lieberman says". Politico. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  23. ↑ Nichols, Hans (November 29, 2023). "Scoop: No Labels abandons its in-person presidential convention". Axios. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  24. ↑ "What is the No Labels political group, and what is it trying to do?". Washington Post. July 14, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  25. ↑ Kilgore, Ed (July 21, 2023). "No Labels 2024 Bid Bombs When Actual Candidates Are Named". Intelligencer. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  26. ↑ Blake, Aaron (July 24, 2023). "Analysis | An intriguing poll on the potential 2024 impact of No Labels". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  27. ↑ Skelley, Geoffrey (July 13, 2023). "Why A Third-Party Candidate Might Help Trump — And Spoil The Election For Biden". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  28. ↑ Meyerson, Harold (April 12, 2023). "No Labels' Real Label: Vanity Candidates 'R' Us". The American Prospect. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  29. ↑ Giles, Ben (April 26, 2023). "No Labels is getting on state ballots, drawing a lawsuit and concerns about a spoiler". National Public Radio.
  30. ↑ Chait, Jonathan (April 3, 2023). "The Terrifying Threat That No Labels Will Reelect Trump". Intelligencer. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  31. ↑ Scherer, Michael (April 2, 2023). "No Labels group raises alarms with third-party presidential preparations". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  32. ↑ Reich, Robert (September 11, 2023). "Third-party candidates will help Trump win". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  33. ↑ Cooper, Jonathan J. (September 21, 2023). "A third party signed up 15,000 voters in Arizona. Democrats worry that's enough for a Biden spoiler". AP. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  34. ↑ Weisman, Jonathan (May 19, 2023). "'No Labels' Eyes a Third-Party Run in 2024. Democrats Are Alarmed". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  35. ↑ Lippman, Daniel (May 26, 2023). "House Dems in No Labels-allied caucus are livid with No Labels". Politico. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  36. ↑ Collins, Michael (May 13, 2023). "A Trump-Biden rematch? Pass, says this group searching for a third-party option in 2024". USA Today. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  37. ↑ Galston, William A. (May 2, 2023). "Opinion | No Labels May Re-Elect Donald Trump". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  38. ↑ Krieg, Gregory; Zeleny, Jeff; Simon, Jeff (July 18, 2023). "Manchin refuses to rule out third party presidential campaign, says 'if I get in a race, I'm going to win'". CNN Politics. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  39. ↑ Strauss, Daniel (July 17, 2023). "Wagons Circle Around No Labels as Big-Name Group Forms Super PAC". The New Republic. ISSN 0028-6583. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  40. ↑ Nichols, Hans (August 2, 2023). "The anti-No Labels pledge". Axios.
  41. ↑ Fortinsky, Sarah (July 16, 2023). "Christie says he wouldn't join No Labels third-party movement: 'I think it's a fool's errand'". The Hill. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  42. ↑ Morgan, David (July 16, 2023). "Third-party No Labels will not be a 'spoiler' in 2024 election, chair says". Reuters. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  43. ↑ Gibson, Brittany; Kapos, Shia (November 2, 2023). "Pelosi launches an all-out attack against No Labels". Politico. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  44. ↑ "Arizona Democrats sue to keep 'No Labels' candidates off ballots". CNN. March 30, 2023.
  45. 1 2 "In Arizona, No Labels Is Attracting Potential Candidates It Doesn't Want". The New Yorker. October 25, 2023.
  46. ↑ "No Labels sues to block Arizona Democrats from using ballot line". The Hill. October 20, 2023.
  47. ↑ "Maine election officials say No Labels may be misleading voters in its third-party push". NBC News. June 6, 2023.
  48. ↑ "Nearly 800 Maine voters left No Labels party after signature-drive confusion". Portland Press Herald. September 17, 2023.
  49. ↑ "No Labels confirmed as new political party with ballot access in Maine". Press Herald. January 5, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  50. ↑ Lynch, Donovan. "No Labels party will not hold Maine primary". News Center Maine. No. 9 January 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  51. ↑ "No Labels 2024 Insurance Project FAQ". nolabels.org. No Labels. April 2, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  52. ↑ Rich, Frank (December 19, 2010). "The Bipartisanship Racket". The New York Times. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  53. 1 2 3 Stein, Sam; Markay, Lachlan (December 3, 2018). "How No Labels Went from Preaching Unity to Practicing the Dark Arts". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on October 15, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  54. 1 2 Grim, Ryan (September 23, 2021). "Dark-Money Group to Donors: Reconciliation Bill Can Still be Killed". The Intercept. Archived from the original on December 18, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  55. ↑ Fang, Lee (August 26, 2021). "No Labels Offered Conservative Democrats Hundreds of Thousands to Spurn Nancy Pelosi Fundraiser". The Intercept. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  56. ↑ Sirota, Sara (October 25, 2021). "Josh Gottheimer's Obstructionist Crew Raised Millions During Showdown With Nancy Pelosi". The Intercept. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  57. ↑ Perez, Andrew (May 2023). "Last Year's Biden-Endorsed Gubernatorial Nominee in South Carolina Just Joined the No Labels Group". Jacobin. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  58. ↑ Langley, Monica (November 24, 2010). "Aiming for the Political Middle". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on November 25, 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  59. ↑ Sweet, Lynn (March 12, 2018). "Bipartisan 'No Labels' group's super PAC network revealed: mega Chicago donors". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on November 27, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  60. ↑ Fang, Lee (November 29, 2018). "Billionaire Republican Donors Helped Elect Rising Centrist Democrats". The Intercept. Archived from the original on November 29, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  61. ↑ Stein, Sam (December 3, 2018). "How No Labels Went From Preaching Unity to Practicing the Dark Arts". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on December 16, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  62. ↑ "Super PAC behind spending in Minnesota and Florida primaries linked to nonpartisan No Labels group". OpenSecrets News. August 2, 2018. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  63. ↑ "United Together – committee overview". FEC.gov. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  64. ↑ "Forward Not Back – committee overview". FEC.gov. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  65. ↑ "Citizens for a Stong America Inc – committee overview". FEC.gov. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  66. ↑ "United for Progress, Inc. – committee overview". FEC.gov. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  67. ↑ "Progress Tomorrow, Inc. – committee overview". FEC.gov. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  68. ↑ "Govern Or Go Home – committee overview". FEC.gov. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  69. ↑ "Patriotic Americans PAC – committee overview". FEC.gov. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  70. ↑ Strauss, Daniel (April 19, 2023). "No Labels Took More Than $100,000 From Clarence Thomas Buddy Harlan Crow". The New Republic.
  71. ↑ Dorn, Sara. "What To Know About No Labels: Shadowy Political Group Raises Alarms Over A 'Spoiler' 2024 Presidential Candidate". Forbes. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  72. ↑ "'No Labels' is an insurance policy to benefit Trump". Sun Sentinel. July 25, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  73. ↑ Moore, David (July 28, 2023). "No Labels Funnels Finance Money to Congress". Sludge. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  74. ↑ Cooper, Jonathan (July 13, 2023). "Arizona Democrats file complaint against No Labels over donor secrecy". Associated Press. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  75. ↑ Lippman, Daniel (December 7, 2022). "Inside the turmoil roiling No Labels' unity ticket presidential campaign". Politico. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  76. ↑ "No Labels, Marking 10th Anniversary, Welcomes Maryland Governor Larry Hogan as National Co-Chair" (Press release). January 28, 2021. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  77. ↑ Booker, Brakkton (December 15, 2020). "Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan Named Co-Chair Of Bipartisan Group No Labels". National Public Radio. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  78. ↑ "Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. Named National Co-Chair of No Labels". The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint. January 23, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  79. ↑ Russell, Ty (June 21, 2023). "Former NC governor McCrory named national co-chair of centrist political group No Labels". WLOS. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  80. 1 2 Suozzo, Andrea; Schwencke, Ken; Tigas, Mike; Wei, Sisi; Glassford, Alec; Roberts, Brandon (May 9, 2013). "No Labels, Full Filing - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  81. ↑ "Legal Board - No Labels". www.nolabels.org. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  82. ↑ Moore, David (July 12, 2023). Shaw, Donald (ed.). "No Labels Appears to Be Losing Board Members". Sludge. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  83. 1 2 3 Lippman, Daniel (December 7, 2022). "Inside the turmoil roiling No Labels' unity ticket presidential campaign". Politico. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  84. ↑ Lippman, Daniel (August 14, 2023). "No Labels sued by ex-employee over alleged racial discrimination". Politico. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
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