The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is reportedly strategizing to derail a potential third-party bid in the 2024 presidential elections. The concern lies in the possibility that such a bid could jeopardize President Joe Biden’s re-election efforts.
The third-party group in question, No Labels, is said to have expressed interest in running for presidency and allegedly courted Democratic West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, though his candidacy remains unconfirmed.
An email circulated among local Democratic leaders contained instructions from the DNC, sourced from the left-leaning think tank Third Way, urging them to publicly denounce third-party tickets. One official from the Utah Democratic Party stressed the urgency of halting this effort before it gains momentum.
Democratic leaders were encouraged to issue public statements, pen open letters and use media appearances to denounce No Labels’ potential presidential bid. However, state and county parties were advised by the DNC to refrain from making any public statements about No Labels at present, although elected officials were given the green light to voice their opposition.
The crux of the Democrats’ opposition to third-party efforts, including those by No Labels and Green Party presidential candidate Cornel West, lies in the fear that these runs could split votes and potentially pave the way for Donald Trump, the current Republican frontrunner, to win the presidency in 2024. As it stands, No Labels has qualified for the ballot in over 10 states and has raised close to $70 million.
