Politics
Pelosi blasts No Labels’ bid for 2024 third-party ticket as threat to Biden
By Jake Beardslee · November 3, 2023
In brief…
- Pelosi strongly condemned centrist group No Labels and its push for a third-party presidential bid in 2024.
- She accused the group of trying to undermine Biden's reelection under the guise of nonpartisanship.
- Pelosi expressed confidence in growing support for Biden as the 2024 race heats up.
- She criticized potential independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as an "anti-vaxxer."
- Regarding new House Speaker Mike Johnson, Pelosi offered well wishes but portrayed him as beholden to Trump.
House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi lambasted the centrist group No Labels and its attempt to mount a third-party presidential bid in the 2024 election. Speaking at a breakfast hosted by the centrist Democratic group Third Way, Pelosi stated “I think that No Labels is perilous to our democracy. I say that completely without any hesitation.” She accused No Labels of trying to create “an illusion” of nonpartisanship while working to undermine the reelection of President Joe Biden.
No Labels has been appealing to centrist candidates from both parties and hinting at a mixed bipartisan ticket for 2024. Pelosi and Third Way President Jonathan Cowan fear the true aim is to deny either major party candidate the 270 electoral votes needed to win, throwing the election to the House. Former Republican Governor Larry Hogan, No Labels’ co-chair, defended the group’s push for bipartisanship and charged Pelosi with “trying to score political points,” in an interview with ABC News.
Pelosi insisted Biden’s perceived lack of support merely reflects that most Americans are not focused on the 2024 race yet. She expressed confidence Biden’s support will grow as he campaigns more actively. The former speaker also criticized potential independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., calling him “an anti-vaxxer” and urging him not to run.
Shifting to the new Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, Pelosi offered him well wishes but portrayed him as a puppet of former President Donald Trump. She said she believes Democrats and Republicans can find common ground on some issues under Johnson’s speakership. However, when asked if an “election denier” can succeed as speaker, Pelosi quipped “The Republicans wanted Trump as speaker, and they got him.”