Biden Allies Try to Squash Third-Party Candidates – The New York Times
Powerful allies of President Biden are aggressively working to stop third-party and independent presidential candidacies, fearing that an outside bid could cost Democrats an election that many believe will again come down to a few percentage points in key battleground states.
As attempts to mount outside campaigns multiply, a broad coalition has accelerated a multipronged assault to starve such efforts of financial and political support and warn fellow Democrats that supporting outsider candidacies, including the centrist organization No Labels, could throw the election to former President Donald J. Trump.
Mr. Bidens top aides have blessed the multimillion-dollar offensive, which cuts across the party, tapping the resources of the Democratic National Committee, labor unions, abortion rights groups, top donors and advocacy groups backing moderate and liberal Democrats. Even the president has helped spread the word: Mr. Biden, in an interview with ProPublica, said a No Labels candidacy would help the other guy.
The endeavor is far-reaching. In Washington, Democratic allies are working alongside top party strategists to spread negative information about possible outsider candidates. Across the country, lawyers have begun researching moves to limit ballot access or at least make it more costly to qualify.
At expensive resorts and closed-door conferences, Democratic donors are urging their friends not to fund potential spoiler candidates. And in key swing states, lone-wolf operators, including a librarian from Arizona, are trying their own tactics to make life difficult for third-party contenders.
The anxiety over candidates and parties traditionally consigned to the fringes of American politics reflects voters deep dissatisfaction with both men who are likely to become the major parties nominees. No third-party candidate has risen out of the single digits in three decades, since Ross Perot captured nearly a fifth of the vote in 1992. Given the devotion of Mr. Trumps most ardent supporters, Democrats fear that most of the attrition would come from Mr. Bidens fragile coalition.
Theyve got to understand the risk that they are exposing the country to by doing this, said Richard A. Gephardt, a former House majority leader and a Democratic Party graybeard who has formed a super PAC to attack outsider campaigns. This is too dangerous of an idea to put in play in this context, in this year. These are not normal times.
Mr. Gephardt warned that third-party candidates threatened not only Mr. Bidens chances of victory but also the stability of American democracy. Internal polling conducted by his group found that an independent centrist candidate could attract more than 20 percent of the vote in competitive states, helping Mr. Trump in all but one of them.
In recent days, two candidates have taken steps toward mounting independent bids. Cornel West, the left-wing Harvard professor, announced on Thursday that he would run as an independent candidate. And Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has hinted that he may announce on Monday that he is leaving the Democratic presidential primary race to run as an independent. Already, a super PAC backing his bid has raised $17 million, according to Tony Lyons, the groups treasurer.
Still, most of the Biden allies attention is directed at No Labels, the best-funded outsider organization, which after years of sponsoring bipartisan congressional caucuses is working to gain ballot access for a presidential candidate for the first time.
The groups chief executive, Nancy Jacobson, has told potential donors and allies that the No Labels candidate will be a moderate Republican, according to three people familiar with the conversations. That decision would rule out Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, a Democrat whose flirtation with the idea has prompted a wave of angst within his party.
No Labels has already raised $60 million, Ms. Jacobson said in an interview, and has qualified for the ballot in 11 states, including the presidential battlegrounds of Arizona, Nevada and North Carolina. The group plans to spend about half of the money on securing ballot access across all 50 states.
Ms. Jacobson said her organization was devoted to presenting voters with an option beyond Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump. No Labels is in the process of vetting potential candidates now and will announce its delegate selection process in the coming weeks, she said. The plan is to hold a nominating convention in April in Dallas and anoint a presidential ticket if it is clear the country is heading toward a 2020 rematch.
Ms. Jacobson and her chief strategist, Ryan Clancy, insist that their effort is in good faith and is not a secret plot to help Mr. Trump win.
Were never going to be a party to something that would spoil it for Trump, Mr. Clancy said.
No Labels has focused its recent polling on eight states that are expected to be competitive in a Biden-Trump contest, though Mr. Clancy said he believed a No Labels ticket would be viable in 25 states. If a third-party or independent candidate were to gain serious traction, it could reshuffle the entire presidential map, potentially turning states like New York or Texas into true battlegrounds.
Mr. Kennedy has also been a source of concern for Democrats, who worry that his anti-corporate politics and famous last name could pull some of their voters away from Mr. Biden. But some of Mr. Bidens top allies also believe that Mr. Kennedy, who has increasingly pushed right-wing ideas, would hurt Mr. Trump.
The broad Democratic unease is rooted in a core belief that Mr. Trump has both a low ceiling and a high floor of general-election support meaning that his voters are less likely to be swayed by a third-party or independent candidate. Mr. Biden has wider appeal, but his supporters are not as loyal, and polling has suggested that they could be persuaded to back someone else if given more options.
Public and private surveys point to increased interest in alternatives this election. In polling released this week by Monmouth University, majorities of voters said that they were not enthusiastic about Mr. Trump or Mr. Biden being at the top of their partys ticket and that they would not back either man if the race became a rematch.
Matt Bennett, a co-founder of the center-left group Third Way who is serving as a clearinghouse for Democrats effort to block third-party and independent candidates, is working with the progressive organization MoveOn and a host of like-minded Biden allies to dissuade anyone from having any association with No Labels. Those efforts are bankrolled by more than $1 million from Reid Hoffman, the billionaire Democratic megadonor.
Mr. Bennett is using Third Ways connections with centrist donors to try to block No Labels access to money, while Rahna Epting, the executive director of MoveOn, has been briefing other progressive groups and labor unions about the dangers of their members supporting third-party candidates instead of Mr. Biden.
Anything that divides the anti-Trump coalition is bad, Mr. Bennett said.
Marc Elias, one of the partys most dogged and litigious election lawyers, has been retained by American Bridge, the Democratic Partys primary opposition research organization, to vet ballot-qualification efforts by No Labels and other third-party efforts.
And the Democratic National Committee has instructed state and county party leaders to say nothing in public about No Labels, according to an email the Utah Democratic Party sent to county leaders in the state.
We need to do everything we can to stop this effort NOW, and not wait until they name a ticket and this becomes a runaway train, Thom DeSirant, the executive director of the Utah Democratic Party, wrote in a missive that included links to Third Ways talking points about how to speak about No Labels.
The efforts resemble hand-to-hand political combat in both public and private. The abortion rights group Reproductive Freedom for All wrote on social media that Jon M. Huntsman Jr., a Republican former governor of Utah who has been linked to the No Labels bid, is an abortion extremist, based on anti-abortion views he articulated during his 2012 presidential campaign.
And Michael Steele, who served as a lieutenant governor of Maryland and as Republican National Committee chairman, has assumed the portfolio of persuading former Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland, a moderate Republican who has publicly toyed with accepting the No Labels nomination, to end his association with the group.
Ive told the governor what I think he should do, Mr. Steele said.
Perhaps nowhere has No Labels run into as many real-world roadblocks as in Arizona.
After the group successfully qualified for the presidential ballot, the Arizona Democratic Party sued to remove it. That legal effort failed, but the attention led two people to submit candidate statements to run for down-ballot offices on the No Labels ticket something the group had tried to block so as to avoid being categorized as a political party, which could trigger requirements to disclose No Labels donors, who have so far been kept secret.
For different reasons, the Arizona candidates who are seeking the No Labels line could prove awkward for the movement.
One of them, Tyson Draper, a high school coach from Thatcher, Ariz., is seeking the groups line to run for the Senate. In an interview last week, he called himself a centrist political newcomer who had never sought public office before. A day later, he filed papers to begin a movement to recall Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat.
The other would-be No Labeler is Richard Grayson, an assistant librarian at a community college south of Phoenix.
Mr. Grayson, 72, is seeking the No Labels nomination for the states Corporation Commission, which regulates public utilities. He has appeared as a candidate for office dozens of times since 1982, and said he was a Biden supporter.
Im a perennial candidate whose goal is to torture No Labels, he said. Im enjoying it immensely. Im tormenting them.
Rebecca Davis OBrien contributed reporting.
Continue reading here:
Biden Allies Try to Squash Third-Party Candidates - The New York Times
- South Parks most furious episode ever: the jaw-dropping Satanic takedown of Donald Trump - The Guardian - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Donald Trump will add to pressure on Jerome Powell with visit to Federal Reserve - The Guardian - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Donald Trump visit to Scotland expected to be met with wave of protest - The Guardian - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- South Park Season 27 Premiere Puts Donald Trump in Bed With Satan - Variety - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Video of Jeffrey Epstein Talking About Donald Trump Resurfaces - Newsweek - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- The King of Soccer: How Gianni Infantino won over Donald Trump and just about every other politician in America - Politico - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- How Donald Trump is using the courts to push through his agenda - BBC - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Cleveland Guardians respond after President Donald Trump calls for team name to be reverted to old moniker - CBS Sports - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Are Donald Trump's tariffs the new sanctions? - DW - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Everything here is just better: Ellen DeGeneres confirms she moved to the UK because of Donald Trump - The Guardian - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Donald Trump Wont Absolutely Love That He May Have Just Handed an Emmy to Stephen Colbert - The Hollywood Reporter - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Donald Trump Just Got A Brutal New Nickname Courtesy Of Jasmine Crockett, And The Internet Can't Stop Talking About It - Yahoo Home - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Ellen DeGeneres: I moved to the UK because of Donald Trump - BBC - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Was Diagnosed with Chronic Veinous Insufficiency. Heres What It Means for His Health - Biography: Historical and Celebrity Profiles - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- President Donald Trump calls on Cleveland Guardians to restore former name - Akron Beacon Journal - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- The Epstein files and Donald Trump - The Economist - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Opinion | Donald Trump is fighting a conspiracy the only way he knows how - The Washington Post - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Underwent Vascular Tests After Swelling In His Legs, Diagnosed With Chronic Venous Insufficiency - Deadline - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Why Donald Trump is facing doubts in the manosphere - CNN - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Donald Trump says those interested in Jeffrey Epstein inquiry are bad people - The Guardian - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Responds When Asked If He Was Told His Name Was in Epstein Files - Newsweek - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Gavin Newsom's Warning to Donald Trump Over Plan for Texas Republicans - Newsweek - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Rosie O'Donnell Scoffs At Donald Trump's Threat To Revoke Her Citizenship - Vanity Fair - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Buckingham Palace Announces Dates of Donald Trump's State Visit to the U.K. and It's Happening Soon - People.com - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Butler one year later: Revisiting the historic assassination attempt against Donald Trump - Fox News - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Donald Trump announces 30% tariffs on goods from the EU and Mexico - The Guardian - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- President Donald Trump Broke His Social Security Vow -- and It May Be the Best Thing That's Happened to Retirees - Yahoo Finance - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Donald Trump's frustration with Vladimir Putin prompts shift of tone on Ukraine - Financial Times - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Donald Trump, the Club World Cup final, and how security protect VIPs at major sporting events - The Athletic - The New York Times - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Donald Trump and the Scots: A not-so special relationship - BBC - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Does Donald Trump deserve the Nobel Peace Prize? We asked 5 experts - The Conversation - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Mary Trump Issues Warning on Long-Term Impact of Donald Trump Move - Newsweek - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Donald Trump threatens to impose 50% tariff on Brazil - Financial Times - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Is the Hispanic Red Wave for Donald Trump Starting to Crash? - The New Yorker - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- President Donald Trump's approval rating by state as of July 2025 - Yahoo - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Sending More Weapons to Ukraine: What We Know - Newsweek - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- It Appears Elon Musk REALLY Pissed Off Donald Trump This Time, And I'm Convinced They're DUNZO - Yahoo - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Wants to Add His Face to Mount Rushmore. Here's What Its Former Keeper Says About 'the Reality of the Rock' - Yahoo News - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Map Shows Donald Trump's Approval Rating in Every State on 4th of July - Newsweek - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Keir Starmer says good relationship with Donald Trump based on shared family values - The Guardian - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Donald Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' Heads Back to the House: What's Next? - Newsweek - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- The play-by-play of the 24-hour war of words between Elon Musk and Donald Trump - Business Insider - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Donald Trump Says Hes Found a Group of Very Wealthy People to Buy TikTok and Keep App in U.S. - Variety - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Says Group Of "Very Wealthy People" Looking To Acquire TikTok - Deadline - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Confirmed to Return with Speaking Part in Disney World's Hall of Presidents - WDWMagic - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Warns NY Mayor Candidate Zohran Mamdani: 'Do the Right Thing' - Newsweek - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Donald Trump says 'very wealthy group' has agreed to buy TikTok in the US - Sky News - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Orchestrated grovel: critics react to Europes attempts to tame Donald Trump - The Guardian - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Is About to Confront the Real Reason the US Keeps Starting Wars - Politico - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Cuts Off Trade Talks With Canada, 'Effective Immediately' - Newsweek - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Jen's Version: Are we really going to pretend Donald Trump is concerned about classified material? - MSNBC News - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Makes Major Change to Mortgages: What to Know - Newsweek - June 26th, 2025 [June 26th, 2025]
- 'It's possible' Putin will invade more than Ukraine, says Donald Trump - Euronews.com - June 26th, 2025 [June 26th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Nobel Peace Prize Nomination Withdrawn - Newsweek - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Dear heads of state: Donald Trump wont love you back. He may be the worst boyfriend the world has ever seen - The Guardian - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Marjorie Taylor Greene Flips Out Over 'Dirty Rumors' About Her And Donald Trump - Yahoo - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- 'How angry Donald Trump is': Social media reacts to Trump dropping F-bomb live on TV - Times of India - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- President Donald Trump: The strikes were a spectacular military success - Fox News - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- Donald Trump Bombs Iran, and America Waits - The New Yorker - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- Bombing Iran, Donald Trump is triggering a tragedy that Thucydides foretold long ago - The Forward - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- Is Donald Trump an Antagonist or Champion of the Gay Community? - The New York Times - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- Donald Trump to Address Nation After Attacking Iran Nuclear Sites - Newsweek - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- Donald Trump says US has attacked three Iranian nuclear sites and totally obliterated them - The Guardian - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- Juventus meet Donald Trump at the White House as he discusses Iran conflict and transgender women in sport - The New York Times - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Trump denies approving Iran attack plan but will make decision within two weeks | Donald Trump - The Guardian - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Donald Trump's National Park Tip Line Flooded With Angry Messages - Newsweek - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Opinion | What the Godfather of American Conservatism Would Think About Donald Trump - Politico - June 16th, 2025 [June 16th, 2025]
- The quiet truce between Gavin Newsom and Donald Trump is over - CalMatters - June 10th, 2025 [June 10th, 2025]
- Gavin Newsom Dares Donald Trump to Arrest Him: 'Get It Over With' - Newsweek - June 10th, 2025 [June 10th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Accused Of Inciting Violence With Chilling New Rhyme - Yahoo News - June 10th, 2025 [June 10th, 2025]
- Opinion | Donald Trump vs. California (and everywhere else) - The Washington Post - June 10th, 2025 [June 10th, 2025]
- 'So much for being nice guy': Donald Trump reignites trade tensions, warns China it has violated tariff d - Times of India - May 30th, 2025 [May 30th, 2025]
- Mike Pence Accuses Donald Trump of Ignoring Constitution - Newsweek - May 30th, 2025 [May 30th, 2025]
- We demanded justice after George Floyds death. Donald Trump made things worse, but we fight on | Al Sharpton - The Guardian - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Posts All-Caps Memorial Day Message Attacking USA Hating Judges And Scum Who Are Trying To Destroy Our Country - Deadline - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- CNN abruptly stopped for breaking news as Donald Trump explodes at reporter over Ukraine question - The Mirror US - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- Donald Trump is throttling Americas oil industry - The Economist - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- Donald Trump prizes more Gulf investment in the US - BBC - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Vows to Reduce Prescription Drug Costs by Up to 80 Percent - Newsweek - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]
- What is habeas corpus and why might Donald Trump want to suspend it? - BBC - May 11th, 2025 [May 11th, 2025]