Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) voiced her concerns on Thursday about the No Labels group’s intention to introduce a third-party “unity ticket” in the upcoming 2024 presidential race. Speaking at a breakfast hosted by Third Way, a center-left think tank, Pelosi expressed her worries that this move could pose a threat to President Joe Biden’s chances of reelection.
“I think that No Labels is perilous to our democracy,” Pelosi declared firmly to reporters, emphasizing her stance without hesitation. She pointed out the group’s claim of bipartisanship but criticized their policies, stating, “I hesitate to say No Labels because they do have labels. They’re called no taxes for the rich. No child tax credit for children. They’re called let’s undo the Affordable Care Act,” as reported by Politico.
Pelosi’s critique drew a response from former Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.), a co-founder of No Labels, who defended the group’s efforts. Lieberman argued that attempts to dictate what Americans should think and stifling political competition were the real dangers to democracy, as stated in his statements to NPR and ABC News.
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Additionally, Third Way, a think tank, raised concerns about No Labels, asserting that their “radical new plan” could inadvertently support former President Donald Trump’s victory. Pelosi echoed these concerns, stating that she could no longer remain silent when No Labels jeopardized Biden’s reelection prospects.
“When they jeopardize the reelection of Joe Biden as president of the United States, I can no longer remain silent on that,” Pelosi emphasized.
In a recent memo dated Monday, No Labels portrayed both Biden and Trump as weak candidates, claiming voters desired an alternative. The group dismissed criticisms suggesting they might boost Trump’s chances, stating that the choice of their candidate would determine their voter base.
No Labels has not yet revealed the leader of their ticket, but several names have been floated, including Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman (R), and ex-Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R).
During the breakfast discussion, Pelosi also commented on the election of Mike Johnson (R-La.) as the new House speaker, expressing her observations, “The Republicans wanted Trump as speaker, and they got him,” as reported by CBS News.
