Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) blasted the No Labels movement in remarks Thursday, calling it “perilous to democracy.”
The group is working to organize a third-party presidential bid, and a number of Democrats have criticized the organization for taking part in work that could help former President Trump, the leader in the GOP primary, win a general election.
“I hesitate to say ‘No Labels,’ because they do have labels,” Pelosi said Thursday at an event organized by the Democratic-centrist group Third Way. “They’re called no taxes for the rich. No child tax credit for children. They’re called let’s undo the Affordable Care Act by getting Republicans in to change it.”
Pelosi said she had previously ignored the group despite its attacks on her, calling it “not that important,” but she decided to finally speak up now.
“When they jeopardize the reelection of Joe Biden as president of the United States, I can no longer remain silent on them,” she said.
No Labels leaders have touted the group’s goal of appealing to the growing group of Americans that dislikes both parties. The group’s idea is to run a third-party “unity ticket” of one Democrat and one Republican, pointing to research showing there’s an appetite among voters for that type of bipartisan leadership.
The group’s leaders have also repeatedly stated, however, they would not run a unity ticket that they did not think could get the necessary number of votes to win the White House.
Floated presidential ticket members include Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and 2020 Democratic primary candidate Andrew Yang.
But critics of No Labels have pointed out that, unlike other third-party efforts in America or in democracies around the world, No Labels lacks a cohesive set of policy positions for which it stands.
Pelosi said the group did indeed have some positions, despite its claims, including attempting to undo Democrats’ “generational accomplishments” such as the Affordable Care Act.
“They do have a label, and it’s a perilous one for our country,” she said. “Just look at who they want to have an influence on our policy.”
She listed off a number of prominent No Labels donors, including conservative mega-donors Peter Thiel and the late David Koch.
Third Way spokesperson Kate deGruyter also went after the group Thursday.
“The No Labels plan to run a Republican for president to force a contingent election would sow chaos. There is simply no path to victory,” she said in a statement. “If they move forward with this spoiler bid and try to play kingmaker, the outcome will be the re-election of Donald Trump.”
The group garnered criticism from President Biden last month over attempts to make the presidential ballot in some states.
“Now, it’s going to help [Trump], and he knows,” Biden said, referring to No Labels chair and former Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.). “That’s a political decision he’s making that I obviously think is a mistake. But he has a right to do that.”
No Labels has secured ballot access in 11 states and said it hopes to be in all 50 next year.