No Labels may finally have a candidate in consideration for its third-party “unity ticket” in the 2024 presidential election.
Sources familiar with the group’s efforts to field a third-party ticket tell ABC News that No Labels representatives have had meetings with former Georgia GOP Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan about running as the group’s presidential candidate.
Duncan wouldn’t comment on this report, but isn’t shutting down speculation.
On Friday, No Labels voted to move forward with the effort to field a bi-partisan challenge to the presumptive Democratic and Republican nominees President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
According to the sources, Duncan has meet with the No Labels leadership and this weekend will be meeting with Republican donors in a series of meetings set up by No Labels.
Duncan served as Georgia’s lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2023. While he is a conservative Republican, he has been sharply critical of Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Geoff Duncan, former Georgia Lieutenant Governor, outside outside the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta, Aug. 14, 2023.
Ben Hendren/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Last month, Duncan wrote an op-ed in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution explaining why he would not support Trump for president. “So now the uncomfortable part: admitting to your neighbors the ends don’t justify the means any longer,” he wrote.
“Trump has become incapable of leading in a respectable or mature way. Until more of us are willing to acknowledge that hard truth, we will be on the outside looking in.”
People with the group No Labels hold signs during a rally on Capitol Hill, July 13, 2013.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
No Labels Chief Strategist Ryan Clancy said, “Now that No Labels’ delegates have given the go ahead for us to accelerate our candidate search for a Unity ticket, voters will read plenty of speculation about who would be on it.”
He continued, “But No Labels has not yet chosen a ticket and any names floating around are being put out there by someone else.”
No Labels will announce a formal selection process next Thursday, March 14.
Several potential candidates such as Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, Sen. Joe Manchin and Gov. Larry Hogan were once in consideration, but have since distanced themselves in recent weeks going their separate ways.
In response to previous names floated, Clancy said on ABC News Live, “The one thing I would tell people is for months there have been names floated out there associated with the No Labels ticket. The only problem is none of those names have been put out there by us. So if you’re reading any names today, or over the weekend, none of those names are out there because no labels, put them out there. Those names are out there because you know people like to do baseless speculation.”
ABC News’ Kelsey Walsh contributed to this report.
Geoff Duncan, the former Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, is currently being considered as a potential candidate for the No Labels movement. The No Labels movement is a political organization that aims to bring together Democrats, Republicans, and Independents to work towards bipartisan solutions to the country’s most pressing issues.
Duncan, a Republican, served as Georgia’s Lieutenant Governor from 2019 to 2023. During his time in office, he gained a reputation for being a pragmatic and forward-thinking leader who was willing to work across party lines to get things done. He was known for his focus on issues such as healthcare, education, and economic development, and he was seen as a rising star within the Republican Party.
After leaving office, Duncan has continued to be active in the political arena, speaking out on issues such as election integrity and the future of the Republican Party. He has also been vocal about the need for politicians to put aside their differences and work together to find common ground on important issues.
Duncan’s potential candidacy for the No Labels movement has generated excitement among those who believe in the importance of bipartisanship and cooperation in politics. His track record of working across party lines and his commitment to finding solutions that benefit all Americans make him a strong contender for the No Labels endorsement.
If Duncan decides to run as a No Labels candidate, he would likely focus on issues such as healthcare reform, infrastructure investment, and climate change. These are all issues that have bipartisan support but have been stalled in Congress due to partisan gridlock.
Overall, Geoff Duncan’s potential candidacy for the No Labels movement represents a new direction for American politics. By bringing together Democrats, Republicans, and Independents under a common banner, Duncan could help bridge the divide that has polarized our country and work towards real solutions that benefit all Americans.
