No Labels, a so-called centrist organization that has solicited donations from far-right megadonors like the Koch brothers and Peter Thiel, has announced a $70 million campaign to put a third-party presidential candidate on the ballot in all 50 states.
Even their centrist allies warn that their third-party campaign will “make it far more likely — if not certain — that Donald Trump returns to the White House.”
The Intercept has tracked the funding and political activities of No Labels and other dark-money organizations for years. As these unaccountable groups prepare for 2024, our team is following the money to find out who’s got their thumb on the scales.
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In March, the centrist political advocacy organization Third Way — which has previously taken many of the same policy positions as No Labels — released a deep-dive polling analysis warning that “the conclusion is inescapable: No Labels is committed to fielding a candidate that will, intentionally or not, provide a crucial boost to Republicans.”
It’s hard to argue that they’re wrong. In 2016, the third-party campaigns of Jill Stein and Gary Johnson got more votes than the margin of error in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. And neither of those campaigns had anywhere near the amount of money that No Labels has pledged to spend.
The Intercept’s reporting has already shined a light on how No Labels has allegedly violated the law in Maine by tricking voters into unknowingly registering with its own political party, preventing them from voting in Democratic or Republican primaries. No Labels is also facing a lawsuit in Arizona for improperly gaining ballot access.
The Intercept’s reporters have decades of experience tracking dark money spending at every level of U.S. elections. But following the paper trail behind these secretive groups isn’t cheap or easy. With groups like No Labels poised to play a potentially decisive role in the 2024 election, our independent investigative reporting on money in politics is more important than ever.
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