A majority of registered voters across eight key battleground states say they would back a third-party candidate if the 2024 election features a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, according to a report released on Tuesday.
Roughly 63% in those states say they’d be open to supporting a centrist independent presidential ticket in 2024, according to the latest poll conducted by the centrist group No Labels. Most voters also say they do not believe Biden, at 72%, or Trump, at 63%, should win a second term, opening the door for an alternative candidate to siphon votes away from both major parties.
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“Voters in these states are sending a simple and powerful message: They want more choices in 2024 and they don’t like anyone working to limit their choices,” No Labels Chief Strategist Ryan Clancy said in a statement.
The study surveyed voters across eight battleground states that will be crucial to the 2024 contest, including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Roughly 72% of voters in those states say more ballot choices would lead to a “healthier and more vibrant democracy,” pushing back on criticism that a third-party ticket would elevate a “spoiler candidate.”
No Labels has become more prominent over the last several months due to its efforts to expand ballot access for a third-party presidential candidate in the 2024 elections. The group has already been granted access in 10 states and is vying to appear in all 50 states by next year.
So far, the group will appear in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota, and Utah.
Outside Democratic groups have pushed back on No Labels and its efforts for months, pointing to historical evidence showing third-party candidates typically do poorly in general elections. Others have argued a third-party ticket would provide a crucial boost to the GOP and open the door for Trump or an aligned candidate to be elected.
Some groups have even filed lawsuits seeking to keep No Labels off the ballot, with one of the most high-profile cases coming out of Arizona earlier this year. However, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Katherine Cooper ultimately sided with state Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, who earlier this year recognized No Labels as a political party that met the requirements to appear on the ballot.
A significant majority of voters decried such a move from Arizona Democrats, with 74% saying it is “inappropriate” for members of the two major parties to block listing alternative parties on the 2024 ballot, the poll showed. Another 73% say such a move amounts to “voter choice suppression.”
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It’s not yet clear who the group would tap as its nominees, but the group plans to hold a nominating convention in April should it move forward with plans for a third-party ticket. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) has emerged as a top contender for the ticket, with the West Virginia Democrat repeatedly telling reporters he has not decided whether he’ll run for reelection or seek higher office.
The No Labels poll surveyed 9,418 registered voters in the eight states with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 to 2.9 percentage points, depending on the individual state’s sample.