No Labels has taken legal action against Arizona by filing a lawsuit to prevent candidates who oppose the party’s efforts to launch a third-party presidential ticket from running as a member. The lawsuit is aimed at protecting who can run for office other than vice president or president under the No Labels name.
“At its core, this lawsuit highlights the right to freedom of association, a cornerstone of our democracy. Political parties should have the liberty to define their goals and focus without external imposition," Benjamin Chavis Jr., former head of the NAACP and national co-chairman of No Labels, said in a press release.
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The third-party centrist political group is seeking the intervention of a federal judge to block Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes's decision to reject No Labels's request to block candidates who filed paperwork to run for state office without the group's backing.
The group is arguing that under Arizona law, it has a right “to determine whether it will nominate candidates for a particular political office.”
No Labels said it does not want candidates for office other than presidential electors, but two contenders have already filed for state offices in Arizona under its banner — Tyson Draper, who is running for a seat in the Senate, and Richard Grayson, who is running for the state utility regulator and supports President Joe Biden.
Democrats in Arizona have long been working to prevent No Labels from getting on the state’s ballot, launching a lawsuit over the summer against the group, along with Fontes and election supervisors across the state, arguing the group had faulty paperwork. However, the Democrats lost the suit in court and dropped the case. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Katherine Cooper issued the decision in August, thwarting the efforts of Arizona’s Democratic Party. But Fontes's latest decision in September to allow all candidates to file under the No Labels banner sparked the newest legal action.
No Labels has registered more than 15,000 people in Arizona, adding to Democratic fears a third-party presidential campaign will detract votes from Biden and end up boosting former President Donald Trump. No Labels has gained ballot access in more than a dozen states, threatening a bipartisan presidential ticket in 2024 if the top two candidates are widely unfavorable, noting it will make its decision about launching a bid after Super Tuesday.
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“We firmly believe in protecting the fundamental rights of political parties and their ability to define their mission and objectives,” said Gail Koshland, chairwoman of the No Labels Party of Arizona. “The No Labels Party of Arizona has a specific purpose, and we are committed to defending its rights under the law.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to Arizona’s Secretary of State Office for comment.