Retiring Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) says she isn’t planning on running for president on the moderate group No Labels’ ticket. While many thought she might run after announcing her retirement from the Senate, both Sinema and No Labels say that she’s retiring from politics entirely.
No Labels is a well-funded moderate group that intends to put together an Independent ticket for the 2024 election. Its candidates are not chosen by primaries, instead being selected by the group itself. No Labels has put out a YouTube video listing its priorities for the coming election:
Sinema was a moderate Democrat who became an Independent in 2022. She announced on Tuesday that she would not be running for reelection to the Senate in 2024.
“I believe in my approach but it’s not what America wants right now,” she said in the video announcing her retirement. “I love Arizona, and I am so proud of what we’ve delivered. Because I chose civility, understanding, listening, working together to get stuff done, I will leave the Senate at the end of the year,”
Some believed that Sinema was gearing up for a presidential run, but she told Bloomberg that she had no intentions of running for president, making her the latest of a string of prominent moderates to pass up the opportunity.
.@SenatorSinema has been a courageous voice for commonsense and civility at a moment when America desperately needs both. She has made clear that her time in electoral politics is over, and we thank her for her longstanding friendship to No Labels.
— No Labels (@NoLabelsOrg) March 7, 2024
Several other potential candidates have declined offers from No Labels, putting the group under pressure to find a candidate to represent their values.
Former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, despite her loss to Trump, won’t run with No Labels out of loyalty to her party.
“What I will tell you is I’m a conservative Republican. I have said many, many times, I would not run as an independent. I would not run as No Labels because I am a Republican, and that’s who I’ve always been,” Haley told Fox News.
Retired Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), also has declined to run, despite collaborating with No Labels in the past. “I will not be seeking a third-party run. I will not be involved in a presidential run,” Manchin said at an event with his political organization, Americans Together, at West Virginia University.
Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) was heavily involved in the leadership of No Labels until December of last year, when he stepped aside, writing, “In stepping aside, it is my intent that new leaders, who can devote themselves full-time to the effort, will be able to take the helm to direct the No Labels political operation.” He has shown no intention of running for president.
Time is running out for No Labels to find a candidate to put their funding behind in the 2024 election. While they’ve previously stated their intention to put together a ticket for 2024, they may have to back away from that promise if the right person doesn’t show up.
