No Labels
No Labels is an American political organization whose stated mission is to support centrism and bipartisanship through what it calls the "commonsense majority".[2] No Labels was founded in 2010 as a 501(c)(4) by current president and CEO Nancy Jacobson.[3][4]
Formation
December 13, 2010 (public launch)
27-1432208[1]
United States
- Nancy Jacobson (president)
- Jerald S Howe Jr. (treasurer)
- Andrew Tisch
- Andrew M. Bursky
- Dennis C. Blair
- Charles R. Black Jr.
- Tish Bazil
On April 4, 2024, the organization ended its effort to run a presidential ticket for the 2024 United States presidential election. The organization stated that it would remain true to its commitment to not run a candidate who did not have a likely path to victory that would not act as a "spoiler" for either party[5] following the death of its chairman Joe Lieberman on March 27.[6]
History[edit]
Founding[edit]
No Labels was founded on December 13, 2010, with the slogan "Not Left. Not Right. Forward". Organizers said the aim was to organize American voters against partisanship in politics and encourage a "common ground" approach to problem solving. The group's early efforts were viewed by some skeptics as an attempt to support a potential third party presidential campaign for Michael Bloomberg in 2012, which he and No Labels denied. No Labels had relatively few Republicans at its first conference in 2010,[7] and criticism of the movement at the time came largely from the right.[8]
Congress[edit]
In January 2013, No Labels promoted an informal "Problem Solvers" caucus in Congress for members of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The group initially began as 24 Democratic and Republican members of Congress who pledged to meet regularly.[9] Members would identify their affiliation by wearing lapel pins, particularly during events such as the 2013 and 2015 State of the Union addresses.[10][11]
In 2017, the group helped to formally start the Problem Solvers Caucus in the House of Representatives, a bipartisan group of approximately 60 congressional members.
Before the 2019–2020 House term, No Labels released a plan to enhance bipartisan cooperation in Congress called The Speaker Project. Several planks from this proposal were later included in an agreement that the Problem Solvers Caucus reached with Speaker Nancy Pelosi.[12] that some praised as practical and necessary,[13] while others claimed it might give House Republicans[13] and/or corporate interests[14] more power for that term.[15]
In 2021, the Problem Solvers Caucus released a "Building Bridges" blueprint for a bipartisan infrastructure deal. It was the first deal to be endorsed by Republicans and Democrats during that budget cycle.[16]
Funding[edit]
No Labels does not disclose its donors' identities, citing the potential for lobbying and pressure campaigns for major donors to stop backing the organization. IRS section 501(c) organizations are not legally required to
disclose their donors.[69] This lack of transparency has been a major source of criticism for the organization[70] alongside critiques that the group prioritizes the wellbeing of wealthy donors instead of policies with broad appeal that could reduce partisanship.[71][72][73][14] The Intercept and Jacobin report examples of the group working to block tax increases on the wealthiest Americans and corporations.[74][75]
Early donors to No Labels include board member Andrew Tisch, co-chairman of Loews Corporation; Ron Shaich, founder of Panera Bread; Dave Morin, a former Facebook executive, and supporters of Michael Bloomberg.[76] A 2018 Chicago Sun-Times investigation found five super PACs that were affiliated with No Labels,[77][78][79] sparking an OpenSecrets investigation identifying two more.[80] All seven super PACs were closed in 2020.[81][82][83][84][85][86][87] The Daily Beast reported that in 2018 No Labels' super PACs received more than $11 million from 53 donors, most of whom worked in finance.[71] The New Republic reported in 2023 that No Labels received major funding from Harlan Crow, a leading donor to Republican and conservative causes.[88] No Labels has been described as a dark money organization.[89][90][72][91]
Leadership[edit]
Nancy Jacobson has been the board president since the founding of the organization and as of 2022, CEO.[92] In December 2020, No Labels announced Maryland governor Larry Hogan, as a national co-chair (prominent spokesperson[93]) to serve alongside the No Labels founding co-chair Joe Lieberman.[94] In January 2023, former NAACP executive director Benjamin Chavis joined Hogan as national co-chair.[95] In June 2023, former North Carolina governor Pat McCrory joined as a national co-chair.[96] Hogan stepped down as co-chair in December 2023.[97]
Nancy Jacobson and Jerald S. Howe Jr. (board treasurer) have been on the board since the founding of the group in 2010. Andrew Tisch joined in 2012. Andrew M. Bursky joined in 2015. Dennis C. Blair and Charles R. Black Jr. joined in 2019.[98] Tish Bazil was added to the organization's website as a board member in 2023.[99] Previous board members include: Ted Buerger (2010), Joshua Bekenstein (2010), Mark Nunnelly (2010), Mark McKinnon (2010–2012), Nate Garvis (2010–2013), Holly Page (2010–2013), Lisa Borders (2014–2017),[98] Kenneth A. Gross (2012–2023) and Margie Fox (2009–2023).[100]
Controversies[edit]
Based on 14 interviews with former employees in December 2022, Politico described a "cutthroat culture" within No Labels which one former aide called "toxic".[101] In response to the criticism, several senior officials for the group described to Politico the complaints as coming from "aggrieved ex-workers" who could not "adapt" to a demanding office culture.[101] In August 2023, a Black former outreach manager of No Labels sued the political organization, claiming she was discriminated against because of her race and retaliated against for reporting the alleged discrimination.[102]
Politico reported that in addition to requiring non-disclosure agreements, Nancy Jacobson has been accused by former employees of asking staff members to obscure where they work on LinkedIn, allegedly, in order to make it more difficult for journalists to interview No Labels employees.[101]
