No Labels ABANDONS plan to enter 2024 race: Good news for Trump and Biden as third party group drops bid to name a candidate despite months of speculation

The centrist group No Labels announced it will not put up a third-party candidate to run in the 2024 election in an announcement that is sure to be received as good news for Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

'No Labels has always said we would only offer our ballot line to a ticket if we could identify candidates with a credible path to winning the White House," said No Labels CEO and co-founder Nancy Jacobson in a statement. 

'No such candidates emerged, so the responsible course of action is for us to stand down,' she said.

Jacobson said the group will continue to engage over the next year during what is 'likely to be the most divisive presidential election in our lifetimes.'  

The announcement comes after months of speculation on whether the group would be able to find a candidate to take on Biden and Trump and raised millions of dollars for a potential ticket.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the No Labels decision. 

The centrist group No Labels announced it would not put up a 2024 presidential candidate 

On Thursday afternoon, No Labels National Director Joe Cunningham appeared on Fox News where he said the group ending its search for a unity ticket was not for lack of trying.

'No Labels was looking for a hero, and a hero never emerged,' he said. 

Cunningham claimed at the end of the day, they did not feel like they were able to find candidates they felt had a 'straightforward path to victory.' 

Early last month, the group's 800 delegates unanimously approved a plan for the 2024 'unity ticket' to run in November. 

But the clock was quickly ticking down on the group picking a nominee as deadlines to get on the general election ballot in multiple states rapidly approached.

Cunningham pushed back over concerns about ballot access, claiming No Labels was on the ballot in 21 states and getting on the ballot in all fifty states and DC was not the problem but that candidates pushing back on their respective political party is difficult.

'The establishment does not reward dissent,' he said. 'We found it difficult to find the leaders to step up with the courage to be able to say "ok, we're putting our countries first, and damn the consequences within our respective parties."'

Cunningham also acknowledged some had concerns about the unintended consequences of a third party ticket.  

Several Republicans and Democrats declined the offer or ruled themselves out of consideration to be a No Labels candidate

Late last month, former GOP New Jersey Governor Chris Christie  became the latest one time presidential hopeful to say he would not run as a No Labels candidate.

'While I believe this is a conversation that needs to be had with the American people, I also believe that if there is not a pathway to win and if my candidacy in any way, shape or form would help Donald Trump become president again, then it is not the way forward,' Christie said at the time in a statement.

Others to turn down the offer or remove themselves from consideration to be the group's third-party candidate included former Republican Governor Nikki Haley, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney and former Republican Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, who opted for a Senate bid.

Before dropping out of the GOP presidential race, Haley rejected running as a No Labels candidate because she did not want a Democrat on her ticket.

Another common concern among some others who rejected running as a third party candidate was the worry it would help ex-President Donald Trump be reelected. 

Biden campaigning in Atlanta on March 9. Recent polls have shown third party candidates hurt him more than his opponent Trump

Donald Trump arriving at a campaign rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin on April 2

A third-party bid has largely been viewed as a move that would hurt President Biden and help Trump. 

A series of recent polls show including Independent candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. hurts Biden more than Trump.  

On March 27, the group also was dealt another significant blow when it lost one of its co-founders. Former Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman died at age of 82 from complications from a fall.