Despite running on a platform of championing democracy, the Arizona Democratic Party is allegedly taking legal action to prevent a third-party organization from gaining access to the state’s presidential ballot in the 2024 election.
As reported by Fox News, the lawsuit is directed towards No Labels, a centrist organization that intends to provide voters with a moderate presidential choice in the upcoming election and has already gained ballot access in three states, including Arizona. According to The Washington Post, the Arizona Democratic Party will file a complaint in state court in Phoenix on Thursday, accusing Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, of mistakenly accepting signature petitions from the group.
The lawsuit asserts that the affidavits from the proposed electors were signed before all the petitions were collected, which goes against state statute.
“As a result, the Arizona Democratic Party claims the affidavits purporting to verify the petitions should be considered false and the petitions invalid,” the Post reported.
Furthermore, Arizona Democrats allege that No Labels, a registered 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that is not obligated to disclose its donors, has not adhered to federal election laws that govern political parties, such as donation limits and donor disclosure requirements.
“No Labels is not following the rules for political party recognition while attempting to be placed on the ballot alongside actual, functioning political parties who do,” Arizona Democratic Party spokeswoman Morgan Dick told the Post. “Arizonans deserve better, and voters deserve to know who is behind this shadowy organization and what potentially nefarious agenda they are pushing.”
Ryan Clancy, the chief strategist for No Labels, criticized the lawsuit and accused Arizona Democrats of being hypocritical in their actions.
“This undemocratic and unscrupulous lawsuit is a disgrace,” Clancy said in a statement, as reported by Fox News. “Next time you hear this crowd talking about protecting democracy, remember what they are really doing is protecting their turf.”
A lawyer representing No Labels in Phoenix expressed confidence to The Washington Post that the court will support the secretary of state’s decision to authorize the group’s ballot filing.
According to Fox News, Democrats are concerned that No Labels’ efforts to secure ballot access in Arizona and other states could undermine President Biden’s anticipated campaign for re-election.
Despite the concerns raised by Democrats, No Labels maintains that its “unity ticket” would garner support “equally” from voters with Republican and Democratic leanings. Established in 2010 as a nonpartisan organization focused on finding solutions to the country’s issues, No Labels believes that a moderate candidate could win the presidency by securing electoral votes from swing states and purple states throughout the country, the outlet noted further.
“At some point in the future, it could become clear that the public doesn’t want an independent ticket or that there is no path for one to win. Or we could find that there are no candidates with broad appeal or the courage to take on this challenge. If that happens, No Labels will not offer our ballot line to any presidential candidate,” the group said in a statement earlier this month.
