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‘Undemocratic and unscrupulous’: Arizona Democrats sue to keep third-party off the ballot

March 31, 2023 | | Print Article

The Arizona Democratic Party likes to claim it is fighting for democracy, but when it came face-to-face with a serious challenger to the nation’s two-party system, it reportedly filed a lawsuit to reverse a decision by the Secretary of State and prevent the third-party group from getting on the state’s 2024 presidential ballot.

As BizPac Review reported earlier this month, No Labels — an organization that promises to be a home for “independent thinkers” who “skew to the left on some issues and hew to the right on others” — has already won ballot access in Colorado, Oregon, and Arizona.

Many voters from both the left and the right are increasingly feeling as though their parties have gone off the rails, with moderate Democrats questioning politically-motivated prosecutions and the implications of transgender toddlers, and America-first Republicans wondering why their representatives keep funneling their hard-earned money to Ukraine.

No Labels was formed for them, and while critics say they would only serve as a “spoiler” in the election, the group argues that “it is time for the center of this country to have a voice and a seat at the table.”

“The commonsense majority in America is strong, growing, and ready to be heard,” No Labels stated in a tweet to its detractors. “Those who think otherwise are misreading the public.”

Clearly threatened by “commonsense,” Arizona Dems decided to sue the state’s top administrator and No Labels.

“The lawsuit, in state court in Phoenix, reflects growing concern in Democratic circles that a No Labels third-party ticket in 2024 will jeopardize the reelection hopes of President Biden and make it harder for Democrats to maintain control of the Senate,” The Washington Post reports.

Named in the suit is Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, whom the Arizona Democratic Party alleges “made an error in accepting signature petitions for the No Labels Party, because accompanying affidavits from proposed electors were signed before all the petitions were gathered, in violation of state statute,” according to WaPo.

“As a result, the Arizona Democratic Party claims the affidavits purporting to verify the petitions should be considered false and the petitions invalid,” the paper explains.

The lawsuit also takes direct aim at No Labels, arguing that, as a nonprofit that is not required to disclose its donors, the organization has failed to meet the federal requirements of a political party, which must disclose its donors and places limits on what they can donate.

Arizona Democratic Party spokeswoman Morgan Dick complained No Labels “is not following the rules.”

“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,” she said. “Arizonans deserve better and voters deserve to know who is behind this shadowy organization and what potentially nefarious agenda they are pushing.”

But according to No Labels’ chief strategist, Ryan Clancy, the lawsuit is purely political.

“This undemocratic and unscrupulous lawsuit is a disgrace,” he said in a statement. “Next time you hear this crowd talking about protecting democracy, remember what they are really doing is protecting their turf.”

No Labels’ Phoenix attorney, David Rosenbaum, dismissed the suit’s allegations, saying he is confident that Fontes’ decision will hold up in court.

“The professional staff in the secretary of state’s office already thoroughly reviewed No Labels’ filing and certified it,” he said.

On Twitter, No Labels urged Arizona to do the right thing.

“We live in a democracy,” the group tweeted. “Come on Arizona. Do what’s right.”

Melissa Fine
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