The centrist political organization No Labels is contemplating selecting Geoff Duncan, the former Republican lieutenant governor of Georgia, to lead a “unity” presidential ticket, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
On Friday, the group’s delegates voted to proceed with its initiative to field an independent presidential ticket, aiming to offer voters an alternative to President Biden and former President Donald Trump. However, no specific candidates have been named yet.
Several prominent politicians previously considered by No Labels, including Republicans Nikki Haley and Larry Hogan, and Democrat Joe Manchin, have ruled out presidential bids. The inability to recruit high-profile candidates may dampen enthusiasm among delegates for moving forward with an independent ticket.
Geoff Duncan, aged 48, served as Georgia’s lieutenant governor from 2019 to early 2023, alongside Republican Governor Brian Kemp. Despite lacking significant national recognition, Duncan’s potential candidacy would require substantial efforts and resources to introduce him to voters across the country.
While No Labels also approached Governor Kemp’s team to gauge his interest in being the presidential nominee, Kemp declined the offer. Duncan, a lifelong Republican, gained attention for publicly rejecting baseless claims of election fraud in Georgia’s 2020 election, which Trump narrowly lost. He also defended Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger against calls for resignation from Trump’s allies and condemned the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots.
Duncan’s relationship with Kemp has been strained since the events of 2020 and early 2021. Kemp, 60, won re-election in 2022 despite facing criticism from Trump and his supporters for not doing enough to overturn Trump’s 2020 loss. While Kemp has called for finding an alternative to Trump in the 2024 election cycle, his public statements about Trump have been more measured compared to Duncan’s.
As No Labels deliberates its presidential ticket, the consideration of Duncan reflects the organization’s commitment to promoting bipartisanship and offering voters an alternative to the polarizing figures of the past.