Fresh off a narrow reelection, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, will speak at the No Labels national conference in Washington, D.C., on Thursday afternoon.
Founded in 2010, the organization has flirted with running a "unity ticket” in presidential elections, with a Democrat and Republican slotting in as president and vice president. However, the plan has not come to fruition. The national conference Thursday will include discussions by a group of more than 20 bipartisan members of Congress and is set to focus on ideas where the parties can find common ground in the upcoming session.
“We’re living through one of those rare moments in history where historic changes can happen almost overnight,” No Labels National Leader Mike Rawlings said in a statement. “So, we need America’s leaders to come together to make decisions about domestic and foreign challenges that will define our country for decades to come. Our National Meeting is all about ensuring America has enough Democrats and Republicans in Congress who are willing to meet this moment.”
According to an agenda for the event, Glusenkamp Perez will speak on “how the most
courageous members overcome” the pressure to vote in line with their party's desired outcome, a process known as “whipping,” in a conversation hosted by Ryan Clancy, Chief Strategist of No Labels.
While in Congress, Gluesenkamp Perez has repeatedly sought to distance herself from her party, arguing for stricter border control measures and declining to say who she voted for in the 2024 presidential election.
In the announcement, No Labels stated the attendees are set to play an “outsized role” in shaping legislation in the next Congress, where Republicans are set to hold a governing trifecta.
“The biggest threat facing our country isn’t external — it’s the growing polarization and tribalism tearing us apart from within,” No Labels National Leader Dan Webb said in a statement. “This meeting is about proving that there’s still a path forward for leaders who value commonsense solutions over stalemates.”
Correction: This article has been corrected to note that the Ryan Clancy participating in the discussion is the chief strategist of No Labels, not the Wisconsin state assemblyman.
