The centrist American political organization No Labels is hosting its national meeting in Washington, DC, Thursday drawing scores of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents set on bringing bipartisanship and moderate politics to issues like immigration, border security, taxes, and the national debt.
“We’re living through one of those rare moments in history where historic changes can happen almost overnight,” said No Labels National Leader and former Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings in a press release. “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.”
Among the speakers featured at the meeting are a handful of elected leaders and political figures from North Carolina.
Sitting Republican US Senator Thom Tillis, Congressman Don Davis, NC-1, and former Republican Governor Pat McCrory are all scheduled to speak at the conference Thursday. All three are viewed as relatively moderate partisans who have, at one time or another, bucked party trends to reach across the aisle.
Davis, reelected to represent North Carolina’s First Congressional District in the state’s only true toss-up of the 2024 election, made waves for distancing himself from national Democrats in his race versus Republican contender Laurie Buckhout on issues like border security. The tight congressional contest was one of the most expensive in the country over the 2024 cycle.
Tillis, who’s been censured by the Republican Party of North Carolina for his tendency to reach across the aisle on prominent issues, has drawing primary competition conjecture. Speculation of a 2026 primary challenge from failed Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson is widespread.
More notably, recent polls have ignited speculation that President-elect Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump, a North Carolina native, could challenge Tillis for the Republican senatorial nomination in 2026. She recently stepped down from her role as co-chair of the Republican National Committee, further fueling speculation.
Finally, former Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, who recently served as national co-chair of the No Labels group is set to speak at the centrist conference. He left the co-chair role in March of this year after the group announced plans for a third party presidential ticket. The former seven-time mayor of Charlotte had previously vied for the Republican senatorial nomination ultimately won by US Sen. Ted Budd, R-NC.
The No Labels national meeting comes as politicos in DC and around the nation anticipate a second Trump administration full of reformers and non-conventional cabinet picks.
You can watch the conference here.