• After recent court battle, the No Labels party heads in a new direction • Party opens itself up to independent candidates for state offices • Organizers hope to ease ballot access for independents, promote civil unity

Organizers behind last year’s open primary initiative have commandeered the state’s near-defunct No Labels party to pave a smoother path for independent candidates in state elections.

The benefits of running with an established state political party include a lower signature threshold to qualify as a candidate, as well as the infrastructure and endorsement necessary to organize a political campaign — benefits not normally accessible to independent candidates.

No Labels, now with a new state party chair, will not be called No Labels for much longer. And though the par

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