By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Arizona’s primary ballot will include a third party this election cycle: the No Labels Party.
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Over the last year, the party has been trying to officially rename itself the “Arizona Independent Party,” but was blocked by a lawsuit, so it will appear on the ballot as “No Labels” or “N.O.L.”
Name change blocked by lawsuit
The Arizona Clean Elections Commission was among those that filed a lawsuit against the Secretary of State over the proposed name change.
“The No Labels Party sought to reorganize itself as the Independent Party. And the commission and others filed a lawsuit against the secretary of state about that because we were concerned voters would be confused by that — and frankly I think the evidence shows that voters would have been more confused than they are,” said Thomas Collins, Executive Director of the Arizona Clean Elections Commission.
Collins said the name change would have created even more confusion with unaffiliated voters.
“I can call myself the king of England, but that doesn’t make it so. But in this case, the No Labels Party wanted to seize that name ‘independent’ from voters who aren’t part of a party and they didn’t want to have to follow the procedures to do it — so that means they are the No Labels Party for official purposes,” Collins said.
The party is appealing the name change ruling and currently operates the Arizona Independent Party website, rather than one for Arizona No Labels.
For this election, the party backs former ASU quarterback Hugh Lytle.
Party chairman and former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson said his party is focused on voters in the middle of the political spectrum.
“The big problems we have in society today — they can no longer be solved by the two parties. They can’t work with one another. They can’t stand one another,” Johnson said.
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Johnson said he does not view No Labels as a spoiler in the race.
“We’re gonna try to create a challenge to them — we’re trying to create another choice,” Johnson said.
He said the party appeals to voters who value civil, human, and equal rights, as well as free trade and markets.
“I’m not trying to get rid of the two parties, I’m trying to get the best of them,” Johnson said.
Arizona No Labels separate from national party
Johnson said No Labels Arizona is completely separate from the National No Labels Party and the two are not affiliated.
Arizona has an open primary, meaning independent voters — the state’s largest voting group — can still participate. As Collins clarified, Arizona has no “Independent Party” as of this election.
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