In a rare move, the state of Maine has barred Donald Trump from the presidential primary elections, becoming the second state to prohibit the former president under a rare constitutional provision that prevents “insurrectionists” from holding public office, increasing pressure on the Supreme Court to settle whether Trump is eligible to run for president.
Key Facts
The top election official in Maine removed Trump from the 2024 presidential primary in the state, citing the fourteenth amendment of the constitution, which disallows officials who “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” from holding office again.
Maine Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, stated that Trump is “not eligible to hold the office of President” due to his actions preceding the Capitol riot on January 6, adding that she had little difficulty determining that the events of January were considered an insurrection and ruled that Trump knew, incited, and supported the attack.
These rulings come after a group of state residents challenged Trump’s qualifications to run in the elections, marking the first time a state government official has acted unilaterally to remove a presidential candidate under the insurrection clause.
The decision has been suspended to allow Trump to appeal to the state court, which the former president’s campaign has pledged to do.
Main Background
Maine followed Colorado in barring Trump from the 2024 presidential primary elections. In late December, the Colorado Supreme Court decided to disqualify the former president under the same insurrection clause referenced by Bellows, ruling that Trump “participated in” the insurrection by urging the rioters who stormed the Capitol on January 6. The ruling will not take effect until January 4, 2024, to give Trump enough time to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Colorado Republican Party has already requested the court’s intervention in the matter, and the court is expected to ultimately decide on this issue for all states. This is one of many cases where the Supreme Court is expected to play a key role in shaping the 2024 presidential elections. Polls overwhelmingly indicate that Trump is the leading Republican candidate for the presidential election, and his legal troubles are poised to dominate his campaign next year. Trump denies the charges against him and claims they are a politically motivated assault aimed at interfering with his latest attempt to reach the White House. He faces criminal charges in federal and state cases related to alleged attempts to manipulate the 2020 election, paying hush money, and retaining classified documents, in addition to civil cases and challenges to his presidential candidacy. In many instances, Trump’s team has followed a strategy of delaying cases as much as possible, and if he wins another presidential term, he may be able to direct several charges against him to be dropped.
Main Critics
Trump, who continues to promote false information and baseless conspiracy theories about his 2020 electoral defeat, denies insurrection allegations in the lead-up to the Capitol riot and claims he was acting officially to ensure “election integrity.” In a statement issued after the ruling, a spokesman for Trump’s campaign, Stephen Chung, described Bellows as a “radical leftist,” according to news reports. Chung said, “Make no mistake, this biased electoral interference effort is a hostile attack on American democracy.”
What to Watch For
Efforts to prevent Trump from running for the White House in 2024 have largely focused on barring him from appearing on state primary ballots, with mixed results. Courts in Michigan and Minnesota have rejected attempts to remove Trump from the Republican presidential ballot under the fourteenth amendment. California’s Secretary of State rejected calls to remove Trump from the ballot in the state on Thursday. A decision in Oregon is expected in the coming weeks. The Supreme Court will likely resolve the matter, and Trump is expected to appear on primary ballots as this case continues and previous orders are suspended.
Reading
Future Outlook
Efforts to prevent Trump from running for the White House in 2024 have largely focused on blocking him from appearing on state primary ballots, with mixed results. Courts in Michigan and Minnesota have rejected attempts to remove Trump from the Republican presidential primary ballot under the fourteenth amendment. California’s Secretary of State refused on Thursday to remove Trump from the state ballot. Another ruling is expected in Oregon in the coming weeks. The case is likely to be settled by the Supreme Court, and Trump is expected to appear on the primary ballots while this matter continues and previous orders are halted.
Future Reading
Efforts to prevent Trump from running for the White House in 2024 have largely focused on blocking him from appearing on state primary ballots, with mixed results. Courts in Michigan and Minnesota have rejected attempts to remove Trump from the Republican presidential primary ballot under the fourteenth amendment. California’s Secretary of State refused on Thursday to remove Trump from the state ballot. Another ruling is expected in Oregon in the coming weeks. The case is likely to be settled by the Supreme Court, and Trump is expected to appear on the primary ballots while this matter continues and previous orders are halted.
Future Reading
Efforts to prevent Trump from running for the White House in 2024 have largely focused on blocking him from appearing on state primary ballots, with mixed results. Courts in Michigan and Minnesota have rejected attempts to remove Trump from the Republican presidential primary ballot under the fourteenth amendment. California’s Secretary of State refused on Thursday to remove Trump from the state ballot. Another ruling is expected in Oregon in the coming weeks. The case is likely to be settled by the Supreme Court, and Trump is expected to appear on the primary ballots while this matter continues and previous orders are halted.
Future Reading
Efforts to prevent Trump from running for the White House in 2024 have largely focused on blocking him from appearing on state primary ballots, with mixed results. Courts in Michigan and Minnesota have rejected attempts to remove Trump from the Republican presidential primary ballot under the fourteenth amendment. California’s Secretary of State refused on Thursday to remove Trump from the state ballot. Another ruling is expected in Oregon in the coming weeks. The case is likely to be settled by the Supreme Court, and Trump is expected to appear on the primary ballots while this matter continues and previous orders are halted.
Future Reading
Efforts to prevent Trump from running for the White House in 2024 have largely focused on blocking him from appearing on state primary ballots, with mixed results. Courts in Michigan and Minnesota have rejected attempts to remove Trump from the Republican presidential primary ballot under the fourteenth amendment. California’s Secretary of State refused on Thursday to remove Trump from the state ballot. Another ruling is expected in Oregon in the coming weeks. The case is likely to be settled by the Supreme Court, and Trump is expected to appear on the primary ballots while this matter continues and previous orders are halted.
Future Reading
Efforts to prevent Trump from running for the White House in 2024 have largely focused on blocking him from appearing on state primary ballots, with mixed results. Courts in Michigan and Minnesota have rejected attempts to remove Trump from the Republican presidential primary ballot under the fourteenth amendment. California’s Secretary of State refused on Thursday to remove Trump from the state ballot. Another ruling is expected in Oregon in the coming weeks. The case is likely to be settled by the Supreme Court, and Trump is expected to appear on the primary ballots while this matter continues and previous orders are halted.
Source:
Leave a Reply