Newsearay News: Challengers Seek to Bar Trump from Ballot in Multiple States Following Colorado Ruling
Proponents of the 14th Amendment argument are utilizing a recent Colorado court ruling in their efforts to prevent former President Donald Trump from appearing on the ballot. This ruling has sparked action in various states, where voters and advocates hope to bolster existing court challenges or implement new measures to ban Trump.
In Michigan, a group of voters who are suing to bar Trump from the state’s ballot wasted no time in bringing the Colorado decision to the attention of the Michigan Supreme Court. They filed a letter, citing the Colorado court’s resolution of relevant issues, such as the application of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the presidency and the characterization of the January 6 attack on the Capitol as an insurrection. Additionally, they highlighted that Colorado state law allowed challenges to Trump’s qualifications, a contrast to a previous ruling in Michigan that disallowed such challenges before the presidential primary election.
Similarly, in Maine, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows had planned to rule on challenges to Trump’s qualifications but now faces a delay due to the outcome of the Anderson v. Griswold case in Colorado. The decision in this case has prompted the secretary’s office to postpone its decision, with expectations of issuing it early the following week.
Meanwhile, Democrats in California have taken unconventional approaches to bar Trump from the ballot. Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, who is running for governor, has called on the state’s election officials to examine the possibility of removing Trump. State Sen. Dave Min, who is running for Congress, intends to introduce a bill that would enable Californians to sue to block ineligible candidates. Kounalakis argues that California is obligated to assess Trump’s eligibility based on the Colorado decision, even though she initially misstated the Constitution’s age requirement for the presidency.
Despite the unlikelihood of Min’s bill passing before California’s primary in March, he believes that it would contribute to the growing number of states declaring Trump ineligible by allowing California’s secretary of state to make a determination, subject to court scrutiny.
In New York, two lawsuits have been filed to prevent Trump from appearing on the primary ballot, but Democratic state lawmakers may lead the more successful effort. State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal has already co-authored a letter to the state Board of Elections, urging them to bar Trump and co-sponsored legislation to amend state election law accordingly. When asked about the most promising avenue for success, Hoylman-Sigal emphasized the need to pursue all approaches to their conclusion.
As deadlines approach for states to certify their lists of candidates on the primary ballot, the outcomes of these legal challenges and legislative efforts remain uncertain. However, the Colorado ruling has undoubtedly emboldened challengers seeking to keep Trump off the ballot in various states.,
In a recent ruling in Colorado, efforts to bar former President Donald Trump from appearing on the state’s presidential ballot have gained momentum. This decision has sparked similar initiatives in other “blue” states across the country. Supporters argue that Trump’s false claims of election fraud and his role in inciting the January 6th Capitol attack make him unfit to be a candidate. Proponents of these measures hope to prevent Trump from running for office again in the future. This development reflects the ongoing political polarization surrounding Trump and highlights the influence of state-level decisions on national politics.
