In recent months, judges in multiple states have ruled that the states lacked the authority to prevent the inclusion of former President Donald Trump’s name on future ballots. However, two states are now gearing up to consider similar proposals in an attempt to hinder Trump’s political aspirations.
The former President is the undisputed frontrunner in the GOP field, with the first primary just four months away. His polling numbers consistently exceed 60%, while the second-ranked candidate, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, polls at 12%.
Interestingly, with each legal challenge and court proceeding, Trump’s popularity in the polls continues to rise. The most recent six national polls suggest that Trump would defeat President Biden in a potential 2024 rematch.
Those seeking to prevent Trump from being listed on a state’s ballot are invoking the Constitution’s 14th Amendment “insurrection” clause as the basis for their argument.
It’s worth noting that despite more than a year of investigation by the Democrat-led Congressional Jan. 6 Committee, which incurred costs exceeding $35 million, Trump has not been found guilty of “insurrection.”
The group “Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington” is lodging a complaint against Trump in Colorado. Despite attempts by Trump’s legal team to have the case dismissed in a lower court, the case is proceeding.
A second case is on the verge of being heard in a Minnesota court. Trump’s legal team has characterized the complaints as “absurd” and has accused left-leaning groups of “twisting the law to an unrecognizable extent.”
🚨🚨🚨BREAKING: The Governor of Minnesota says he supports the REMOVAL of Donald Trump from the 2024 presidential ballot.
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) October 25, 2023
“This needs to go forward.”
A group of voters are suing to keep Trump off the Minnesota ballot for violating section 3 of the 14th Amendment – the provision… pic.twitter.com/0caWKgPxqe
As per the Washington Examiner’s report, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and former North Carolina Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn, both ardent supporters of former President Trump, encountered similar legal challenges in the lead-up to the 2022 election.
In both of these instances, judges concluded that government officials were qualified to hold office and could not be prevented from having their names included on the election ballots.
A judge ruled that Greene was eligible for reelection last year, emphasizing that the group that filed the lawsuit failed to provide sufficient evidence to suggest that Greene’s actions before, during, and after the riot amounted to supporting an insurrection in violation of the Constitution.
“She’s Going To Rule That Trump Is An Insurrectionist And Recommend To The Secretary Of State That He Be Taken Off The Ballot In 2024.” Steve Bannon On Trump Colorado Ballot Trial pic.twitter.com/jnTw628BkD
— Jayne Zirkle (@JayneZirkle) October 30, 2023
Supporters of preventing politicians aligned with Trump from holding office have pledged to take their cases to the U.S. Supreme Court. Numerous legal scholars anticipate that the Court’s conservative majority is inclined to affirm the decisions made by lower courts, thereby permitting Trump’s name to be listed on election ballots.
