In a significant decision, Maine has excluded Donald Trump from its 2024 U.S. presidential primary election, marking the second state to take such action due to the former president’s involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, asserted that Trump, the leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination, played a pivotal role in inciting an insurrection. Bellows contended that Trump’s dissemination of false claims about voter fraud in the 2020 election, coupled with his call for supporters to march on the Capitol, amounted to an assault on the foundations of the government, as per the U.S. Constitution.
“The U.S. Constitution does not tolerate an assault on the foundations of our government,” stated Bellows in a comprehensive 34-page ruling.
The decision is subject to appeal in a state Superior Court, with Bellows deferring her ruling until the court reaches a decision. Trump’s campaign swiftly denounced the decision as “atrocious” and vowed to file an objection.
Trump’s legal team argues that his remarks to supporters on the day of the 2021 riot were protected by his right to free speech and that he did not engage in insurrection.
The disqualification followed a recommendation from a group of former Maine lawmakers who cited a constitutional provision preventing individuals from holding office if they participated in “insurrection or rebellion” after taking an oath to the United States.
The ruling has immediate implications for Maine’s March primary election but could potentially impact Trump’s eligibility for the November general election. The decision may intensify calls for the U.S. Supreme Court to address questions about Trump’s eligibility on a national scale under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
Trump, currently leading in opinion polls for the Republican nomination, faces legal challenges in both federal and Georgia cases related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. However, he has not been charged with insurrection in connection to the January 6 attack.
Notably, Colorado’s top court previously disqualified Trump from the state primary ballot on December 19, marking the first instance in U.S. history where a candidate has been declared ineligible for the presidency due to engaging in insurrection.
Trump has vowed to appeal the Colorado ruling to the Supreme Court, criticizing ballot challenges as “undemocratic.” Similar attempts to disqualify Trump in other states have been unsuccessful.
While Maine is considered likely Democratic, with President Joe Biden expected to win the state, Trump secured one electoral vote from Maine in both the 2016 and 2020 elections. This unusual setup allows the state to split its four Electoral College votes.
As the legal battles unfold, advocacy groups and anti-Trump voters continue to challenge Trump’s candidacy in various states under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, a post-Civil War measure designed to prevent former Confederates from holding government office. Unlike other states, Bellows, responsible for overseeing elections in Maine, was required to make an initial determination about disqualification before court consideration.
This development adds a layer of complexity to the political landscape, potentially influencing the trajectory of Trump’s presidential aspirations and raising constitutional questions that may resonate beyond state borders.
