In a strategic legal move, former President Donald Trump has taken his fight against exclusion from primary ballots to the highest legal authority in the United States. Trump’s legal team, in a detailed 43-page filing, petitioned the conservative-dominated Supreme Court to overturn a recent decision by the Colorado Supreme Court, preventing him from participating in the state’s Republican primary.
The ruling in Colorado, which cited Trump’s alleged involvement in the January 6, 2021 Capitol assault, has significant implications for the 2024 presidential race. Trump’s attorneys argue that this case marks a historic moment where the judiciary may prevent voters from supporting a major-party presidential candidate.
In an unusual turn of events, Trump simultaneously lodged an appeal against a ruling by Maine’s top election official, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows. Trump’s legal team contends that Bellows, a Democrat, exhibited bias and acted arbitrarily, calling for the dismissal of her decision that also bars Trump from the primary ballot in the northeastern state.
The crux of the legal battle centers on the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, specifically Section Three, which prohibits individuals engaged in “insurrection or rebellion” from holding public office. Ratified in 1868 after the Civil War, the amendment aimed to prevent former Confederacy supporters from holding federal positions.
While Colorado and Maine have sided against Trump, other states like Minnesota and Michigan recently ruled in favor of including him on their primary ballots despite similar 14th Amendment challenges. This legal tug-of-war adds another layer of complexity to Trump’s political future.
As the legal battles unfold, the 77-year-old Trump is scheduled for trial in Washington in March, facing charges of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results. Additionally, he faces racketeering charges in Georgia, accused of conspiring to manipulate the election outcomes in that state.
With Maine and Colorado conducting their presidential nominating contests on March 5, dubbed “Super Tuesday,” the outcome of these legal proceedings could significantly impact the trajectory of Trump’s political comeback and the broader landscape of the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
