By Aarav Sapra
Former President Donald Trump is the first by the Colorado Court to not be eligible to participate in the 2024 ballot. The Colorado Supreme Court recently disqualified Trump because he violated Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which disqualifies insurrectionists from holding office again. This was mainly due to the riots and attacks upon the U.S. capitol that occurred on January 6th, 2021. The decision appointed by democratic governors from Colorado’s court has already been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Colorado Supreme Court has also stated, “We do not reach these conclusions lightly. We are mindful of the magnitude and weight of the questions now before us. We are likewise mindful of our solemn duty to apply the law, without fear or favour, and without being swayed by public reaction to the decisions that the law mandates we reach.”
Moreover, other election officials and courts have also considered removing Trump from the ballot. For instance, Maine has taken similar action to remove him from the Maine Ballot, arguing that he could not serve as a president because of violating Section 3, and this decision was made by their Secretary of State rather than by a court. Trump has had his views on the Secretary of State of Maine publicized, recently calling her a “biased decision maker” and continuing to say that his disqualification was a result of the “product of a process infected by bias and pervasive lack of due process.”
Although there is a possibility he may be disqualified, Trump has his ways. He recently called out the Supreme Court to overturn the Colorado ruling that will remove him from the ballot. Trump’s team of attorneys is arguing that Congress, not the states, should determine the eligibility for the presidency. In addition, Trump’s attorneys have also stated that because the language in Section 3 refers to officers of the United States who take an oath to support the Constitution, it must not apply to the president, who is not included as an officer of the United States anywhere in the document.
Yet, there still stands the other 31 states where challenges have been filed and may reconsider Donald Trump as a candidate based on the current situation. But in states like Minnesota, California, and Michigan, courts have decided Donald Trump is still eligible to appear on the primary ballot. The eligibility of Trump’s presidency can ultimately change many possibilities in the 2024 elections and cause some states to reconsider their stance and views on Trump.
