In recent news, President Trump has been disqualified from the ballot in Colorado in 2024, thanks to a decision made by the state’s far-left Supreme Court. The Court controversially cited Section 3 of the US Constitution’s 14th Amendment, which states that public officials who have “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against” the US may be disqualified from public office. The ruling is set to go into effect on January 4, 2024, but it’s important to note that this is not the end of Trump’s ballot challenges.
It turns out that Trump is facing similar legal challenges in 16 other states under the 14th Amendment. These lawsuits also argue that Trump is ineligible for office due to his alleged involvement in the insurrection on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2021. The states with pending legal battles include Alaska, Arizona, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
According to the New York Times, four of these lawsuits have been filed in state courts in Michigan, Oregon, New Jersey, and Wisconsin while eleven others have been filed in federal district courts. It’s worth mentioning that a federal case in Maine has been dropped, but there is still a pending challenge to Trump’s eligibility.
John Anthony Castro, a Republican presidential candidate, has filed nine of the active federal cases and has been a vocal opponent of Trump’s eligibility. He has filed challenges in 27 states regarding Trump’s eligibility on the ballot under the 14th Amendment over the years, including a case with the Supreme Court.
In California, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis has urged the Secretary of State, Dr. Shirley N. Weber, to consider legal avenues for excluding former President Donald Trump from California’s 2024 presidential primary ballot. With California known for its progressive state government, it wouldn’t be surprising if the state attempted to disqualify Trump as well.
However, there may be hope for Trump. The Colorado Supreme Court’s hold will be temporarily lifted if the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear Team Trump’s appeal. This means that Trump will be eligible to be placed on the state’s Republican primary ballot until the nation’s top court decides.
Retired Judge J. Michael Luttig, a vocal Trump critic who has supported these ballot challenges, believes that an appeal would freeze the other lawsuits. He stated, “If the Supreme Court takes the case, it will effectively stay the proceedings in all of the other states.”
In conclusion, the fate of Trump’s eligibility for the 2024 ballot remains uncertain as legal battles continue to unfold in multiple states. The decision made by the U.S. Supreme Court could have significant implications for the future of Trump’s involvement in the upcoming presidential election.
