Former president Donald Trump has avoided conviction on charges of leading an insurrection. However, the tables have now turned, with allegations that Trump is leading President Joe Biden in polls for the 2024 election.
Democrat-led efforts are underway across the United States to have Trump removed from primary ballots, referencing the events of January 6, 2021 as legal grounds.
The Colorado Supreme Court set a precedent on Tuesday by removing Trump from the state’s primary ballot, citing his engagement in an insurrection and deeming him ineligible. An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is anticipated.
Similar lawsuits have been initiated in Arizona, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Michigan, but so far, Trump has prevailed in each case. The Michigan case remains under appeal, marking continued efforts to eliminate his presence on the ballot.
The movement to remove Trump from the ballot is gaining momentum, with more Democrats calling for their states to follow Colorado’s decision. California’s Democrat Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis has written to California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, pleading for exhaustive legal action to disqualify Trump from the state’s 2024 presidential primary ballot.
In New York, Democrat state Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz has introduced a bill requiring the removal of any insurrectionist from the presidential election ballot, reflecting the steps taken in Colorado.
Pennsylvania Democrat state Sen. Art Haywood has also urged Secretary of State Al Schmidt to take action, citing the Colorado decision. Schmidt clarified that Pennsylvania’s Election Code does not empower him to reject a nomination petition based on a candidate’s eligibility, which must be determined by the courts.
Haywood acknowledges potential questions about the secretary of state’s authority to remove a candidate from the ballot, insisting that state attorney general would have the authority to intervene if necessary. He emphasizes that the issue of election integrity transcends political preferences and advocates for adherence to the Constitution, even if unpopular.
Haywood’s stance seeks to protect all voters, whether they support Trump or not, arguing that individuals involved in insurrection should be disqualified. He likened the situation to that of Alexander Stephens, the vice president of the Confederacy, who would have been disqualified from the presidency after the Civil War for engaging in insurrection.
The events of January 6, 2021, have sparked debate over how to categorize the assembly of Trump supporters at the U.S. Capitol. While the left deems it an insurrection, the right characterizes it as a protest or rally.
Haywood draws upon court decisions that legally designated the events of January 6, 2021, as an insurrection, bolstering his argument for disqualification.
While supporters can still write in Trump on their ballots, the tradition of write-in candidates facing significant challenges in winning elections, often leading to legal disputes.
