Maine Bars Trump from 2024 Primary Ballot; Second State to Do So
Maine has become the second state to bar former President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 primary ballot. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows cited an interpretation of the 14th Amendment, contending that an individual who has supported or engaged in insurrection is ineligible to serve in the highest office.
The decision follows a recent ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court, which the Colorado GOP has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Trump campaign issued a statement denouncing the decision and vowing to fight it in state court.
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung called the Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows a “virulent leftist” and a “hyper-partisan Biden-supporting Democrat” who is interfering in the presidential election on behalf of Joe Biden. Cheung also accused Democrats in blue states of recklessly and unconstitutionally trying to remove Trump’s name from the ballot.
Cheung noted that state and federal courts in Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Arizona, Florida, Rhode Island, and West Virginia, along with 10 federal jurisdictions, have rejected similar 14th Amendment challenges. He emphasized President Trump’s commanding lead in the polls and vowed to file a legal objection in state court to prevent the decision from taking effect.
Jason Meister, a member of President Trump’s campaign advisory panel in New York, told The Epoch Times that the Maine action would fail. “These 14th amendment challenges are last gasping breaths of a dying party,” he said.
The move by the Maine Secretary of State has stirred controversy and prompted a strong response from the Trump campaign. It is part of a wider legal battle over whether Trump can run for president in 2024.
The fight over Trump’s eligibility to run for president has been ongoing since he left office. The 14th Amendment has become a focal point in this battle, with various states and courts interpreting its provisions differently.
With Maine’s decision, the controversy over Trump’s eligibility to run for president in 2024 has only intensified. The legal and political battles surrounding this issue are likely to continue in the coming months as the 2024 election draws closer.
As this story continues to develop, the debate over Trump’s ability to run for president and the implications of the 14th Amendment on his candidacy will remain a hot topic in political and legal circles. The outcome of this battle will have far-reaching implications for the 2024 election and could shape the future of American politics.
