(Scypre.com) – The Democratic secretary of state in Maine has declared the disqualification of former President Trump from the state’s presidential primary ballot. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows referenced Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits individuals who have “engaged in insurrection” from holding office.
This decision came after a challenge by some state residents, including a bipartisan group of former lawmakers, regarding Trump’s eligibility on the ballot. In response, Trump’s legal team sought Bellows’ disqualification, citing tweets that they believed demonstrated bias. Bellows, a lawyer and former executive director of the ACLU, had referred to the U.S. Capitol attack as an “insurrection” in the tweets and expressed disappointment that Trump was not convicted by the U.S. Senate after impeachment by the U.S. House.
Trump Campaign spokesman Steven Cheung criticized Bellows, labeling her “a virulent leftist and a hyper-partisan Biden-supporting Democrat” who intervened in the election to favor Joe Biden. He claimed that these actions constituted an “attempted theft of an election” and accused Democrats of undermining American democracy.
The Maine Republican Party asserted that it has been combating this perceived attack on the people and pledged to take the matter to court, even the Supreme Court if necessary. They emphasized their right as a private organization to explore alternative systems to prevent what they saw as interference by the Democratic Secretary of State with the rights of Maine voters.
According to Maine law, Bellows was required to conduct a public hearing on the issue, which took place in December. The ruling has been temporarily suspended pending a decision by Maine’s state Superior Court.
A precedent was set earlier in Colorado, where the Supreme Court ruled to exclude Trump from the ballot under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. While Colorado is a Democratic-leaning state, Maine’s potential impact is noteworthy due to its practice of splitting electoral votes. Trump’s absence from the ballot could have consequences, especially if he becomes the Republican candidate, potentially starting his 2024 campaign with a disadvantage in the Electoral College.
Similar disputes are unfolding in other states, as activists urge election officials to remove Trump from their primary ballots based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. The ultimate decision on Trump’s eligibility nationwide is expected to come from the U.S. Supreme Court.