In another setback to former US President Donald Trump, Maine’s Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has ruled that Trump cannot run in the state’s Republican primary. The ruling is based on Trump’s actions following the 2020 election, particularly citing his involvement in attempting to overturn the election results.
Bellows made the decision after receiving three challenges from voters, emphasizing the gravity of Trump’s conduct and its threat to democracy. She stated, “I do not reach this conclusion lightly. Democracy is sacred.” Additionally, Bellows acknowledged the unprecedented nature of the decision, highlighting that no secretary of state has previously denied a presidential candidate ballot access under Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment, while no candidate has previously engaged in insurrection.
‘Politically motivated’
The Trump campaign promptly denounced the decision as politically motivated, decrying it as an attempt to steal an election and disenfranchise American voters. The ongoing conflict surrounding Trump’s eligibility to run for office is anticipated to escalate, likely reaching the US Supreme Court for a final judgment.
Michael Waldman, President of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, highlighted the significance of the decision, anticipating that the Supreme Court’s involvement would not solely focus on Trump’s insurrection but would determine the authority to decide whether such actions bar an individual from future office.
Under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, multiple lawsuits across the country have challenged Trump’s eligibility for office due to his alleged involvement in inciting insurrection after taking an oath to support the Constitution.
However, Colorado’s Secretary of State, Jena Griswold, declared Trump would still appear on the ballot unless the US Supreme Court intervenes or confirms the state court’s decision.
Mounting legal challenges for Trump
Despite setbacks in some states, Trump’s campaign highlighted successful challenges in Michigan and Minnesota, along with federal courts rejecting similar efforts in numerous other jurisdictions.
Apart from ballot challenges, Trump faces separate legal actions, including criminal prosecutions related to the Capitol attack and alleged attempts to impede the return of classified documents. Maintaining his innocence, Trump contends that his actions were within his official duties leading up to the Capitol assault.
President Joe Biden has seized upon Trump’s legal troubles and rhetoric as a central theme in his reelection strategy, cautioning voters against the potential threat to democratic institutions posed by returning Trump to office.
Notably, recent polls suggest Trump maintains a five-percentage-point lead over Biden in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup, indicating a close race ahead.
(With inputs from Bloomberg and Reuters)