By Aaron Miller-
Ma Maine’s Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, has disqualified Donald Trump from the state’s ballot for the upcoming US presidential primary election.
Following in the footsteps of Colorado’s decision earlier in December, this move marks the second state to restrict the former president’s candidacy, citing his alleged role in inciting the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021.
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Shenna Bellows ruled that Trump’s false claims about voter fraud and his encouragement of supporters to march on the Capitol constituted an incitement of insurrection.
The 34-page decision, coming after Colorado’s similar move, emphasizes the unprecedented nature of depriving a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
Legal Ramifications:
The ruling applies specifically to the March primary election but could impact Trump’s eligibility for the November general election, adding complexity to the legal battles surrounding his candidacy.
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It heightens the pressure on the US Supreme Court to address broader questions about Trump’s eligibility under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
Maine becomes the second state, after Colorado, to bar Trump, signaling potential legal turmoil in the run-up to the 2024 presidential race.
Legal experts anticipate that the Maine case, like its Colorado counterpart, will likely reach the Supreme Court, emphasizing the crucial role the court might play in determining aspects of the upcoming election.
Trump’s supporters and many Republicans perceive these decisions as part of an establishment effort to sideline him, contributing to a divisive political atmosphere.
For the Democratic Party, attempting to disqualify Trump through the courts raises challenges, given the optics and the already febrile political climate in America.
The Trump campaign vehemently opposed the decision, labeling it an “atrocious” attempt to disenfranchise American voters and steal an election.
Campaign spokesman Steven Cheung asserted that the campaign would file an objection, underscoring the determination to contest the ruling.
Maine’s decision follows Colorado’s move to disqualify Trump from its primary ballot on December 19, making him the first candidate in US history deemed ineligible for the presidency over an insurrection charge.
Similar attempts in other states have been rejected, while Michigan’s top court recently declined to hear a case seeking Trump’s disqualification from the state’s presidential primary ballot.
Maine, rated as likely Democratic, holds importance in the electoral map. President Joe Biden is expected to win the state, but its unique setup, allowing the splitting of Electoral College votes, gave Trump one electoral vote in both the 2016 and 2020 elections.
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