Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, has removed former President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 ballot, citing the 14th Amendment’s “insurrectionist ban.” This decision follows an administrative hearing earlier in the month, prompted by a challenge filed by a bipartisan group of former state lawmakers questioning Trump’s eligibility, The Associated Press reports.
Maine becomes the second state, after Colorado, to disqualify Trump from the ballot based on the same grounds.
Meet Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who just ruled to kick Donald Trump off of the 2024 ballot pic.twitter.com/ekgn0Y94vt
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) December 29, 2023
Bellows issued the decision, stating that she does not reach this conclusion lightly, emphasizing the sacredness of democracy. She acknowledged the unprecedented nature of depriving a presidential candidate of ballot access under Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment but highlighted that no presidential candidate had previously engaged in insurrection.
The decision can be appealed in state court, and Trump’s side is expected to challenge the outcome.
The 14th Amendment, ratified after the Civil War, prohibits American officials who “engage in” insurrection from holding future office. However, the provision is vague about how the ban should be enforced. Legal experts anticipate that the U.S. Supreme Court will ultimately settle the issue for the entire country.
Trump, who denies wrongdoing regarding the events of January 6, 2021, has consistently argued that the legal challenges against him are meritless. The Maine decision adds to the momentum gained by Trump’s critics following the Colorado ruling.
While some states, including Michigan and Minnesota, have rejected similar efforts, the disqualification in Colorado and now Maine represents a significant victory for those seeking to enforce constitutional provisions designed to protect against anti-democratic insurrectionists. The legal battle is expected to continue, and the U.S. Supreme Court may play a pivotal role in resolving the issue nationally.
