Maine Disqualifies Donald Trump from State's Presidential Primary Ballot Over Capitol Attack
Maine's Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, has disqualified Donald Trump from the state's ballot in the upcoming U.S. presidential primary election. This decision makes Maine the second state, after Colorado, to bar the former president due to his alleged role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Bellows concluded that Trump, the leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination, incited an insurrection by spreading false claims about voter fraud in the 2020 election and urging his supporters to march on the Capitol to prevent the certification of the vote.
In a 34-page ruling, Bellows stated, "The U.S. Constitution does not tolerate an assault on the foundations of our government." Trump's campaign swiftly responded, expressing intentions to file an objection to what they deemed an "atrocious" decision.
Lawyers for Trump argued that his remarks on the day of the 2021 riot were protected by his right to free speech and disputed any engagement in insurrection. The ruling can be appealed to a state Superior Court, and Bellows has suspended her decision until the court provides a ruling.
The disqualification, which currently applies only to Maine's March primary election, may have implications for Trump's status in the November general election. The decision is expected to add pressure on the U.S. Supreme Court to address questions about Trump's eligibility nationwide under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
Colorado's top court disqualified Trump from the state primary ballot on December 19, marking the first instance in U.S. history where a candidate was deemed ineligible for the presidency due to engagement in insurrection. Trump has vowed to appeal the Colorado ruling to the Supreme Court.
Similar attempts to disqualify Trump in other states have been rejected, and the former president has been indicted in both a federal case and in Georgia for his role in trying to overturn the 2020 election. Despite legal challenges, Trump leads opinion polls by a significant margin in the race for the Republican nomination.
Maine, rated as likely Democratic, is expected to be won by President Joe Biden. However, Trump secured one electoral vote from Maine in both the 2016 and 2020 elections due to the state's unusual system that allows for the splitting of Electoral College votes.
Advocacy groups and anti-Trump voters have challenged his candidacy in several states under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, designed to prevent former Confederates from holding office after the U.S. Civil War. The legal battles surrounding Trump's eligibility for the presidency continue to unfold in different states across the nation.
