The Democrat-led movement trying to remove former President Donald Trump from primary ballots across the United States picked up steam this week.
The Colorado court ruling blocking former President Donald Trump from the ballot appears to have re-energized efforts in blue-leaning states to do the same.
The Colorado Supreme Court on Tuesday removed President Trump from the state’s primary ballot, saying he “engaged” in an “insurrection” under the 14th Amendment and was not eligible to be on the ballot. The decision is expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Similar lawsuits have been tried in Arizona, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Michigan, but each case ended with President Trump still on the ballot. The Michigan case is being appealed to continue the effort to remove him. A handful of lawsuits in other states are still pending.
Now more Democrats are raising voices, calling for their states to follow the Colorado decision.
California’s Democrat Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis sent a letter to California Secretary of State Shirley Weber on Wednesday asking her to explore “every legal option” to remove President Trump from the state’s 2024 presidential primary ballot.
“California must stand on the right side of history,” Ms. Kounalakis wrote. “This is not a matter of political gamesmanship. This is a dire matter that puts at stake the sanctity of our Constitution and our democracy.”
Other States
In New York, Democrat state Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz introduced a bill Wednesday to amend the New York election law so it will require removing an insurrectionist from the presidential election ballot.
Pennsylvania Democrat state Sen. Art Haywood sent a letter Wednesday to Secretary of State Al Schmidt, citing the Colorado decision and encouraging him to disqualify President Trump from the 2024 ballot.
In an emailed statement to The Epoch Times, Mr. Schmidt said Pennsylvania’s Election Code does not give him the authority to reject a nomination petition on the grounds that a potential candidate does not meet an office’s eligibility criteria.
“In Pennsylvania, that is a question that can be answered only by the courts,” he said.
By Beth Brelje
