Maine’s Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, has declared that former President Donald Trump is ineligible to run for president in the state in 2024, citing a constitutional insurrection clause.
This decision makes Maine the second state, following Colorado, to bar Trump from the ballot and intensifies the pressure on the Supreme Court to intervene.
Bellows asserted that Trump’s actions leading up to the US Capitol riot in 2021 rendered him ineligible under the 14th Amendment, which prohibits individuals engaged in insurrection or rebellion from holding office.
The 34-page ruling emphasized the need for a focus on revenue generation in the 2024 fiscal year.
Bellows expressed her hope that the Supreme Court would settle the matter nationwide, stating, “I’m mindful that no secretary of state has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on section three of the 14th Amendment. But I’m also mindful that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection.”
Trump’s campaign criticized Bellows’ decision, with spokesman Steven Cheung labeling her a “hyper-partisan Biden-supporting Democrat” engaging in “election interference.” The campaign plans to file a legal objection in state court to challenge the ruling.
Reacting to Maine’s decision, California announced that Trump would remain on the ballot.
However, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis criticized Maine’s ruling, suggesting it could set a precedent for disqualifying President Joe Biden.
The 14th Amendment has become a focal point in challenging Trump’s 2024 presidential candidacy, with Colorado being the first to use it to disqualify a candidate.
