Voters in Illinois and Massachusetts are joining a nationwide effort spearheaded by the advocacy group Free Speech for People, aiming to disqualify Donald Trump from the 2024 presidential ballot. This campaign is grounded in the assertion that Trump’s actions during the January 6 events constitute an ‘insurrection,’ violating the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
The organization has been active in several states, filing petitions to declare Trump ineligible for office due to his alleged role in the January 6 incident. Their efforts have seen varied results, with controversial decisions in Colorado and Maine and dismissals in Minnesota and Michigan. However, the campaign is gaining momentum with the Supreme Court set to hear at least one of the related cases, following an appeal by Trump’s legal team.
Despite these legal challenges, Trump remains a prominent figure in the Republican party, leading in polls ahead of the Iowa caucuses. His campaign has criticized these disqualification attempts as ‘election interference,’ and some political analysts believe that these actions may even bolster his support among Republican voters.
In Illinois, the petition submitted to the state’s Board of Elections demands a hearing to consider Trump’s disqualification from both the primary and general election ballots. The petitioners argue that Trump, through his actions and statements related to January 6, engaged in insurrection or rebellion, thereby violating his constitutional oath.
Similarly, in Massachusetts, the challenge led by former Boston Mayor Kim Janey and supported by a diverse group of voters, echoes these sentiments. Ron Fein, Legal Director at Free Speech for People, emphasized that the clause against insurrectionists in the Constitution was designed to prevent individuals like Trump from returning to power. Attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan, representing Massachusetts voters, stated that this legal action transcends partisan politics and is a constitutional imperative.
As the situation unfolds, the Illinois State Board of Elections is yet to schedule a hearing for the petition, and the nation awaits further developments from the Supreme Court and other states involved in this constitutional debate.