Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is considering removing President Biden from the state’s election ballot in response to efforts in other states to disqualify former President Trump from securing a second term. This development follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to determine whether Trump can appear on Republican primary ballots in Colorado, where the state Supreme Court ruled he could not, citing the 14th Amendment’s insurrection clause.
The Colorado Supreme Court’s decision, which marked the first time in history that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment was used to bar a presidential contender from the ballot, was based on a lower court ruling that Trump incited his supporters as Congress was certifying Biden’s 2020 election victory. Maine’s secretary of state also decided Trump should be removed from the ballot for the same reason, a decision Trump is appealing.
Ashcroft, a Republican, described the efforts in Colorado and Maine as “disgraceful” and undermining the republic. He expressed his expectation that the Supreme Court would overturn this decision. However, he warned that if the new legal standard applied to Trump is not stopped, it would inevitably be applied equally to Biden.
Ashcroft’s stance reflects a broader sentiment among Republicans who have heavily criticized Democrats for attempting to remove Trump from 2024 presidential election ballots, arguing it undermines the will of voters. Last month, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick suggested removing Biden from the ballot in Texas due to his handling of the southern border.
More than a dozen states have signaled their support for Trump in a letter submitted to the high court, including Missouri. The White House, when asked for comment, simply responded with “No.”
This situation highlights the growing political tensions and the complex legal battles surrounding the eligibility of presidential candidates in the upcoming election.