The Colorado Secretary of State, Jena Griswold, has announced that former President Donald Trump will be included on the state’s 2024 primary ballot. This decision follows an appeal filed by the Colorado GOP with the U.S. Supreme Court, challenging the state Supreme Court’s earlier decision to remove Trump from the ballot.
The appeal by the Colorado Republican Party comes in the wake of a controversial ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court, which, in a 4-3 vote, overturned a lower court ruling allowing Trump to appear on the ballot. The state Supreme Court’s decision was based on the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which led to Trump’s ineligibility to be listed as a presidential candidate.
Griswold stated that Trump would remain on the ballot unless the U.S. Supreme Court affirms the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling or decides not to take up the case. The situation creates a unique legal scenario, as it contrasts with a decision by the Michigan Supreme Court, which rejected an attempt to remove Trump from its primary ballot.
The U.S. Supreme Court now faces a pressing decision, as it must resolve the case before Super Tuesday on March 5. The timing is crucial, as the deadline for 2024 primary ballots to be sent out to military voters is January 20, and ballots will start being mailed to voters on February 12. The first day of primary voting in Colorado is scheduled for February 26.
The Colorado GOP’s attorneys have argued that excluding Trump from the ballot is a disregard for the First Amendment rights of political parties to select their candidates and an infringement on the rights of the people to choose their elected officials.
This legal battle places the U.S. Supreme Court in a pivotal position to set a precedent that could impact the rest of the country. The outcome of this appeal will be closely watched, as it has significant implications for the 2024 presidential election and the broader political landscape in the United States.