The Supreme Court unanimously ruled on Monday that former President Donald Trump cannot be barred from presidential primary ballots.
Per the ruling, only Congress – not states – can invoke the insurrection clause in the 14th Amendment to keep candidates from appearing on the ballot.
The backstory: Last December the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Trump is disqualified from the ballot for inciting the events at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
- Following that ruling, Maine’s secretary of state removed Trump from the ballot, and a judge in Illinois ruled that Trump should be disqualified in that state as well.
The big picture: The unanimous opinion by the Supreme Court strikes down the decision’s in Colorado, Maine and Illinois and stops any other efforts around the rest of the country to remove Trump from the ballot.
- “The Constitution makes Congress, rather than the States, responsible for enforcing Section 3 against federal officeholders and candidates,” the court ruled.
- The Supreme Court said allowing each state to determine if a candidate is eligible for the presidential election would lead to chaotic outcomes that would ultimately disrupt a national election.
What they’re saying: “BIG WIN FOR AMERICA!!!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
