Maine: In a significant development, Donald Trump has been disqualified from the state ballot in Maine for the 2024 presidential primary. This decision, coming from Maine’s top election official, marks the second state barring the former president due to his role in the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021.
Shenna Bellows, Maine Secretary of State, a Democrat, asserted that Trump’s false claims about voter fraud in the 2020 election and subsequent encouragement of his supporters to march on the Capitol constituted incitement to insurrection. The decision is pending a ruling from the state supreme court.
A group of former Maine lawmakers contended that Trump should be disqualified under a US Constitution clause, preventing individuals who have sworn allegiance to the country and engaged in “insurrection or rebellion” from holding public office.
While this decision directly affects the March primary election, its implications may extend to Trump’s eligibility for the November general election, adding pressure on the US Supreme Court to address questions about Trump’s eligibility nationwide. Despite not being charged with insurrection in connection with the Capitol attack, Trump faces challenges to his eligibility in various states.
Trump, leading in polls for the 2024 Republican nomination, faced a similar disqualification in Colorado earlier this month. The former president plans to appeal the Colorado ruling to the Supreme Court.
