Another blow for Donald Trump? Maine removes him from 2024 ballot

Former US President Donald Trump has landed into another trouble ahead of the 2024 presidential elections as now he has been disqualified from appearing on Maine's primary ballot by the state's top election official.

Why US state of Maine bars Donald Trump from 2024 ballot?

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows cited Trump's role in inciting the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol as grounds for barring him.

The US state of Maine on Thursday blocked former president Donald Trump from its Republican presidential primary after the top election official ruled him ineligible due to involvement in the January 2021 assault on the US Capitol, reports AFP News Agency

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Bellows, a Democrat, stated that Trump falsely claimed voter fraud in the 2020 election before urging supporters to march on the Capitol to prevent certification of results. This amounted to engaging in insurrection under the US Constitution's Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, she argued.

The decision suspends Trump's eligibility pending a ruling by Maine's Supreme Court. In December 2022, Colorado became the first state to bar Trump from its primary ballot for insurrection, a move he has challenged before the US Supreme Court.

What would be aftermath of this ruling?

The Maine petition was filed by a group of former state lawmakers who invoked the constitutional clause prohibiting those involved in insurrection from holding public office. Thursday's ruling applies only to the March 2024 primary but could impact the November general election too.

While not charged specifically with insurrection, Trump was indicted in federal and Georgia cases over election subversion attempts. The former president remains the frontrunner for the Republican 2024 nomination and has criticised such ballot challenges as undemocratic.

More states could disqualify Trump ahead?

The Maine decision adds pressure on the US Supreme Court to determine Trump’s eligibility under the 14th Amendment nationwide. Legal experts believe more states could bar his candidacy if the top court upholds such rulings.

Notably, Donald Trump is the first presidential aspirant to face ballot exclusion over insurrection claims in US history. The controversial move has drawn mixed reactions with Republicans slamming it as a partisan attempt to undermine Trump’s re-election bid.

But Secretary Bellows asserted her duty to uphold constitutional prerequisites, regardless of party affiliations. The ruling intensifies the legal battle over Trump’s 2024 run amidst ongoing fallout from the Capitol attack.