
On Monday, March 4, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a ruling from a Colorado court removing former President Donald Trump from the ballot in the upcoming election. The sweeping ruling bars Colorado from removing the former President from the ballot under Section 3, a piece of the 14th Amendment that bars previous public servants from re-entering public office after having “engaged in insurrection or rebellion.”
“States have no power under the Constitution to enforce Section 3 with respect to federal offices, especially the Presidency,” a statement from the Supreme Court reads.
“Because the Constitution makes Congress, rather than the states, responsible for enforcing section 3 against all federal officeholders and candidates, we reverse.”
The Supreme Court’s most recent ruling will ensure that Trump appears on the ballot during the state’s Republican primary on Tuesday, March 5. Ahead of tomorrow’s primary and following the court’s ruling, Secretary of State Jena Griswold acknowledged the decision without additional comment.
“[We acknowledge the court’s ruling] that states do not have the authority to enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment for federal candidates. In accordance with this decision, Donald Trump is an eligible candidate on Colorado’s 2024 Presidential Primary,” the statement reads.
Monday’s ruling will also likely halt similar lawsuits from other states like Maine and Illinois. Maine is set to hold its primary on Tuesday, March 5 while Illinois’ is set to take place on March 19.