Maine Bars Donald Trump From Ballot As US Supreme Court Weighs State Authority To Block Former President

Maine's Democratic secretary of state on Thursday removed former President Donald Trump from the state's presidential primary ballot. This unprecedented unilateral decision holds potential consequences for the Electoral College.

Maine's four electoral votes, split between districts, hold significance. In the 2020 election, Trump secured one elector from Maine. Omitting him from the ballot, should he become the Republican nominee, could greatly impact a closely contested race.

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows' action mirrors a similar move by the Colorado Supreme Court in December, ousting Trump from their ballot under the 14th Amendment's Section 3. Bellows found Trump ineligible due to his involvement in the Capitol attack of January 6, 2021, deeming it an act of insurrection-a decision challenged by state residents and former lawmakers.

Despite Trump's legal team urging Bellows to recuse herself for alleged bias displayed in tweets, she maintained her ruling. However, her decision isn't final; it can be appealed within Maine's courts. The ultimate decision on Trump's eligibility for the presidency is anticipated from the US Supreme Court in the coming year.

This move sets a precedent as activists across states seek Trump's removal from primary ballots under Section 3. Until Bellows' ruling, such requests had been declined, with officials awaiting court guidance on interpreting this rarely invoked clause post-Civil War.

Bellows adhered to Maine's law, conducting a public hearing in December and accepting additional arguments post-Colorado's precedent-setting decision. Trump's campaign plans to contest the Colorado court's ruling in the US Supreme Court, setting a potential nationwide precedent.

The significance lies in the potential impact on Trump's candidacy if decisions unfold state by state. While Colorado's loss may not affect his presidential prospects, Maine's split electoral votes, particularly the second congressional district, hold weight. Missing from this ballot could mean starting his 2024 campaign with one less Electoral College vote.

While Maine's secretary of state's office acknowledges no prior instance of removing a presidential candidate from the ballot, such actions have been taken for lower office candidates.