The US Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision on Monday, rejected Colorado’s bid to remove Donald Trump from the Republican presidential primary ballot. The attempt was based on allegations of his involvement in the January 6, 2021, insurrection, despite Trump not facing formal charges or convictions related to the incident.
According to the nine-member court, states lack the constitutional power to enforce the provision disqualifying individuals from federal office due to insurrection, particularly for the presidency. The ruling clarifies that states can disqualify candidates from holding state offices on those grounds, but the insurrection clause cannot bar them from a presidential ballot.
This decision, just ahead of Super Tuesday primaries, provides a significant boost to Trump’s pursuit of his party’s nomination for the third time. The Colorado Supreme Court’s earlier 4-3 decision, based on controversial claims by Democrats, ordering Trump’s removal from the ballot on December 20, 2023, was overturned by the US Supreme Court.
