A judge in Colorado has dismissed an attempt to exclude former President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 ballot. The legal challenge to Trump’s candidacy was filed in September by a group of Colorado voters citing his activities in contesting the 2020 election outcomes and his actions relating to the Capitol riot of January 6, 2021 as causes to deem him ineligible for office. While the judge found that Trump did engage in an insurrection by inciting a riot, she ruled that he is not subject to Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which specifies qualifications for office. As a result, the court ordered the Colorado Secretary of State to include Trump on the state’s primary ballot for next year.
This decision adds to a string of successful legal defenses for Trump following similar attempts in other states such as Minnesota and Michigan. Nevertheless, the group of Colorado voters behind the challenge announced plans to appeal this ruling, intending to bring the case to the Colorado Supreme Court. The Judge’s decision came after a hearing last month, with the petitioners’ attorney emphasizing that “Trump has disqualified himself from ever holding office again” in his closing argument.
The controversy surrounding Trump’s eligibility continues to circulate as officials in Arizona, New Hampshire, and other states grapple with similar challenges to ballot access under the 14th Amendment. However, Trump remains a leading contender for the Republican presidential primaries in these states for the 2024 election as he maintains a lead in the polls against other Republican candidates.
