Concerns Mount Over US Electoral Turmoil as Trump Faces Another Ballot Exclusion
Maine's decision to bar Donald Trump from the 2024 state ballot amplifies concerns of electoral chaos and constitutional uncertainty following the US Capitol riot, deepening the complexities faced by both Trump and Haley in their respective campaigns
Maine further complicated the 2024 election on Thursday by removing Donald Trump from the ballot due to his involvement in the US Capitol riot. This decision, in addition to a similar one made by the Colorado Supreme Court, has intensified the turmoil surrounding Trump's campaign and has increased the likelihood of the US Supreme Court getting involved. This development, related to the 14th Amendment's "insurrectionist ban," has deepened existing divisions and may have lasting effects on the nation.
Iowa is set to start voting in the Republican nominating race on January 15th, and with other important ballot deadlines approaching, there is an urgent need to resolve the increasing uncertainty. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, has paused her decision while waiting for a potential appeal in state court, which Trump's team has stated their intention to file.
This decision was made on the same day that Trump's rising rival in New Hampshire, Nikki Haley, attempted to prevent her gaffe about slavery from becoming a momentum-killer.
It is astonishing that a presidential candidate in 2023 cannot openly acknowledge that the enslavement of humans is what divided the country over 160 years ago. The current drama surrounding the former South Carolina governor, less than three weeks before voting begins, is also diverting attention from Trump, who has been involved in numerous scandals and controversies throughout his political career, particularly related to his denial of the 2020 election results and the legal issues that have arisen from it.
Maine's decision has further complicated the legal and political web surrounding the 2024 campaign, all of which originated from Trump's refusal to accept defeat and his unprecedented challenge to the long-standing US transfer of power. With two states now finding that a former president incited an insurrection against the US government, the situation is unheard of in history.
The controversy raises new questions about whether efforts to hold Trump accountable for January 6th are justified in the name of protecting America's democracy from a uniquely harmful challenge or if they could politically backfire on President Joe Biden and the Democrats next year. Despite the multiple criminal charges Trump is facing, his popularity with base voters has increased, even though his anti-democratic behavior in 2020 could be a significant liability in the general election.
Democracy is sacred
Bellows wrote in her decision that the circumstances were so outlandish that the Constitution left her no choice but to disqualify the Republican front-runner from the ballot.
Bellows stated, "I do not come to this conclusion lightly. Democracy is sacred... I recognize that no Secretary of State has ever denied a presidential candidate ballot access under Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment. However, I am also aware that no presidential candidate has previously incited insurrection."
In response, Trump's team aggressively retaliated, with the former president insisting that the nation uphold the very fundamental American right that he sought to undermine three years prior - the right of voters to elect their president.
The statement from the Trump campaign alleges the ongoing attempt to steal an election and disenfranchise American voters, particularly in blue states where President Trump's name is being removed from the ballot in an unconstitutional manner. This accusation is ironic, given that Trump has continued to deny the outcome of the 2020 election and sought to disenfranchise voters, especially in swing states that voted for Biden. Despite his false claims of voter fraud being rejected by multiple courts and his administration, Trump has made these allegations central to his 2024 campaign, which now accuses Biden of the very interference and violations Trump himself has been accused of.
The dramatic news from Maine came shortly after CNN's exclusive report revealed new details about the ex-president's election interference in early 2021. Recordings showed that Trump advisor Kenneth Chesebro expressed concern that fake elector ballots were stuck in the mail just days before Congress was set to certify the election results. Efforts were quickly made to transport the ballots to Washington on January 5 in order to support a scheme to declare Trump the rightful president, even though then-Vice President Mike Pence refused to participate. This new evidence further weakened Trump's latest legal defense, which claims that his efforts to remain in the White House were a legitimate use of presidential power to protect voters after a fraudulent election.
Haley fights to stabilize her campaign
The aftermath of Trump's actions in 2020 continued to unfold on Thursday, coinciding with another remarkable controversy - Haley's omission of slavery as the primary cause of the US Civil War.
Haley's recent misstep and somewhat clumsy attempts to rectify it have reignited unflattering criticisms that have followed her throughout her career. There is an impression that on issues like race and the Civil War, she has often been ambiguous about historical truths for her own political advantage.
The controversy also underscores the scrutiny of a presidential campaign, as it occurred at her first event back on the campaign trail after her Christmas break. This has allowed her rivals to argue that she is not prepared for the largest political stage. While her comments may not be a major concern in deep red state primaries, they could complicate her efforts to win over independent voters who can participate in the GOP primary in New Hampshire, where she needs their support to narrow Trump's lead in the polls. The Granite State has a proud history of sending regiments to fight the Confederacy in the Civil War.
Haley's opponents attempted to take advantage of her unease. Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, who previously faced controversy over the teaching of slavery in his state's schools, stated that she "is not a candidate prepared for prime-time."
"As soon as she encounters any form of examination, she tends to give in," he said.
What the Trump legal morass and Haleys troubles have in common
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie used her difficulties to reinforce his decision not to drop out of the race. "Let me make it simple for you. If someone asked me what the cause of the Civil War was ... It's easy, it's slavery," Christie stated in New Hampshire on Thursday. "I've been really fair to Nikki, but let me say this, she's smart," he continued. "She didn't say what she said last night and today about this because she's dumb. She's not. She's smart, and she knows better."
Haley's challenges and Trump's legal issues reveal the state of the modern Republican Party. Haley's reluctance to openly address the historical impact of slavery seemed like an effort to satisfy conservative voters in a party that has shifted further right. Similarly, she has avoided openly confronting Trump's efforts to undermine US democracy in 2020, likely to avoid isolating voters who believe the former president's unfounded claims about the election.
Haley continues to experience discomfort, and Trump's legal troubles are escalating as his campaign works to contest his disqualification from the ballot. The Colorado Republican Party has challenged the state Supreme Court's decision to exclude him from the ballot based on the 14th Amendment.
The Trump campaign in Maine stated that they would promptly file a lawsuit in state court to halt the implementation of the "atrocious" decision. However, Bellows contended that she had the power to disqualify Trump based on his behavior.
My commitment to upholding the Constitution takes precedence, and it's my responsibility under Maine's election laws to ensure that candidates meet the qualifications for the office they seek," she stated. Bellows argued that the challengers provided strong evidence that the January 6 insurrection was incited by Trump and that the US Constitution "does not condone an attack on the foundations of our government."
Prior to Colorado, other states like Michigan and Minnesota had also rejected similar attempts. The differing views on the Constitution and Trump's eligibility to run again in various states mean that it may be necessary for the US Supreme Court to intervene, even though doing so could further strain an institution that has already faced political challenges in recent years.
The justices will need to address two critical questions. Firstly, they must determine if the constitutional ban on insurrectionists holding office extends to the president. Secondly, they will be compelled to make a ruling on whether a single state can declare a candidate as having engaged in an insurrection without providing them with due process.
