Maine's Election Official Drops Trump from 2024 Ballot

Maine's chief election official has made the surprising decision to disqualify former President Donald Trump from the state's 2024 ballot, citing the 14th Amendment's "insurrectionist ban."

This move marks Maine as the second state to bar Trump from running for office, following a similar ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court earlier this month. The decision is a notable win for Trump's critics, who argue that they are upholding a constitutional provision meant to safeguard the nation from anti-democratic insurrectionists.

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, made the announcement on Thursday following an administrative hearing earlier this month regarding the eligibility of Trump for office. The challenge against Trump was filed by a bipartisan group of former state lawmakers.

Bellows' decision is subject to appeal in state court, and it is highly likely that Trump's team will contest the outcome.

Bellows wrote that he did not come to this conclusion easily. He also noted that while no Secretary of State has ever deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment, no presidential candidate has ever engaged in insurrection before. Many legal experts believe that the US Supreme Court will ultimately resolve the issue for the entire nation.

Still, the decision in Maine adds to the momentum that critics of Trump have gained since the Colorado ruling. Prior to Colorado, other states such as Michigan and Minnesota had also rejected similar efforts.

The 14th Amendment, ratified after the Civil War, states that American officials who participate in insurrection cannot hold future office. However, the provision is vague and does not specify how the ban should be enforced.

Trump denies wrongdoing regarding January 6, 2021, and says the legal challenges are meritless.

This story is breaking and will be updated.