Supreme Court Rules States Cannot Kick Trump Off Ballot

Los Angeles, CA — In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court has ruled that states cannot bar former President Donald Trump from appearing on the 2024 presidential ballot. The ruling swiftly ends a legal battle over whether states have the authority to exclude Trump based on the Constitution’s 14th Amendment.

The case centered around section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits individuals who previously held government positions but later “engaged in insurrection” from running for various offices. The Colorado Supreme Court had previously determined that Trump could not serve as president again under this provision. However, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed that decision, emphasizing that it is Congress, not individual states, that must enforce section 3 against federal office-seekers.

The ruling applies to all states, not just Colorado. It clarifies that states do not have the authority to determine a presidential candidate’s eligibility. While states retain the power to bar candidates from state offices, federal office-seekers fall under Congress’s jurisdiction.

Minutes after the ruling, Trump celebrated the decision on his social media platform, declaring it a “Big win for America!!!”1. The ruling ensures that Trump remains on the ballot in Colorado and puts an end to similar cases that have arisen in other states. Maine and Illinois had followed Colorado’s path, but their decisions were put on hold pending the Supreme Court’s ruling.

For Trump, this decision removes one avenue for holding him accountable for his role in challenging the 2020 election results, including his call for supporters to march on the Capitol during the January 6 events