On March 15th, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court unanimously decided to uphold the Secretary of State’s decision to remove President Donald Trump from the 2024 Maine primary ballot. The decision was made in response to a lawsuit filed by the Trump campaign.
The Trump campaign filed the lawsuit last month over the decision by Maine Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, to take President Trump off the ballot. Bellows argued that the Trump organization did not accurately identify itself as “authorized representatives of its campaign organization” when they requested the primary ballot. The court ultimately agreed with Bellows, ruling that the Trump campaign had not followed the correct procedures.
The effects of this ruling are far-reaching when considering the election of 2024. The small size of Maine makes it an uncommonly powerful political force in national elections. Had President Trump been on the 2024 ballot in Maine, it could have potentially helped him win the state’s electoral votes. Now that he is off the ballot, it will be more difficult for him to get the advantage he needs during the election season.
This ruling comes as the Trump administration continues its efforts to overturn the November 2020 election results. On March 8th, the US Supreme Court rejected the Trump campaign’s appeal of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Pennsylvania election results. This latest ruling further cements the legitimacy of the 2020 election and sets a precedent for other states to follow.
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court’s decision is a clear reminder of the importance of state election laws. The Trump campaign’s failure to adequately follow the guidelines established by the state of Maine proves that the election rules are in place to protect the integrity of the process. No matter who is running, any candidate who fails to comply with the rules should not be given a place on the ballot.
Ultimately, it will be up to citizens of Maine and other states to decide who will represent them in the 2024 presidential election. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court’s decision reinforces the importance of state elections and the impact they can have on the country as a whole.