The Michigan Supreme Court has dismissed a bid to exclude ex-President Trump from the 2024 Republican primary ballot in the state. Following the disqualification of Trump from Colorado’s 2024 ballots by the state’s Supreme Court last week, the Michigan Supreme Court’s decision to reject a similar attempt is noteworthy. The disqualification in Colorado, grounded in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, is linked to the events of the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.
“Significantly, Colorado’s election laws differ from Michigan’s laws in a material way that is directly relevant to why the appellants in this case are not entitled to the relief they seek concerning the presidential primary election in Michigan,” Justice Elizabeth Welch explained.
In response to the Michigan Supreme Court’s decision, former President Trump expressed on Truth Social that the court rightly dismissed what he termed as a “Desperate Democrat attempt” to remove him, the leading candidate in the 2024 Presidential Election, from the ballot in Michigan.
According to the ruling by Welch, appellants contend that political parties act as state actors when presenting candidates for the presidential primary. Therefore, they argue that these political parties should be bound by the United States Constitution.
“The appellants have also notified this Court that on December 19, 2023, a majority of the Colorado Supreme Court held that Trump is disqualified from holding the office of President under Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution and that therefore, under the Colorado Election Code, it would be wrongful for the Colorado Secretary of State to list him as a candidate on the Colorado Republican presidential primary ballot in 2024.”
Welch highlighted that the Colorado decision followed an extensive evidentiary proceeding in a trial court, which established the factual foundation crucial for addressing the intricate legal issues involved. Additionally, the impact of the Colorado decision has been temporarily halted, and Trump has expressed his intention to request permission to appeal to the United States Supreme Court.
After the ruling, Trump remarked that the attempt to manipulate the election through what he termed as a “pathetic gambit” has failed nationwide, even in states traditionally favoring Democrats.
Legal actions seeking disqualification of Trump from ballot appearances are currently pending in various states, including Texas, Nevada, and Wisconsin.
