The rush in California to remove Trump off the ballot backfires
California’s major policies often attract national attention. The state has a track record of leading the way by implementing new requirements into law. Examples of this include advocating for zero emission vehicles, raising minimum wages in the fast food industry, and enacting pork laws. When California takes action, other states frequently follow suit.
Colorado took the lead in attempting to remove Former President Trump from the state primary ballot. The Colorado Supreme Court granted permission to remove Trump’s name from the ballot, citing “Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which disqualifies those who engage in insurrection.” While this provision was established during the Civil War, its application in modern times is unprecedented. It is the first time a court has deemed Trump ineligible to return to the White House due to his involvement in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. This decision represents a unique occurrence, as no court has previously disqualified a presidential candidate under this clause.
Politicians are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to review this decision, but in the meantime, California wasted no time in joining the movement.
Unfortunately, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis’ confidence was overshadowed by ignorance as she rushed to keep up with Colorado and remove Trump as a competitor on the primary ballot in California. Kounalakis urged California’s Secretary of State to explore every legal option to eliminate former President Donald Trump from California’s 2024 presidential primary ballot.
Kounalakis emphasized her point by misquoting information, which ultimately made both her and the state of California appear foolish. In a letter to California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, she erroneously stated, “‘The constitution is clear: you must be 40 years old and not be an insurrectionist.'” However, the truth is that Article II of the U.S. Constitution sets the minimum age requirement for a president at 35, not 40.
If she had read the amendment before quoting it, it would have saved her a lot of embarrassment. The true age requirement, which is 35, has no relevance to the point at hand, which is keeping Trump from a second term at the White House. He has already met the minimum age requirement.
Shortly after, she sent the letter again, this time with the correct information. She emphasized the need for a prompt decision, as the deadline for the certified list of candidates for the March 5, 2024 primary election is December 28, 2023.
According to Trump’s campaign team, they plan to challenge the Colorado decision in the U.S. Supreme Court.
Regardless of the outcome of Trump’s legal battles, he maintains a significant lead over other potential presidential candidates, even though he has never participated in any debates. Ultimately, it will be the voters who decide on their next leader.
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