Michigan Supreme Court Upholds Trump’s 2024 Ballot Eligibility Despite Legal Challenge

The Michigan Supreme Court has dismissed an effort to exclude former President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 ballot. On Wednesday, the court expressed scepticism about the need to review the issues raised in the appeal, emphasizing that the Michigan secretary of the state lacks the authority to determine a presidential candidate’s eligibility.

According to a report by M10News, the plaintiffs argued that former US President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election and the subsequent Capitol riot indicated his unconstitutional involvement in “insurrection or rebellion,” making him ineligible for holding public office. However, the court held that such decisions about eligibility were not within the purview of the Secretary of State.

Justice Elizabeth Welch, the sole dissenter, called for a ruling on the petition’s merits but agreed with the courts’ prior decisions regarding the secretary of state’s role in determining a candidate’s eligibility. She suggested that the petitioners could renew their efforts later in 2024 should Trump secure the Republican nomination or pursue an independent candidacy.

This ruling intensifies the legal challenges for Trump following a Colorado Supreme Court decision disqualifying him from that state’s ballot. The court in Colorado cited Trump’s alleged role in inciting the Capitol insurrection as grounds for disqualification. Trump’s defence team faces mounting pressure to appeal this decision, with a deadline set for January 4.

Despite these legal hurdles, Trump, currently the front-runner for the 2024 Republican nomination, remains confident. In a Truth Social post, he celebrated the Michigan Supreme Court’s decision, characterizing it as rejecting a “Desperate Democrat attempt” to remove him from the ballot in Michigan. According to RealClearPolitics, he leads by over 50 percentage points in this state.

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Dan Olczak

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