Maine secretary of state withdraws Trump ballot ban

Maine’s secretary of state on Monday withdrew her determination that former President Trump should be blocked from the state’s ballot under the 14th Amendment’s insurrection clause after the Supreme Court ruled in Trump’s favor.

“The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that individual states lack authority to enforce Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment with respect to federal offices,” Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows wrote in a modified ruling, obtained by The Hill. “Consistent with my oath and obligation to follow the law and the Constitution, and pursuant to the Anderson decision, I hereby withdraw my determination that Mr. Trump’s primary petition is invalid.”

“As a result of the modified ruling, votes cast for Mr. Trump in the March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary Election will be counted,” Bellows continued.