Maine Secretary of State Blocks Trump From 2024 Presidential Primary Ballot

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D) ruled Thursday that former President Donald Trump can not appear on Maine’s 2024 presidential primary ballot.

The Details: In a press release, Bellows said Trump’s primary petition is invalid and that he's not qualified to hold the office of the president under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bars people who have "engaged in insurrection or rebellion" against the U.S. from holding office. Trump’s campaign plans to challenge her ruling in state court. Maine's presidential primary is March 5.

For Context: Colorado's Supreme Court recently became the first court to apply Section 3 to a presidential candidate. Bellows is the first top election official to use it to remove a presidential candidate from the ballot. The 14th Amendment was ratified after the Civil War, and Section 3 was originally intended to prevent former Confederates from holding office.

How the Media Covered It: Bellows' decision was a top story across the spectrum Friday morning. Many reports suggested that the U.S. Supreme Court will ultimately decide Trump's 2024 fate. Some right-rated sources are framing efforts to remove Trump from the ballot as election subversion.