Are Democratic Officials’ Efforts to Bar Donald Trump From Ballots Undemocratic?

Maine’s Secretary of State blocked former President Donald Trump from the state’s ballot this week, drawing media perspectives.

Ambiguous Amendment: An opinion for The New York Times (Left bias) argued that the 14th Amendment is too “ambiguous regarding the office of president” for the Supreme Court to use it to bar Trump from ballots. The writer analyzed the historical context of the amendment and said the government should “Let the people make their own decisions about Donald Trump.”

Democratic Patriots: An opinion for The Washington Post (Lean Left bias) said the officials of Colorado and Maine “deserve praise for aggressively defending American democracy from Trump,” something that President Biden “failed to do.” The writer argued that the officials are “not partisans, but patriots” and said “we should use” the 14th Amendment to keep Trump from ever being president again.

A Historical Moment: Jonathan Turley (Lean Right bias) writing for The Hill (Center bias) argued that Democratic officials seeking to bar Trump from the ballot via the 14th Amendment “claim to safeguard democracy by denying its exercise to millions of Americans.” Turley credited Democratic officials who’ve opposed banning Trump from ballots, and said the Supreme Court “was designed for this moment: to stand between rage and reason; between cynicism and constitutionalism.”