Missouri’s Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft has floated the possibility of removing President Joe Biden from the state’s primary ballot, suggesting that if the Supreme Court confirms the rulings against Trump, Biden should be held to the same standard.
Could Biden Be Removed?
Last month, the Colorado Supreme Court declared Mr. Trump ineligible for the presidency, citing the Constitution’s insurrection clause. Following this, Maine’s Secretary of State also disqualified Trump from appearing on the state’s presidential primary ballot
“Disgraceful” Election Decisions
Just hours after the Supreme Court declared it would review Trump’s appeal of the Colorado decision on January 5th, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (@JayAshcroftMO)posted on X:
“What has happened in Colorado & Maine is disgraceful & undermines our republic. While I expect the Supreme Court to overturn this, if not, Secretaries of State will step in & ensure the new legal standard for @realDonaldTrump applies equally to @JoeBiden!”
14th Amendment in the Spotlight
Ashcroft’s position became public following the U.S. Supreme Court’s agreement to examine a Colorado high court decision rooted in the 14th Amendment, which disqualifies anyone who has “engaged in insurrection” from holding federal office.
Ashcroft on the Hot Seat
During an interview, Ashcroft appeared noticeably uncomfortable when asked to explain the basis of his threat. He mentioned that “there have been allegations that [Biden’s] engaged in insurrection,” referring to claims made by the lieutenant governor of Texas.
Border “Invasion”
When questioned about how he would apply the same standard of insurrection to make Mr. Biden ineligible for the state’s 2024 ballot, Ashcroft responded by asserting that the president “let an invasion unstopped into our country from the border.”
He seemed to have difficulty elaborating on his previous allegations.
Chaos Looms?
Ashcroft has been outspoken about the gravity of the situation, asserting, “I’m 99% certain the Supreme Court will stop it, but if they don’t, chaos is ahead, and we’ve got to avoid it.”
Preventing a Domino
He is gearing up to present an amicus brief to the Supreme Court, highlighting the dire consequences if Colorado’s ruling is allowed to stand, potentially sparking a retaliatory cycle of states disqualifying each other’s candidates.
Warning of Partisan Escalation
Ashcroft also highlighted the potential for escalating partisan tensions, saying, “If Democrat states are saying we’re not going to let these Republicans run, you bet you’re going to see the same thing happening from Republican states. And it’s not good.”
Unfair Play
His argument centers on the fear that such disqualifications by states could spiral into chaos, likening it to an unfair sports game where ‘the other team doesn’t have to dribble the ball.'”
“I don’t want to go there”
Even with his strong position, Ashcroft has expressed reservations about secretaries of state possessing the authority to determine ballot eligibility. “I don’t want to go there,” he said, worried about the impact on elections.
The High Stakes
The impending decision by the Supreme Court carries significant weight. With Trump already gaining momentum as the GOP frontrunner in polls, the debate surrounding the authority of states to disqualify candidates from ballots, the need for due process in these actions, and the delicate balance between political revenge and legal responsibility in U.S. elections is taking on new dimensions.
“We should take Joe Biden off the ballot”
This isn’t the first instance of a state official considering the removal of the president from the 2024 ballot. Recently, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick also pointed to the surge of immigrants at the US-Mexico border as a reason to exclude Biden,
“Maybe we should take Joe Biden off the ballot in Texas for allowing 8m people to cross the border since he’s been president, disrupting our state far more than anything anyone else has done in recent history,” he said.
Trump: A “Threat” to Democracy?
Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom is steering clear of the contentious ballot removal process. Last month, he disagreed with his lieutenant governor’s suggestion to exclude Trump from California’s primary ballot.
Newsom stated, “There is no doubt that Donald Trump is a threat to our liberties and even to our democracy. But in California, we defeat candidates at the polls. Everything else is a political distraction.”
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