In response to the decision by the Colorado Supreme Court to remove Donald Trump from the state’s primary ballot, several Republican leaders have voiced their dissatisfaction. Each has suggested that their state take a similar move against President Biden.
The highest court in Colorado ruled that 77-year-old Trump’s conduct on January 6, 2021, constituted overt, voluntary, and direct involvement in the rebellion by his followers at the US Capitol, and a 4-3 ruling disqualified him on Tuesday.
Instead of pursuing the tit-for-tat against Biden, some Republicans have suggested it as a thought exercise to show the Democrats how short-sighted they are.
Speaking to Fox News’s Laura Ingraham on Tuesday night, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick of Texas said considering what he has witnessed in Colorado, it makes him think that perhaps they should take Joe Biden off the ballot in Texas. But he said they wouldn’t because “they believe in democracy in the Lone Star State. He mentioned that allowing 8 million people to cross the border since he’s been president is unconstitutional.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis voiced a similar opposition to the Colorado decision, questioning whether Biden should be allowed to run for office after breaking the Constitution by allowing eight million illegal immigrants to enter the country.
No prominent US presidential candidate has ever been disqualified under the 14th Amendment’s Disqualification Clause.
To provide time for an appeal to the Supreme Court, the Colorado Supreme Court has put the verdict on hold until January 4, 2024.
In the 2024 Republican primary, Trump has eclipsed Biden in the polls and is now in the lead.
The nonprofit research organization Advance Democracy found that in reaction to Trump’s Truth Social tweets about the verdict, there was a lot of violent speech directed against the judges and Democrats.
Conservative judge Brett Kavanaugh’s would-be assassin was unavailable for comment.
