Staff Reports
The Colorado Supreme Court made a shocking ruling with a 4-3 vote to disqualify former President Donald Trump from their state’s 2024 primary ballot due to his involvement in the events of January 6, 2021. As expected, Trump’s loyal supporters as well as his rivals in the 2024 GOP primary were outraged by this decision.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, known for his unwavering support of Trump, openly criticized the ruling, confidently predicting that the US Supreme Court would reverse it. He condemned the efforts to exclude Trump from the primary ballot as a ploy to secure support for other candidates in the primary and hinder Trump in the general election.
Some of Trump’s fiercest rivals rally in his defense after Colorado ballot ruling https://t.co/hmYNOS8sbq pic.twitter.com/tnupusmsR1
— New York Post (@nypost) December 20, 2023
Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy was equally passionate in his condemnation of the ruling, vowing to withdraw from Colorado’s GOP primary until Trump’s name was rightfully restored on the ballot. He labeled the decision as undemocratic and accused the judges of interfering in the election process to suppress Trump’s candidacy.
Even some of Trump’s 2024 GOP primary rivals came to his defense. Former South Carolina Governor and potential presidential candidate Nikki Haley expressed her disdain for the court’s ruling, emphasizing that the decision of who appears on the ballot should ultimately rest with the voters, not judges.
In an unexpected turn of events, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a vocal critic of Trump, stood by the former president, asserting that Trump’s candidacy should be decided by the voters, not by a court.
Several disillusioned Republicans, who have distanced themselves from Trump, also spoke out against the ruling. Former Attorney General Bill Barr criticized the court’s decision as legally unsound, while Adam Kinzinger, a vocal critic of Trump, expressed apprehension about the ruling.
Former Ohio Governor John Kasich, a vocal opponent of Trump, condemned the ruling as pure partisan politics and criticized the partisan composition of the court. The decision to bar Trump from the ballot in Colorado was widely criticized by prominent Republican figures, sparking outrage and frustration within the GOP.
The decision to disqualify Trump from the Colorado primary ballot caused a ripple effect, with Trump fundraising heavily off the news and his campaign vowing to appeal the decision. The Republican Party in Colorado hinted at a potential shift to a caucus system if the ruling stands, demonstrating the profound impact of the court’s decision on the state’s primary election.
Despite the jubilation from Democrats over Trump’s disqualification, there were murmurs of concern within the party regarding the decision. Some Democrats expressed reservations about banning Trump from the ballot without a conviction, highlighting the controversial nature of the ruling.
With the ruling stayed until January 4 to allow for a potential appeal to the US Supreme Court, the battle over Trump’s candidacy in Colorado is far from over. The decision to disqualify Trump from the ballot has ignited a fierce debate and drawn strong reactions from both sides of the political spectrum, setting the stage for a contentious and high-stakes legal battle.
