California Governor Gavin Newsom has criticized fellow Democrats who are considering blocking former President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 presidential primary ballot, according to a report by Fox News on Saturday, December 23, 2023.
Newsom underscored the importance of the democratic process, stating, “There is no doubt that Donald Trump is a threat to our liberties and even to our democracy,” and adding, “But in California, we defeat candidates at the polls.”
The movement to exclude Trump gained momentum when Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis urged California Secretary of State Shirley Weber to explore legal options following a Colorado Supreme Court ruling that deemed Trump ineligible due to the insurrection clause.
Newsom’s remarks emphasize a commitment to democratic principles, urging a focus on electoral defeat rather than getting sidetracked by political distractions.
The effort to remove Trump from California’s 2024 presidential primary ballot has sparked tensions within the Democratic party.
Governor Gavin Newsom’s criticism of these efforts reflects a dedication to democratic processes, highlighting the role of voters in determining political outcomes.
This stance aligns with his belief that candidates should be defeated at the polls rather than through procedural maneuvers.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis has pursued legal avenues, citing the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling in Anderson v. Griswold as a precedent to explore options for excluding Trump.
The legal pursuit is framed as a means of protecting the core tenets of democracy, emphasizing adherence to the rule of law.
“Based on the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling in Anderson v. Griswold (2023 CO 63), I urge you to explore every legal option to remove former President Donald Trump from California’s 2024 presidential primary ballot,” Kounalakis wrote in her letter to Weber.
In the letter, Kounalakis argued that pursuing legal options for removing Trump is about “protecting the fundamental pillars of our democracy.”
“This decision is about honoring the rule of law in our country and protecting the fundamental pillars of our democracy,” Kounalakis wrote.
The debate intensified following the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision to bar Trump from its 2024 ballot, citing the insurrection clause of the U.S. Constitution.
This clause asserts that those who have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the Constitution are ineligible for office.
The court’s reasoning focused on Trump’s alleged role in inciting the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by right-wing protesters.
The decision prompted immediate reactions within the Republican party, with condemnation from various quarters.
Trump’s political rivals within the GOP, despite their intentions to contest him electorally, also rallied behind the former president.
Governor Gavin Newsom and Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis have yet to respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
