Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has stirred a political storm by excluding former President Donald Trump from the state’s presidential primary ballot, a decision echoing a recent move by Colorado’s Supreme Court in December. Daily Mail reported on Saturday, December 30, that the divisive action has garnered both support and intense scrutiny.
Bellows, a Democrat, revealed that her family faced threats and her home was subjected to a “swatting” incident following the decision—an alarming act where a false emergency report triggers an excessive police response. Although no one was harmed, Bellows condemned the behavior as unacceptable, shedding light on the intense reactions her decision provoked.
The secretary of state’s association with President Joe Biden has further intensified the scrutiny, with visitor logs revealing two exclusive White House visits in March and June. During a Women’s History Month Event in March, Bellows took a photo with Biden, expressing gratitude for the meeting on social media. In June, she met with Justin Vail, a special assistant to the president for democracy and civic engagement.
Bellows’ political history and opinions also surfaced in a resurfaced op-ed from June 2021, where she expressed concern for democracy after the 2020 presidential election. While serving as a presidential elector for Biden, she criticized the Electoral College as a “relic of white supremacy,” emphasizing the importance of equal voting rights for all citizens.
The decision to exclude Trump from the ballot is grounded in Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bars individuals who engaged in insurrection from holding office. This parallels a similar ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court, currently under review by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Bellows, recognizing the historical nature of her decision, defended it on CNN, stating that her duty to uphold the Constitution guided her. She acknowledged the unprecedented nature of denying a presidential candidate ballot access under Section 3 but argued that Trump’s alleged involvement in insurrection warranted such action.
Despite accusations of “theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter” by the Trump campaign, Bellows maintained that her decision was made with great care, emphasizing the unique circumstances surrounding Trump’s potential disqualification under the 14th Amendment.
As the controversy unfolds, Bellows has announced a suspension of the implementation of her order, anticipating an appeal by Trump in Maine’s Superior Court.
