California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis has officially called upon California Secretary of State, Shirley Weber, to explore legal avenues aimed at disqualifying former President Donald Trump from participating in the 2024 presidential election.
The move comes in the wake of the Colorado Supreme Court’s recent decision, reported by Fox News on December 20, which ruled Trump ineligible for inclusion on the state’s ballot. The court cited Trump’s role in inciting the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, invoking the Fourteenth Amendment, Section Three, to justify his disqualification.
In a letter dated December 20, Lt. Governor Kounalakis stressed the paramount importance of upholding the rule of law and protecting the fundamental pillars of democracy. She referred to the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision as a precedent, emphasizing its reliance on constitutional provisions regarding eligibility criteria for presidential candidates.
The court labeled Trump’s involvement in the insurrection as a “wrongful act,” asserting that the Colorado Secretary of State’s inclusion of Trump on the primary ballot was against the principles of the Constitution.
“This decision is about honoring the rule of law in our country and protecting the fundamental pillars of our democracy,” wrote Kounalakis, underlining the gravity of the matter.
Kounalakis called upon California to follow Colorado’s lead, asserting that this issue transcends political considerations and directly concerns the sanctity of the Constitution and democratic principles. She clarified that California, as a state, has an obligation to rigorously assess whether Trump meets the eligibility criteria outlined in the Constitution, specifically focusing on age requirements and the prohibition of individuals involved in insurrection.
The Colorado Supreme Court’s decision, currently under a stay until January 4 pending potential appeals, was grounded in the court’s commitment to impartially applying the law. The majority underscored their solemn duty to make decisions uninfluenced by public reactions, highlighting the gravity of the questions before them.
Kounalakis pointed out that the disqualification is not an isolated case, with similar lawsuits pending in 13 states, including Texas, Nevada, and Wisconsin. Her initiative aligns with a broader national context wherein the aftermath of the Capitol riot is shaping legal discourse surrounding political figures seeking public office.
While California Secretary of State Shirley Weber has yet to publicly respond to Kounalakis’s request, the Lt. Governor’s proactive stance adds California to the growing list of states considering legal action to bar Trump from their 2024 ballots. The constitutional principles at the core of these decisions highlight the delicate balance between upholding democratic values and addressing potential threats to the electoral process.
