Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon anticipates that the U.S. Supreme Court will be compelled to address the anticipated appeal of the Colorado Supreme Court’s recent decision barring former President Trump from the state’s primary ballot.
As reported by The Hill on December 23, 2023, Colorado set a historic precedent by being the first state to reject Trump’s inclusion on its primary ballot. The decision was grounded in allegations of his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riots, contending that this constituted a violation of the 14th Amendment.
In an interview with MSNBC, Simon stressed the importance of a uniform stance across states regarding Trump’s eligibility. He asserted, “We’re never going to have a situation in this country where one or some cluster of states decides that Donald Trump is not on the ballot and everyone else decides he is.”
Simon firmly stated that the U.S. Supreme Court would play a pivotal role in determining whether Trump appears on all ballots or none at all, acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding the court’s final decision.
He highlighted potential outcomes, including the court returning the case to Colorado for further argumentation or issuing a narrow ruling that sidesteps the claims related to the events of January 6. Simon explained, “There are multiple off ramps for them… They don’t have to decide that. There are a number of ways they can dispose of the case and get an outcome without deciding that question.”
The outcome of the Colorado case, if upheld by the Supreme Court, could significantly impact the 2024 election by potentially excluding Trump from nationwide ballots.
Despite concerns raised by Secretary of State Simon, Trump dismissed the legal actions against him as mere political maneuvers, with several GOP primary candidates supporting him and Democrats overwhelmingly endorsing the decision.
Simon expressed apprehension about potential administrative chaos and logistical challenges resulting from the uncertainty surrounding the Colorado ruling. With the case temporarily on hold pending Supreme Court intervention, the composition of the state’s primary ballot remains uncertain.
Simon acknowledged the anxiety surrounding the potential spillover into a general election and the associated administrative challenges, describing it as a “headache, to put it mildly.”
