A flash poll conducted by YouGov indicates that a majority of Americans, including nearly a quarter of Republicans, support the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision to disqualify former President Donald Trump from the state’s primary ballot. The online survey, involving 3,492 US adults, revealed that 54% of respondents either “strongly” or “somewhat” approved of the court’s ruling, with 35% expressing disapproval and 12% remaining undecided. Notably, approximately 24% of self-described Republicans supported the court’s move, while 84% of Democrats were in favor. Among self-described independent voters, 48% approved, and 35% disapproved.
The Colorado Supreme Court’s decision, based on a narrow 4-3 majority invoking Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment, prohibits individuals engaged in “insurrection or rebellion” from holding public office. The court concluded that Trump’s actions on January 6, 2021, met this criterion, characterizing his involvement as “overt, voluntary, and direct participation in the insurrection.”
The ruling is automatically stayed until January 4, 2024, allowing Trump’s legal team time to file an appeal to the US Supreme Court. The YouGov poll found that 43% of respondents anticipate the US Supreme Court to overturn the Colorado ruling, while 23% believe it will be upheld, with 34% expressing uncertainty.
Following the Colorado decision, Democratic politicians in California and New York have raised questions about including Trump on primary ballots in their respective states. Challenges against Trump were rejected in Florida and New Hampshire, and a court of appeals in Michigan chose not to remove Trump from the primary ballot. If the disqualification ruling stands, Colorado’s Republican Party has hinted at a potential shift from a primary to a caucus system for the 2024 GOP primary scheduled for March 5, 2024.
