California’s Secretary of State, Dr. Shirley Weber, has chosen to include former President Donald Trump on the March 5 primary ballot, defying calls from Democrats to remove him. This decision, announced on Thursday, follows a similar move by Maine’s Secretary of State, while Colorado’s Supreme Court took Trump off its ballot based on the 14th Amendment’s insurrectionist ban.
Despite facing legal challenges and a plea from California Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis to exclude Trump, Secretary Weber opted to maintain his candidacy. This choice aligns with her commitment to uphold the “rule of law” and address the matter within legal boundaries.
While the issue of Trump’s eligibility is poised for consideration by the U.S. Supreme Court, differing decisions across states have caused a divide among Democratic officials. In Michigan, attempts to bar Trump from the 2024 ballot were dismissed by the top court.
Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, expressed disagreement with removing Trump from the ballot, stating that Californians have the power to decide through the democratic process. Despite acknowledging Trump as a threat, Newsom emphasized that the voters should determine their preferred candidates without distraction.
Looking ahead to the 2024 general election, Trump faces a challenging competition against President Biden in California. Nationally, recent polls show a neck-and-neck race between the two contenders. President Biden has officially declared his re-election bid, focusing on combating Republican extremism and emphasizing the need for more time to fulfill his promises to restore the nation’s character. The Biden campaign plans to echo the themes of the 2020 election and draw a contrast to Trump’s leadership.
