Mary Estill Buchanan, the first woman to hold the office of Colorado secretary of state, has teamed up with the advocacy group Colorado Common Cause to advocate for the exclusion of former President Donald Trump from the 2024 Colorado presidential ballot.
In a recent development reported by Raw Story on Thursday, November 30, 2023, Buchanan submitted a brief as part of a case invoking a Civil War-era provision of the 14th Amendment. The brief, emphasizing a pivotal moment for the nation, asserts that constitutional mandates must prevail over partisan concerns to preserve the rule of law.
Buchanan, a resident of Boulder, served two terms as Colorado secretary of state from 1974 to 1983. Aligning with six unaffiliated and Republican voters, supported by the nonprofit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, she argues that Trump’s actions related to the Jan. 6 insurrection render him ineligible under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
Section 3 explicitly prohibits individuals who engaged in insurrection from holding office in the United States. Denver District Court Judge Sarah B. Wallace recently ruled that Trump did “engage in insurrection” but allowed him to remain on the Colorado ballot, contending that the section does not apply to the presidency.
Both the plaintiffs and Trump have appealed this decision to the Colorado Supreme Court, which is set to hear oral arguments on Dec. 6.
In their brief, Buchanan and Colorado Common Cause assert that Wallace’s ruling was correct, except for her interpretation that Section 3 doesn’t apply to the presidency—a stance they deem “reversible.” They argue that Trump’s pursuit of power over his oath and longstanding American political precedent should disqualify him from the 2024 Colorado presidential race, aiming to prevent any potential disruption to the electoral system.
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In a broader political context, as of November 30, 2023, political analyst Charlie Cook anticipates a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential general election. However, Cook suggests that both parties might benefit from exploring alternative nominees, presenting a perspective during an event at Drake University hosted by the Harkin Institute.
