Maine Officials May Not Allow Trump on The Ballot, Citing 14th Amendment

It's no secret that the political landscape has shifted drastically over the last decade, and with that, the political temperature has also skyrocketed, too.

That's why people are beginning to voice their concerns over an article published in the Kennebec Journal which explains that officials in Maine are beginning to look into whether or not former President Donald Trump will even be allowed to appear on the State's ballot next November.

Now it's important to remember that this is all preliminary as the former president hasn't even won the republican nomination yet, though all signs and recent polling indicate that he likely will.

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and Attorney General Aaron Frey, the two democrats who are leading the exploration of a possible ballot removal of Trump because of the riots at the capital, are citing the 14th amendment. While the 14th amendment is rather lengthy, here is an excerpt from section 3;

No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Bellows and Frey said in part,

“As Maine’s Chief Election Official and Chief Legal Officer, we swear oaths to defend the Constitution and the laws of our nation and state, and we take that responsibility very seriously. Our offices are working together to research and analyze the legal requirements for ballot access, including presidential ballot access, as we do prior to every major election. Any decisions about ballot access will be made dispassionately at the proper time in accordance with the laws and the Constitution, which will be our sole consideration.”

Joel Stetkis, chairman of the Maine Republican Party, told the Kennebec Journal that their party, and those who lead it, are paying close attention to the evaluation being done.

Stetkis said in part,

“If any shenanigans begin we’re prepared to take action to defend any and all of our candidates. Mainers should be able to vote for their preferred Republican against Joe Biden – as we’ve seen, Biden and his policies are deeply unpopular here because he’s doing a very bad job.”

Annina Breen, Spokeperson for the Maine Democratic Party, said in a statement,

“We have full faith and confidence in Secretary Bellows and Attorney General Frey to do their due diligence to look into the arguments made and make a determination that is in full accordance with Maine election law and the Constitution."

It's important to note that other states are also looking into the same set of circumstances at this time.

We will keep this story updated as more information becomes available.