A House Democrat who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump after the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol is criticizing the decision to kick him off the ballot.
On Thursday, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows removed the former president from the ballot, citing the clause of the 14th Amendment that prohibits individuals who engaged in an insurrection after taking an oath to uphold the Constitution from holding office again.
Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) took to X, formerly Twitter, to criticize the decision as he said in a statement, “I voted to impeach Donald Trump for his role in the January 6th insurrection. I do not believe he should be re-elected as President of the United States.”
“However, we are a nation of laws, therefore until he is actually found guilty of the crime of insurrection, he should be allowed to be on the ballot,” he added.
My statement on the Maine Secretary of State's ruling: pic.twitter.com/ByO3XJe1JS
— Congressman Jared Golden (@RepGolden) December 29, 2023
Golden was not the only member of Congress from Maine to criticize the decision.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) wrote on X, “Maine voters should decide who wins the election – not a Secretary of State chosen by the Legislature. “
“The Secretary of State’s decision would deny thousands of Mainers the opportunity to vote for the candidate of their choice, and it should be overturned,” she added.
Maine voters should decide who wins the election – not a Secretary of State chosen by the Legislature.
— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) December 29, 2023
The Secretary of State’s decision would deny thousands of Mainers the opportunity to vote for the candidate of their choice, and it should be overturned.
Earlier this month, Colorado’s Supreme Court ruled Trump is ineligible to hold office again.
The ruling applies only to Colorado’s ballots and was paused until Jan. 4, the day before the state’s secretary of state has to certify candidates for the primary.
Additionally, Michigan’s Supreme Court on Wednesday let stand a ruling from a lower court that ruled state law allows parties to decide which candidates may appear on the ballot for a primary election.
However, Wednesday’s ruling does not prevent a similar legal challenge from being heard if Trump becomes the nominee.