Maine Court Upholds Ruling to Keep Trump on Ballot Pending U.S. Supreme Court Decision

The decision is based on the need to wait for a similar case in Colorado to be ruled on by the U.S. Supreme Court. Similar lawsuits have been filed in other states, with varying outcomes.

Maine's Supreme Judicial Court has unanimously upheld a lower court ruling that halted the removal of Donald Trump from the state's primary ballot. The decision was based on the need to wait for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on a similar case in Colorado.
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows had appealed the lower court's decision, arguing that uncertainty about Trump's eligibility could cause voter confusion. However, the court stated that this uncertainty was the reason for not undertaking immediate appellate review.
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments on the Colorado case on February 8. The case revolves around whether Trump is constitutionally disqualified from the presidency under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
Trump's legal team has argued that Bellows, a Democrat, was biased against him and that her decision disenfranchised voters in Maine. They also contend that the 14th Amendment does not apply to those seeking to run for office, but only to those who hold office.
Similar lawsuits to remove Trump from the 2024 ballot have been filed in other states, including Hawaii, Illinois, and Massachusetts. However, those in Minnesota, Michigan, Arizona, and Oregon have been dismissed on procedural grounds.