Colorado Sec. of State Jena Griswold (D) expressed her “disappointment” with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling against her state’s disqualification of former President Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot.
The Supreme Court ruled 9-0 on Monday that only Congress, not individual states, can block federal candidates from the ballot under the 14th Amendment’s insurrection ban.
The Colorado Supreme Court in December ruled Trump could be disqualified from the ballot, citing Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, for his actions on the day of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
“I do believe that states should be able, under our Constitution, to bar oath-breaking insurrectionists,” Griswold told CNN shortly after the court’s ruling. “Ultimately, this decision leaves open the door for Congress to act to pass authorizing legislation. But we know that Congress is a nearly nonfunctioning body. So ultimately, it will be up to the American voters to save our democracy in November.”
Griswold acknowledged that it was good that the court had made a decision as Americans around the nation participate in early voting ahead of Super Tuesday.
“Coloradans and Americans deserve to know whether Trump is a qualified candidate,” Griswold said.
