By Joseph Kanefield and Savannah WixThe focus of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Trump v. Anderson was its holding that states cannot exclude federal candidates from state primary ballots under the Insurrection Clause. This decision, however, overshadowed another significant holding in the same case – that states may disqualify candidates from holding or attempting to hold state office under the Insurrection Clause. Thus, the Court held that “States may disqualify persons holding or attempting to hold state office” under the Clause. This decision makes state challenges fair game against state or local officeholders or candidates if the individual violated the Insurrection Clause. At least one state court has exercised this authority and removed a local candidate from the ballot under Section 3.

Source: ABC News March 16, 2024 00:09 UTC