Washington State Dems move to pull Trump from 2024 primary ballot

Democrats in the Washington Legislature are attempting to modify state code to ban former President Donald Trump from the ballot by adding language similar to the ruling recently handed down by Colorado’s Supreme Court and Maine’s Secretary of State.

In 2020, former President Trump only carried approximately 38 percent of the deep blue state’s votes.

House Bill 2150 which was pre-filed in the Legislature by Democratic Rep. Kristine Reeves, adds to the existing code that “No person shall be eligible for any state or federal office 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; unless congress has voted by two-thirds of each house to remove this disability."

The existing law has almost no restrictions on the candidates who run for office.

Last month, in a 4-3 vote, the Colorado Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that allowed Trump to appear on the ballot as a presidential candidate, claiming that Trump "incited and encouraged" an insurrection to prevent the peaceful transfer of power on Jan. 6, 2021.

The legislation was also written to mimic a decision by Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows ruling that Trump is ineligible to appear on the state’s primary ballot under section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment. 

“This section shall be interpreted in conformity with section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, and with relevant court decisions interpreting that section ... No person shall be eligible for any state or federal office who has been convicted of, or charged with and not yet acquitted of, any state or federal crime arising from actions taken while serving as a state or federal officer, whether or not those actions were taken in the course of official duties."

Bellows appeared unsure in her ruling if Trump had engaged in the insurrection as he has not been charged with the crime or tried for it, but concluded that "Mr. Trump intended to incite lawless action" and thus "his speech is unprotected by the First Amendment."

The language of the new Washington bill added, "Notwithstanding the party's submissions, the secretary of state shall not include on the presidential primary ballot the name of any candidate who is disqualified from office" under the new sections, as well as in the general election.

On Friday, the US Supreme Court announced that it will decide if Trump can be legally kept off the ballot due to his alleged role in the Jan. 6 riot at the US Capitol.

Arguments in the case will be heard as early as February.