Trump Ruled Disqualified From Illinois Primary Ballot
The Facts
- Former Pres. Donald Trump is ineligible to be included on the Illinois Republican primary ballot according to a county court judge who ruled Trump's actions related to the Jan. 6, 2021 riots at the US Capitol were in violation of Section 3 of the US Constitution's 14th Amendment.
- This ruling follows a recommendation by the Illinois State Board of Elections hearing officer on Jan. 30 to dismiss a petition to remove Trump from the state's primary ballot.
- Although the recommendation claimed — even giving Trump the benefit of the doubt — there was a "preponderance of evidence" the former president incited insurrection, the hearing officer determined that under state law the election board couldn't remove him from the ballot.
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The Spin
Pro-Trump narrative
This decision is disgraceful and a symbol of the continued hubris of woke election influencers attempting to prohibit Trump's democratic rights. While SCOTUS is destined to reinstate the former president back onto the ballots, the arrogance of a county court to interfere with a national election should worry everyone who values democracy.
Anti-Trump narrative
When majorities in the US Senate and House in 2021 moved forward with Trump's second impeachment, he was officially designated as an insurrectionist. The Constitution is clear about the consequences insurrectionists face. So, Trump should be removed from the ballots because a Trump run for America's highest office will place the US' democratic value system in irreversible danger.
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