Trump Can Continue On 2024 Michigan Republican Primary Ballot, Rules Appeals Court

In a notable decision, the Michigan Court of Appeals won’t stop former President Donald Trump from contesting the 2024 Republican primary ballot. The court reached this conclusion despite objections stemming from Trump’s role in the 2021 Capitol attack.

What Happened: The Michigan Court of Appeals dismissed challenges to Trump’s potential presence on the forthcoming primary ballot. Detractors contended that Trump’s conduct during the 2021 U.S. Capitol attack should invalidate his candidacy, reported ABC affiliate WTOK citing the Associated Press on Thursday.

Despite this, the court upheld two lower court rulings without deliberating on whether Trump is subject to the insurrection clause of the Constitution’s 14th Amendment. Unanimously, the court indicated that, under Michigan law, the responsibility of selecting primary ballot candidates rests with political parties and individual candidates.

The court decided that a discussion on Trump’s possible spot on the general election ballot was premature. It is anticipated that the lawsuits contesting Trump may be escalated to the U.S. Supreme Court, which has yet to rule on the insurrection clause.

This decision aligns with a similar ruling by the Minnesota Supreme Court, which also permitted Trump to remain on the state’s primary ballot, citing the election as a party-run contest.

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Why It Matters: This decision follows a series of similar judgments. According to a Benzinga report from November, the Michigan Court of Claims had previously dismissed objections to Trump’s potential 2024 run based on his involvement in the Capitol attack This decision echoed a Minnesota Supreme Court ruling that deemed the primary election an internal party affair and not a determinant of a candidate s eligibility for the general ballot or presidency

Furthermore, a Benzinga article from later that month revealed a Colorado court ruling in favor of Trump This ruling ordered Trump’s inclusion on the state’s primary ballot dismissing a 14th Amendment challenge initiated by the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington along with several Republican and independent Colorado voters

Photo by Evan El-Amin on Shutterstock

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