An official in Maine stated, "Our government can't be attacked," while discussing why they disqualified Donald Trump from the state's 2024 election. They linked this decision to Trump's involvement in the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021.
Following Colorado's lead, Maine has become the second state to bar Trump from the ballot for the next election. This move is seen as a win for those critical of Trump, who argue that actions like the Capitol attack shouldn't go unchecked.
Shenna Bellows, Maine's top election official, mentioned that the Capitol events happened with the support of the outgoing President. This decision came after challenges raised by a few Maine voters, citing the US Constitution's protection against anti-democratic movements.
Bellows, a Democrat, emphasized that preventing a presidential candidate's ballot access based on the 14th Amendment has never happened before. Trump's campaign strongly opposed this decision, calling it an attempt to steal an election and accusing Democrats of using government power to maintain control.
Trump's team plans to appeal this ruling.
