Maine's Secretary of State has removed the Malignant Loser from Maine's primary ballot citing the 14th Amendment's clause barring those Federal officials who sworn an oath to the Constitution and then engaged in insurrection from serving in Federal office. Maine becomes the second state after Colorado to take such action. From the Washington Post's coverage:
"The decision by Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D) is sure to be appealed. The Colorado Supreme Court last week found Trump could not appear on the ballot in that state, and the Colorado Republican Party has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case. The nation’s high court could resolve for all states whether Trump can run again. [snip]
'The events of January 6, 2021 were unprecedented and tragic,' Bellows wrote in Thursday’s decision. 'They were an attack not only upon the Capitol and government officials, but also an attack on the rule of law. The evidence here demonstrates that they occurred at the behest of, and with the knowledge and support of, the outgoing President. The U.S. Constitution does not tolerate an assault on the foundations of our government, and [Maine law] requires me to act in response.'
Colorado, Maine and more than a dozen other states hold their primaries on March 5, which is also known as Super Tuesday. Election officials need firm answers on who can appear on ballots weeks before then so they can print ballots and mail them to absentee voters, including ones who are overseas. [snip]Trump has five days to appeal the determination to Maine’s Superior Court. From there, the appeal could go to the state’s Supreme Judicial Court and the U.S. Supreme Court." (our emphasis)
Now that Maine has decided to drop the Malignant Loser from their ballot, other states considering the 14th Amendment issue will be following developments there and in Colorado closely.
