(The Center Square) – The Colorado Supreme Court ruling Tuesday that former President Donald Trump could not appear on the 2024 presidential ballot has launched a wave of backlash with many saying it will help Trump electorally.
“Unprecedented, unAmerican, and illegal election interference,” Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
A key line of attack on the decision is that it does what Trump’s opponents have always accused him of: Undermines Democracy.
“The Colorado Supreme Court’s decision to disqualify President Trump from the 2024 ballot is an abuse of power and an attempt to silence the voice of millions of voters,” Rep. Diana Harshbarger, R-Tenn., wrote on X.
The Colorado majority opinion admitted that the U.S. Supreme Court could intervene, and as a result postponed the effect of its ruling until Jan. 4, giving the higher court about two weeks. The Colorado secretary of state is require to certify the ballot by Jan. 5.
“We are mindful of the magnitude and weight of the questions now before us,” the court wrote in its majority, adding that the justices are “likewise mindful of our solemn duty to apply the law, without fear or favor, and without being swayed by public reaction to the decisions that the law mandates we reach.
The idea is spreading, with California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis calling on state secretary Shirley Weber to “explore every legal option” to oust Trump from the 2024 primary ballot.
“The Colorado courts weaponizing the law against Donald Trump should alarm everyone,” Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., wrote on X. “Trump haters are abusing the Constitution and the rule of law to attempt to keep him out of office (again).”
Other critics argued that the effort in Colorado, a state Trump has never won in a general election, will actually boost Trump’s electoral chances.
“One thing is clear: this will help Donald Trump,” said Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. “Do these Colorado clowns in black robes not realize that?”
The best evidence for that claim is how Trump’s poll numbers soared after the FBI raided his Mar-a-Lago home in the classified documents indictment. Former Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis seemed to have a real chance of challenging Trump, based on polls at the time, but since the FBI raid Trump’s numbers have soared, leaving his primary challengers with little hope of catching him.
Even some of Trump’s Republican primary competitors came to his defense, including DeSantis and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, who has said he will withdraw from Colorado and California’s ballot in protest.
Trump himself reacted Tuesday.
“Joe Biden is a threat to Democracy,” Trump said during remarks in Iowa responding to the news. “They are weaponizing law enforcement for high-level election interference because we are beating them so badly in the polls.”
