(The Center Square) – Colorado Republicans, led by U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, are considering bringing a recall against Democratic Secretary of State Jena Griswold in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous decision allowing former President Donald Trump to appear on the state’s presidential primary ballot.
“All legal options available to us will be considered, including a formal recall effort,” a letter to Griswold posted on Boebert’s X account stated.
The letter came on Monday after the U.S. Supreme Court overruled a decision by the Colorado Supreme Court to remove former President Donald Trump from the primary ballot ballot, citing the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment that bars insurrectionists from holding federal office. However, a stipulation in the Colorado Supreme Court ruling allowed Trump’s name to remain on the ballot if its decision was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trump received 63.3% of the vote on Tuesday, according to partial and unofficial results posted on the Colorado secretary of state’s website.
“Your attempt to disenfranchise millions of Coloradans and prevent them from exercising their right to cast a vote in support of President Donald J. Trump is a stain on our Republic and an outright embarrassment to Coloradans and Americans,” stated the letter, which was signed by Boebert, Colorado GOP Chairman Dave Williams, and other party officials.
Boebert in a tweet also told Griswold to “start packing your bags.”
Griswold responded to the letter on Wednesday, saying, “Bring on the recall.”
“Hey Lauren, I had to laugh at the ‘pack your bags’ comment given your recent move. Bring on the recall,” Griswold tweeted. “Unlike you, I’ve always defended our Constitution and democracy.”
Griswold was alluding to Boebert switching from the 3rd Congressional District to the 4th District to run for the seat of retiring Republican Rep. Ken Buck. Boebert defeated Democratic challenger Adam Frisch by 546 votes out of 327,285 votes cast in the 3rd District in November 2022.
In the wake of the court’s decision on Monday, Griswold appeared on MSNBC saying while she’s pleased the court ruled, she thinks it was the wrong decision in the case brought by six Colorado voters to remove Trump.
“My larger reaction is disappointment,” Griswold said. “I do believe that states should be able, under our Constitution, to bar oath-breaking insurrectionists. And ultimately this decision leaves open the door for Congress to act to pass authorizing legislation. But we know that Congress is a nearly non-functioning body. So, ultimately, it will be up to the American voters to save our democracy in November.”
If Boebert and the Republicans decide to launch a formal recall effort, it must be created and approved by Griswold’s office prior to obtaining signatures. Once approved, the number of signatures required is 25%, or 621,189 of the 2,484,758 votes cast during the last general election for the office to get the recall on a ballot. Griswold was reelected with 55% of the vote in 2022.
Griswold requested and was granted time before the U.S. Supreme Court to present information on Colorado law during the Feb. 8 arguments. In an interview with ABC News, the secretary of state stated she was upholding the law and the Constitution and didn’t take any action in removing Trump from the ballot.
“A lawsuit was filed, actually, against me asking a court to stop me from putting Trump on the ballot,” Griswold told ABC News. “That then went to the Colorado Supreme Court, who said that Trump is disqualified because of his role in the insurrection and that the president or the former president is not above the law or the Constitution. Section 3 of the 14th Amendment applies to him.”
“I think the Colorado Supreme Court got it right,” she added. “Ultimately, I will follow the United States Supreme Court decision. I do think that there is a dangerous concern from its decision.”
