California Governor Gavin Newsom has rejected an attempt to prevent former President Donald Trump from appearing on the state's ballot, arguing that such a move would undermine democratic principles.
In a statement, Newsom acknowledged that Trump posed a threat to "our liberties and even to our democracy," but emphasized that in California, candidates are defeated through the electoral process. He dismissed any other efforts as mere political distractions.
This comes after Trump was disqualified from the Republican primary ballot in Colorado following a ruling by the state's Supreme Court. However, the order has been temporarily suspended pending a final decision from the Supreme Court.
Following Colorado's lead, several other states, including New York, are now considering similar measures to bar Trump from their ballots. In California, the push to remove Trump gained momentum when Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, a Democrat, urged Secretary of State Shirley Weber to replicate the Colorado ruling.
In a letter to Weber, Kounalakis emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law and protecting the foundations of democracy. She called on Weber to explore all legal options to remove Trump from California's 2024 presidential primary ballot.
However, Governor Newsom swiftly dismissed the idea, issuing a statement on Friday. He reiterated his belief in the power of the electoral process and rejected the notion of excluding Trump from California's ballot.
As the debate over Trump's eligibility for future elections continues, it remains to be seen how other states will respond to the growing calls to prevent him from appearing on their ballots.
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