Former President Donald Trump will remain on California's presidential primary ballot, despite efforts by other states to disqualify him based on the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and calls from Democrats for his removal.
California's Democratic Secretary of State, Shirley Weber, announced on Thursday that Trump will be included on the state's ballot, in contrast to the decisions made by Colorado and Maine to disqualify him.
The disqualification of Trump in Colorado and Maine stems from his actions in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021. However, Colorado has temporarily reversed its decision pending a ruling from the Supreme Court. In response to the Colorado decision, Democratic Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis of California, who is running for governor in 2026, wrote a public letter to Weber urging her to explore all legal options to disqualify Trump.
Weber, in her capacity as the state's Secretary of State, later responded to Kounalakis' letter, emphasizing her commitment to upholding free and fair elections and the democratic process. However, she did not disclose her decision at that time.
While other states, including Michigan and New Hampshire, have also considered the question of Trump's presence on their state ballots, they have chosen not to disqualify him. Trump, who is currently the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, is leading President Joe Biden, the leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, in multiple polls.
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