Donald Trump from the state’s primary ballot, allowing him to continue his candidacy. The lawsuit invoked a rarely-used constitutional provision, Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits individuals involved in insurrection from holding office. This dismissal marks the court’s decision to refrain from being the first to utilize this amendment to disqualify a candidate from running for the presidency.
The court justified its dismissal by emphasizing that state law grants political parties the authority to select candidates for the primary ballot. In doing so, the court sidestepped the underlying question of whether Trump’s alleged role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol disqualifies him from the presidency.
Chief Justice Natalie Hudson clarified the decision, stating, “There is no state statute that prohibits a major political party from placing on the presidential nomination primary ballot, or sending delegates to the national convention supporting, a candidate who is ineligible to hold office.”
While Trump remains on the primary ballot, the court left room for the possibility that plaintiffs could attempt to challenge his presence on the general election ballot in November.
The legal challenge against Trump in Minnesota was initiated by the liberal group Free Speech For People, which has expressed its commitment to persist in its campaign to end Trump’s presidential bid. This ruling sets a precedent for a series of lawsuits filed by Free Speech For People and another liberal group, all seeking to use Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to prevent Trump’s candidacy in the Republican presidential primary.
🚨 BREAKING: The Minnesota Supreme Court has DISMISSED the 14th amendment ‘insurrection clause’ challenge. Which means Donald Trump will remain on the 2024 primary ballot.
Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/37NBbvkjZp
— Ian Jaeger (@IanJaeger29) November 8, 2023
