Does Colorado's decision to ban Trump from the GOP ballot threaten his candidacy?

The Colorado Supreme Court said Donald Trump's engagement in 'insurrection' makes him ineligible to be president again

Donald Trump standing behind a ribbon barrier
Trump's campaign vowed to appeal the "completely flawed" decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.
(Image credit: Illustrated / Getty Images)

The Colorado Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that former President Donald Trump "is disqualified from holding the office of president under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment" and shouldn't appear on the ballot in next year's Colorado Republican presidential primary. The 4-3 decision by Colorado's top court was the first time the 1868 amendment's insurrection clause had been used to disqualify a presidential candidate. 

"We do not reach these conclusions lightly," the court's majority wrote. But "we are 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."

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.