Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold faced backlash for her response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision allowing former President Donald Trump to be on the ballot.
The court overturned a Colorado ruling citing the 14th Amendment’s “insurrection clause” to exclude Trump.
Griswold expressed disappointment and belief in states’ rights to bar insurrectionists from ballots.
I am disappointed in the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision stripping states of the authority to enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment for federal candidates. Colorado should be able to bar oath-breaking insurrections from our ballot.
— Jena Griswold (@JenaGriswold) March 4, 2024
“I am disappointed in the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision stripping states of the authority to enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment for federal candidates,” Griswold wrote on X. “Colorado should be able to bar oath-breaking insurrections from our ballot.”
“I do believe that states should be able, under our Constitution, to bar oathbreaking insurrectionists. … Ultimately, it will be up to the American voters to save democracy in November,” she said.
The Supreme Court clarified that only Congress can disqualify federal candidates, not individual states.
“We conclude that States may disqualify persons holding or attempting to hold state office. But States have no power under the Constitution to enforce Section 3 with respect to federal offices, especially the Presidency,” the court said.
“Nothing in the Constitution delegates to the States any power to enforce Section 3 against federal officeholders and candidates,” Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh stated.