Maine Secretary of State, Matt Dunlap, recently removed U.S. President Donald Trump from the Maine Republican Party Primary ballot, sparking nationwide criticism.
This unprecedented move has surprised many citizens, with some applauding the decision while others decrying this as an attack on the first amendment. Dunlap cited a technicality as the reason for Trump’s removal; state party rules require presidential candidates to “authorize in writing” their name to be on the ballot. Since President Trump failed to do this, Dunlap, by law, had to remove him.
Leading democratic figures, such as Maine Senator Angus King, did not comment on the decision, but it had many Republicans up in arms. State Republican Party co-chair, Demi Kouzounas, said that the party was “appalled at the injustice” of this ruling, and called it an attack on democracy. Kouzounas further stated that they would “pursue all available legal remedies” to rectify the Secretary of State’s decision.
This is not the first time President Trump has been accused of insufficiently engaging with the electoral process. Earlier this year, his campaign failed to file a necessary election disclosure to the Federal Election Commission. Similarly, his actions around the U.S. Post Office have been widely criticized by both Democrats and Republicans.
While the debate over the Secretary of State’s decision rages on, one thing is for certain: it has only further highlighted the divide between Republican and Democratic voters and stirred the debate about a President’s role in the election process. Whatever the fallout of this incident, it will be remembered as a unique moment in American political history.
Maine Secretary of State, Matt Dunlap, recently removed U.S. President Donald Trump from the Maine Republican Party Primary ballot, sparking nationwide criticism.
This unprecedented move has surprised many citizens, with some applauding the decision while others decrying this as an attack on the first amendment. Dunlap cited a technicality as the reason for Trump’s removal; state party rules require presidential candidates to “authorize in writing” their name to be on the ballot. Since President Trump failed to do this, Dunlap, by law, had to remove him.
Leading democratic figures, such as Maine Senator Angus King, did not comment on the decision, but it had many Republicans up in arms. State Republican Party co-chair, Demi Kouzounas, said that the party was “appalled at the injustice” of this ruling, and called it an attack on democracy. Kouzounas further stated that they would “pursue all available legal remedies” to rectify the Secretary of State’s decision.
This is not the first time President Trump has been accused of insufficiently engaging with the electoral process. Earlier this year, his campaign failed to file a necessary election disclosure to the Federal Election Commission. Similarly, his actions around the U.S. Post Office have been widely criticized by both Democrats and Republicans.
While the debate over the Secretary of State’s decision rages on, one thing is for certain: it has only further highlighted the divide between Republican and Democratic voters and stirred the debate about a President’s role in the election process. Whatever the fallout of this incident, it will be remembered as a unique moment in American political history.
