Challenges to Trump's Inclusion on Primary Ballots

Repeat presidential hopeful Donald Trump said Thursday that there would be "chaos and bedlam" if the U.S. Supreme Court would not reverse the state of Colorado's decision to remove him from primary ballots ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Trump has appealed the ruling and oral arguments in the court are scheduled for Feb. 8. The state of Maine has made a similar decision. There, Trump's appeal is with the state's Superior Court where the judge in charge stayed the case Wednesday until after the Supreme Court ruling.

Proceeding to remove Trump from the ballot initiated by states or citizens' lawsuits are based on a Civil War-era constitutional amendment that disqualifies government officials who engaged in insurrection from holding office. In total, The New York Times has counted 35 states where such proceedings have been underway. As of Thursday, the newspaper listed 17 as having been dismissed and, considering the Supreme Court's makeup, said that it was likely that Trump would appear on ballots after all.

A lawsuit against Trump's ballot inclusion was just dismissed yesterday in Washington state. Trump's name is also missing from primary ballots in Nevada, as the candidate - like Ron DeSantis - decided to appear in the state's GOP caucus.