Democrat Lieutenant Gov. Eleni Kounalakis has urged the Secretary of State to thoroughly explore all legal avenues in order to eliminate President Donald Trump from California’s 2024 ballot.
Kounalakis made this request following the decision of Colorado’s Democrat-controlled Supreme Court, which declared Trump as “disqualified” from participating in the state’s GOP primary ballot in 2024.
Taking inspiration from this unconstitutional action, Kounalakis penned a letter to Secretary of State Shirley Weber, dated Wednesday, December 20.
In the letter, Kounalakis referred to Colorado’s recent ruling, which stated that Trump was ineligible to be listed as a presidential candidate on the state’s ballot.
The justices justified their decision by citing false allegations that Trump had played a role in “inciting an insurrection” at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
“This decision is about honoring the rule of law in our country and protecting the fundamental pillars of our democracy,” Kounalakis wrote.
“Specifically, the Colorado Supreme Court held in Anderson v. Griswold (2023 CO 63) that Trump’s insurrection disqualifies him under section three of the Fourteenth Amendment to stand for presidential re-election.
“Because the candidate is ineligible, the court ruled, it would be a ‘wrongful act’ for the Colorado Secretary of State to list him as a candidate on that state’s presidential primary ballot.”
Kounalakis conveyed to the Secretary of State that it is imperative for California to align itself with the correct side of history and take on the responsibility of determining whether Trump is eligible to be on the ballot, drawing parallels to his ineligibility in Colorado.
Kounalakis, who initiated a campaign for the California governorship in 2026, suggested that California could use Colorado’s decision as a foundation for its own decision-making process.
According to Kounalakis, the constitution clearly stipulates that a presidential candidate must be 35 years old and not have engaged in insurrection. The Democrats, along with their corporate media allies, have consistently propagated the narrative of “insurrection” due to the provision in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. While there are minimal restrictions on presidential candidacy, Section 3 of the 14th Amendment explicitly prohibits individuals who have participated in insurrection from running for office.
However, there was no instance of “insurrection” at the Capitol, and the allegations of Trump inciting a riot on that day have been widely discredited. The 14th Amendment specifies that a presidential candidate must be born in the United States, be at least 35 years old, and not have engaged in insurrection.
Nevertheless, in a previous version of the letter that circulated on social media, Lt. Gov. Kounalakis stated that a candidate must be 40 years old. She also asserted that this matter is not a mere political maneuver, but rather a critical issue that jeopardizes the integrity of our constitution and democracy.
The disqualification of Colorado was executed in accordance with the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and was linked to the Capitol protest that occurred on January 6, 2021.
Due to anticipated appeals, the 4-3 ruling has been temporarily halted until January 4.
A total of three justices on the Colorado Supreme Court expressed their dissenting opinion.
“We do not reach these conclusions lightly,” the court’s majority wrote.
“We are mindful of the magnitude and weight of the questions now before us.
“We are likewise 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.”
In a prior decision, Judge Sarah B. Wallace of the Colorado District permitted the 45th president to remain on the ballot. However, she determined that Trump had “participated in insurrection” due to his alleged involvement in the Capitol protests on January 6th.
Secretary of State Jena Griswold of Colorado expressed her commitment to adhering to the court’s instructions regarding this significant matter in a statement.
“The Colorado Supreme Court has ruled that Donald Trump is barred from the Colorado ballot for inciting the January 6 insurrection and attempting to overturn the 2020 Presidential Election,” Griswold wrote.
“This decision may be appealed.”
The 14th Amendment states:
“No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.”
