Donald Trump was unexpectedly removed from the Maine presidential primary ballot by Secretary of State Shenna Bellows. The surprise decision marks the first time in history that a sitting president has been taken off of the ballot in any state.
The action was initiated on legal grounds due to Trump’s failure to file timely statements of organization and financial accounts in the state of Maine. Maine constitutional law requires candidates to file certain documents before they are allowed onto the ballot in the state.
According to Bellows, Trump failed to submit the necessary paperwork by March 16th, the deadline set by the state of Maine. She also noted that the Trump campaign had numerous opportunities to submit all of the paperwork before the deadline, but didn’t do so.
As a result of Trump’s removal from the ballot, the remaining names on the ballot for the Maine presidential primaries will include Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, and Tulsi Gabbard.
The removal of Trump from the ballot has caused a stir among political analysts. Many have argued that the decision is politically motivated and is a blatant attempt to influence the outcome of the Maine primary.
Additionally, some have stated that the timing of the removal is suspect since most of the state’s delegates will now be awarded to candidates other than Trump.
It is unclear if Trump will face any legal consequences for his failure to file the necessary documents. Regardless, it is clear that his removal from the Maine ballot has injected an unexpected wrinkle into the 2020 presidential election.
