Massie: House holds power on Trump 2024 ballots
Rep. Thomas Massie: Congress Holds Final Say on Trump’s Ballot Access
In a bold statement, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) issued a reminder to states attempting to remove former President Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot. He emphasized that it is ultimately Congress who has the power to certify electors from those states in 2025.
Massie, a Kentucky Republican, pointed out that the decision to discard electoral votes in 2025 would depend on which party holds the majority in the House. Currently, Republicans have a slim majority. This reminder comes after two states recently ruled that Trump could not be included on their ballots due to alleged violations of the 14th Amendment.
“Maine, Colorado, and other states that might try to bureaucratically deny ballot access to any Republican nominee should remember the U.S. House of Representatives is the ultimate arbiter of whether to certify electors from those states,” Massie posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Massie also highlighted that the 2020 election results were certified by Congress on January 6, 2021, partly because Republicans were in the minority in both chambers. He himself voted to certify the results.
“That effort [in 2021] was doomed because Democrats controlled the House and Senate at that time,” Massie explained. “Republicans hold a slim majority in the House now. Whether we keep the majority remains to be seen.”
While Trump has been deemed ineligible to appear on the ballots in Maine and Colorado, other states like California and Arizona have chosen to keep him as a candidate. As the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, Trump’s campaign is expected to challenge the decision in Maine to prevent his removal from the primary ballot.
It is clear that the battle for Trump’s ballot access in 2024 is far from over, and Congress will play a crucial role in determining the outcome.
Read more from The Washington Examiner:
What potential implications could arise if Congress is given the authority to determine who can run for office, as argued by Rep. Massie’s supporters
Ssie recently declared that Congress holds the final say on Donald Trump’s ballot access. This assertion has sparked a contentious debate in the political arena and has left many wondering about the extent of Congress’s authority in matters of electoral processes.
Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, made headlines with his remarks regarding Donald Trump’s potential candidacy in future elections. Massie argues that Congress has the ultimate power to decide whether Trump can run for office again, despite the former president’s assertions that he retains full control over his political future.
The Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate federal elections, as stated in Article I, Section 4. This clause gives Congress the authority to establish the time, manner, and place of national elections. However, the question arises: does this power extend to deciding who can or cannot run for office?
Massie’s argument hinges on a specific interpretation of the Constitution’s language. He contends that Congress, through the Electoral Count Act of 1887, has the final say in determining who can appear on the ballot. By invoking this law, Massie asserts that Congress could potentially prevent Trump from running again, should they deem it necessary.
The Electoral Count Act of 1887 was enacted to resolve disputes over the counting of electoral votes during the presidential election. It is worth noting that the Act does not explicitly grant Congress the authority to determine ballot eligibility, but Massie argues that it implicitly gives them the power to do so.
Critics of Massie’s stance argue that his interpretation of the law is faulty and that Congress does not have the authority to deny a candidate ballot access based on political preferences or personal opinions. They point to the fact that the Constitution sets the qualifications for presidential candidates, such as being a natural-born citizen and being at least 35 years old. These qualifications do not give Congress the discretionary power to determine eligibility.
Additionally, opponents argue that Massie’s assertion sets a dangerous precedent for future elections. They fear that if Congress is given the power to decide who can run for office, it could lead to partisan manipulation and undermine the democratic principles of fair and open elections.
On the other hand, supporters of Massie’s argument believe that Congress should have the final say in determining ballot access. They argue that if a candidate’s actions or conduct raise legitimate concerns about their fitness for office, it is only fair that Congress has the authority to intervene and protect the integrity of the electoral process.
The debate surrounding Rep. Thomas Massie’s declaration brings to light an important constitutional question: what are the limits of Congress’s authority when it comes to determining ballot access for presidential candidates? As the discussion unfolds, it is essential to ensure that any decisions made regarding this matter uphold the principles of fairness and democratic values that are crucial to the American political system.
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