Trump Wins Ballot Battles, In Courts

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – Former U.S. President Donald J. Trump, who won two Republican primaries for the party’s presidential nomination, is also winning in courts: He has successfully challenged every decision about blocking him from the ballot at this year’s presidential elections, except at the Colorado Supreme Court.

Three years ago, judges were heavily skeptical about Trump’s attempts to upend the results of the 2020 elections, sources said. “This time, courts from coast to coast have tossed out challenges to Trump’s candidacy before considering the merits of the cases or have ruled in his favor,” noticed The Washington Times, Washington’s conservative newspaper.

Legal experts said Trump is getting better outcomes in courtrooms as he has a stronger case and is on the defense. To defeat him, a plaintiff must tackle thorny issues, some of which have never been tested.

Plaintiffs must first show standing or a legal injury that allows them to bring the case. “They must then prove that Trump “engaged” in an ‘insurrection,” The Washington Times said.

The courts will also have to establish that “he was an ‘officer of the United States,’ that his behavior wasn’t protected by the First Amendment [of the Constitution], that the 14th Amendment’s insurrection clause covers the presidency, that courts are the correct forum to rule, and that the correct action is to delete his name from the ballot,” added the paper.

This month, federal courts in the U.S. states of Nevada and New Mexico ruled with Trump by throwing out challenges raised by a Republican candidate trying to knock the former president off the ballot in a couple of dozen states.

PRIMARY BALLOT

A court in Washington then dismissed a challenge by voters who wanted him off the primary ballot. “Right now, they also must prove that any of that matters in the primary elections, a Republican Party process,” The Washington Post wrote.

“In order for Trump to lose, he has to lose on everything,” stressed Josh Blackman, a South Texas College of Law professor.

Trump’s court victories came after the New Hampshire state primary on Tuesday provided him the second of an opening pair of wins in the Republican nomination fight. The victories accelerated his push for the party to stand behind him and deepened questions about the path forward for Nikki Haley, his lone rival.

The defeat of Haley in New Hampshire came eight days after Trump trounced Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida so thoroughly in Iowa that it drove DeSantis from the race.

Trump and his allies have reportedly turned his twin early wins into a milestone after just the first two contests. He said the party must now unite behind him to prepare for a November rematch between Trump and President Biden. Haley said she would continue her campaign, saying New Hampshire was one of “the first” but not the last states for primaries.

No Republican candidate has ever won the first two states and then not ultimately secured the presidential nomination, commented The Washington Times. Former President Trump himself noted in his victory speech in Nashua, New Hampshire: “When you win Iowa and you win New Hampshire, they’ve never had a loss — there’s never been — so we’re not going to be the first, I can tell you,” Trump told the crowd.

No Republican candidate has ever won the first two states and then not ultimately secured the presidential nomination. And with at least some court cases going his way, Trump appeared to be battle-ready, yet optimistic, to become president.

Latest Worthy News