LANSING, MI— Former President Donald Trump will remain on Michigan’s presidential primary ballot, at least for now.
The Michigan Supreme Court issued an order Wednesday that refused to review lower court decisions that the Secretary of State lacks unilateral authority to block Trump from the Republican primary ballot. Justice Elizabeth Welch dissented.
The plaintiffs in the case argue Trump is not eligible to run under the insurrection clause of the U.S. Constitution. The order is silent on whether Trump can appear on the November general election ballot.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson made the following statement regarding the Michigan Supreme Court's ruling:
"As Michigan's Secretary of State — and a former election law professor and law school dean — I am keenly aware of the responsibility I bear in reassuring voters that our democracy is secure, fair and accessible, and that election results are an accurate reflection of their will. This responsibility includes ensuring that the decisions I make are nonpartisan, follow the law, uphold the Constitution and protect democracy.
"I'm proud that our office has approached this complicated issue from that framework. We clearly stated months ago that, when it comes to ballot access for candidates in a presidential primary, my authority is limited to ensuring that any individuals "generally advocated by the national news media to be potential presidential candidates," along with any recommended by state political parties, qualify to be on the ballot. We followed that law, and I am gratified our state Supreme Court and all lower courts have affirmed that approach.
"Ultimately, as our Constitution establishes, the U.S. Supreme Court must provide the clarity and finality to this matter. I continue to hope they do this sooner rather than later to ensure that we can move forward into 2024's election season focused on ensuring all voters are fully informed and universally engaged in deciding the issues at stake."
