Six Republican lawmakers are pushing legislation to ensure former President Donald Trump can stay on Arizona’s ballot, regardless of claims that he violated the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
In other states, the case has been made that the 14th Amendment’s insurrection clause disqualifies Trump from running for president or holding public office.
Arizona’s Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes says current state law doesn’t allow him to unilaterally remove Trumpfrom the ballot, but that a decision from the court could potentially have that outcome.
For example, the Colorado Supreme Court issued an opinion that Trump violated the 14th Amendment, and determined that he is disqualified from the ballot in that state.
Trump has appealed that decision to the United States Supreme Court.
Republican Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) and House Speaker Ben Toma (R-Peoria) recently joined several attorneys general in hopping onto the court case by filing amicus briefs.
They argue that the courts should stay out of partisan issues like the presidential race, and that the determination that Trump engaged in insurrection is not based on legal definitions.
Sen. Janae Shamp, (R-Surprise) is the main sponsor for the bill, which doesn’t refer to Trump by name. She was endorsed by the former president when she first ran for the state Senate.
She did not respond to a request for comment.
