California Governor Gavin Newsom has criticized fellow Democrats for considering the idea of blocking former President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 presidential primary ballot.
Governor Newsom supports electoral defeat and criticizes the attempt to remove Trump from the California primary ballot. (Source: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Newsom Criticizes Efforts to Block Trump from California Ballot
Newsom emphasized that in California, candidates are defeated at the polls and labeled efforts to block Trump as political distractions. Despite acknowledging Trump as a threat to liberties and democracy, Newsom stressed the importance of electoral defeat rather than other means. The push to remove Trump from the ballot gained momentum when Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis sent a letter to California Secretary of State, Dr. Shirley Weber, urging the exploration of legal options. Citing the Colorado Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Anderson v. Griswold, Kounalakis argued that pursuing legal avenues is crucial for protecting the foundational aspects of democracy. This comes in response to the Colorado court’s decision to remove Trump from its 2024 ballot, citing the U.S. Constitution’s insurrection clause, linking Trump’s actions to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
The ruling in Colorado, where the court deemed Trump ineligible to run for the presidency, triggered condemnation from many within the GOP. Trump’s Republican rivals, despite seeking to defeat him at the ballot, rallied around him in response to the decision. Governor Newsom’s comments align with the unfolding situation, emphasizing the democratic process over alternative methods and stating that removing Trump from the ballot should be addressed through the electoral system. Newsom and Kounalakis have not yet responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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