Washington judge rules that Trump will remain on state ballot

A Washington state judge ruled that former President Donald Trump will stay on the state’s primary ballot. The news comes amid a multistate effort to remove him over his attempts to overturn the 2020 election.

Thurston County Superior Court Judge Mary Sue Wilson rejected the request from eight voters that Trump not be allowed on the ballot because he was ineligible for office due to his role in the Jan. 6 riot. 

Wilson said Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, a Democrat, “acted consistent with his duties” when making the candidate lists based on the parties’ submissions, and state law requires any challenge to the candidate list to occur within two days of the list’s publication. 

“The court determines that the secretary of state acted consistent with his duties,” Wilson said in the ruling. “An order directing the secretary of state to take different action, an order from this court, is simply not supported by the statutes and not supported by the affidavit of the electors.”

Hobbs said he was “grateful” for the ruling, which validated the work his office did in compiling the names. 

​​“I am grateful that Judge Wilson ruled in such a timely and well-considered fashion, and that she recognized that I and my staff have been working in full compliance with state law governing the Presidential Primary,” Hobbs said in a statement. “We will continue working with our partners in county elections offices to get all the necessary materials for this election to every Washington voter.”

The Republican Party had submitted five names by the deadline. They were: Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and political newcomer Vivek Ramaswamy, according to Hobbs’s office. Ramaswamy and Christie have since suspended their campaigns.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Other states face similar challenges that claim Trump is ineligible because he allegedly violated the 14th Amendment. However, only Colorado and Maine have removed him from their ballots so far. 

Trump has appealed both decisions, and he appealed Colorado’s ruling to the Supreme Court, which has agreed to hear the case. Trump appealed Maine’s decision to the state’s superior court, which said it will hold off its ruling until the Supreme Court weighs in.

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