On September 8, the state chair of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party filed a lawsuit directly with the State Supreme Court, asking the court to remove the Republican presidential ticket from the November ballot. See this story. The case is Ken Martin v Steve Simon, A16-1436.
UPDATE: also see this story. Briefs have already been filed.
I’m actually hoping this happens. In addition to the Republicans getting a taste of what we third partiers go through, the MN Democrats will lose the only thing keeping the Green Party down, that is, the “spoiler theory”. If Trump does get kicked off the ballot there, Jill will need to campaign hard in the state, and convince as many of the Democrats that voted Bernie in the primary to vote for her since there’d be no threat of Trump in the state. And with Gary Johnson already doing fairly well, MN will turn into a three-way race.
Agreed coming from a Republican that doesn’t support Trump. Johnson supporter.
I’m a Johnson supporter, and I, too, kind of hope this happens. In addition to the reasons mentioned above, it may give the Commission on Presidential Debates something to think about. How can they justify excluding a candidate on all 51 ballots, but including a candidate who has missed a ballot?
If this lawsuit is successful, would it still be possible for Trump ticket to get on Minn ballot as an independent?
No, only as a write-in.
Do they even allow write-ins? And what other options are there if it would to happen?
Good point there TomP. If they let Trump in anyway, and they let Gary Johnson in, then they ought to let Jill in as well given that she’s on the ballot in only four fewer states, still well over 270 EVs.
The Minnesota deadline to file as a write-in is only one week before the general election.
The odds that the Minnesota Supreme Court will remove Trump from the ballot are approximately one in one hundred thousand.
The rules are not strictly applied to the big boys.
The only reason this might succeed is because its coming from the Democratic Party. If it came from a citizen or a minor party there would be no chance of this happening.
Hmmm. If there is a ONE party regime in any State, then will such regime NOW attempt to wipe out ALL other parties / independents ???
See the ex-nazi Germany in 1933-1945 and the ex-commie USSR in 1917-1991.
How many 1857 Dred Scott type election law cases are the SCOTUS hacks ready to issue ???
@ Richard Winger: While I don’t think it’s THAT unlikely (we’re talking about the Clintons this year…), we can still hope and dream. And if the unlikely does happen, take advantage of it.
@ Demo Rep: Won’t happen, the Libertarians and Greens will turn MN into a three-way race if Trump is kicked off the ballot. The only thing keeping alternative parties down is the “spoiler theory”, which is predicated on both ruling parties being on the ballot, not just one of them. When there’s only one of them in downballot races, third party candidates can often get double digit percentages of the vote, sometimes 30% or more.
Richard Winger “The odds that the Minnesota Supreme Court will remove Trump from the ballot are approximately one in one hundred thousand.”
…. So you’re telling me there’s a chance.
I doubt that the Minnesota Supreme Court wants to punish a major party candidate for some “minor” rule ignored by the party itself.
The Green party in Minnesota has made so many mistakes, their credibility with progressive voters about ain’t great.
It wasn’t a “minor rule” the broke a state law.
I don’t know if this is a stupid question but when you cast your vote for president is the number different depending on your area of voting?
Please email dtitania13@gmail.com to a response if you can thank you