(Rightallegiance.com) – Governor Gavin Newsom voiced his disapproval of fellow Democrats considering measures to prevent former President Donald Trump from appearing on California’s 2024 presidential primary ballot, asserting, “we defeat candidates at the polls.”
In a statement, Newsom acknowledged Trump as a potential threat to liberties and democracy, stating, “There is no doubt that Donald Trump is a threat to our liberties and even to our democracy.” However, he emphasized California’s democratic process, stating, “But in California, we defeat candidates at the polls.” Newsom dismissed other actions as “political distraction.”
The push to exclude Trump gained momentum when Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis urged California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber to “explore” legal avenues for removing Trump from the ballot. Kounalakis referred to the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling in Anderson v. Griswold (2023 CO 63) and argued that pursuing legal options aimed to “protect the fundamental pillars of our democracy.”
In her letter, Kounalakis emphasized, “This decision is about honoring the rule of law in our country and protecting the fundamental pillars of our democracy.”
Newsom’s comments followed the recent Colorado Supreme Court ruling removing Trump from the state’s 2024 ballot. The court, divided on the matter, cited the U.S. Constitution’s insurrection clause, contending that Trump’s actions fueled the deadly January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
This development faced criticism from various GOP quarters, with Trump’s Republican rivals for the presidential nomination rallying around him. Governor Gavin Newsom and Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.