Secretary Larose joins fellow chief elections officers opposing Colorado court ruling on 14th Amendment case

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose joined in legal action Wednesday opposing a Colorado case that attempts to block President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 presidential election ballot.
 
Secretary LaRose signed on to an amicus brief along with chief elections officers from Wyoming and Missouri. The filing asks the Colorado Supreme Court to overturn part of a lower court ruling that wrongfully accuses President Trump of engaging in an insurrection. While the ruling allows President Trump to remain on the Colorado ballot, LaRose and other secretaries of state argue it sets an unfair and dangerous legal precedent that could potentially impact election administration in other states.
 
“This is a classic case of judicial overreach, and the judge’s ruling in this case has no basis in the law,” said LaRose. “The district court’s order relies on flimsy and circumstantial evidence to reach a flawed conclusion with far-reaching implications both for the president’s own legal defense and for the broader democratic process of free and fair elections.”
 
As stated in the brief, “The decision of the District Court, if upheld, not only sets a concerning precedent but also encroaches upon the fundamental rights of voters, a principle deeply embedded in our democratic fabric.”
 
The Colorado Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments on the appeal for Dec. 6. Secretary LaRose has repeatedly stated that he will oppose any effort to prevent presidential ballot access in Ohio based on fringe legal theories related to the 14th amendment to the Constitution.
 
"Ohio law clearly lays out the process for a candidate to seek ballot access, and our job in the Ohio Secretary of State’s office is to follow the law," said LaRose.