GA Democrats backing efforts to disqualify Trump from state’s ballot for President

Invoking the U.S. Constitution’s insurrection clause, a group of Georgia Democrats is pushing legislation aimed at disqualifying Donald Trump from the state’s ballot.

Led by Democratic state Rep. Derrick Jackson, House Bill 1159, known as the Oath Act, seeks to prevent Trump from running again, citing concerns about his attempts to undermine the 2020 election results.

Jackson said the Oath Act’s name is a reference to the oath every elected official takes when they’re sworn into office, which includes a vow to support the U.S. Constitution. The Oath Act is a potential law that would apply to anyone who engaged in an insurrection.

While the Republican-controlled Legislature is unlikely to pass such measures, sponsors believe they will resonate with Democrats who want every available option explored to block Trump’s candidacy after he tried to subvert his 2020 election defeat.

Saying he introduced his measure, House Bill 1159, at the urging of activists in his Tyrone-based district, Jackson said, “There’s a difference between right and wrong and nobody is above the law.” 

Citizens at a recent town hall meeting called him out for not taking more aggressive steps.

Another resolution, supported by a dozen Georgia lawmakers and introduced by state Rep. Roger Bruce, urges Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to remove Trump’s name from the ballot.

These efforts align with nationwide attempts by Democrats to use the 14th Amendment to prevent Trump from running in 2024. However, a recent Colorado Supreme Court ruling disqualifying Trump from the state’s primary faces an uphill battle in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Jackson concedes that the likelihood of the Oath Act passing is slim, given the need for support from Republicans, who control both state legislative chambers, and a signature from GOP Governor Brian Kemp.

Complicating matters is the involvement of GOP members like State Senator Shawn Still, a co-defendant in a RICO case related to the 2020 election, and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who allegedly served as one of Trump’s fake electors in 2020.

A group of left-leaning plaintiffs is seeking the Georgia Supreme Court’s consideration of a lawsuit aiming to remove the Lt. Gov. who falsely declared Donald Trump the winner of the 2020 presidential race.

The proposed law could pose a challenge for Jones, potentially disqualifying him from the lieutenant governor’s office or reelection due to his alleged role in the election interference plot.

Despite a judge’s ruling in January that Jones’ actions don’t preclude him from serving, the absence of a special prosecutor investigating Jones adds to the obstacles.

Despite these initiatives, some Democrats argue that defeating Trump at the ballot box is a more appropriate approach than relying solely on legal challenges.