Missouri GOP Disqualifies KKK-Linked Candidate; Trump Stays on Illinois Ballot
The Republican Party of Missouri has moved to disqualify gubernatorial candidate Darrell Leon McClanahan III from the primary ballot citing his affiliation with the Ku Klux Klan. The party stated that such affiliations stand in opposition to its values and platform. This action follows scrutiny McClanahan faced immediately after filing for the race, including a lawsuit he initiated against the Anti-Defamation League in 2022 for labeling him a KKK member and the emergence of a photograph showing him with an individual in KKK regalia.
In a separate development, legal challenges surrounding former President Donald Trump's eligibility to appear on primary ballots continue across various states. An Illinois judge initially ruled that Trump should be disqualified from the state's Republican primary ballot, referencing the anti-insurrection clause of the 14th Amendment in connection to Trump's alleged involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot. However, Judge Tracie Porter has put a hold on her ruling pending an appeal, which aligns with the broader legal discourse as the Supreme Court considers whether states like Colorado and Maine can lawfully exclude Trump from their ballots based on the same grounds.
Trump's legal team has appealed the Illinois ruling, arguing that the decision infringes upon constitutional rights and could disqualify Trump from holding office despite his previous oath to uphold the Constitution. The Supreme Court is expected to provide a ruling on a related case regarding presidential immunity and whether it protects former presidents from prosecution for actions during their term. Meanwhile, the appellate process in Illinois has granted Trump the ability to remain on the ballot until a final decision is reached.
