Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy withdraws from Colorado Republican primary ballot in solidarity with Trump
In response to the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling that former President Donald Trump is ineligible to run in the state’s Republican primary due to his involvement in the January 6 insurrection, presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has pledged to remove himself from the ballot as well. Ramaswamy has called on his fellow 2024 GOP primary opponents – Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie, and Nikki Haley – to take the same steps.
The Colorado Supreme Court’s decision on Tuesday evening barred Trump from running for the GOP nomination in the state, citing his violation of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. The court ruled that Trump engaged in insurrection due to his activity surrounding the Capitol riot. A spokesperson for Trump has stated that they plan to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Ramaswamy expressed his outrage at the court’s ruling, calling it “appalling for the future of our country.” He emphasized that while it would be easier for him to win without Trump in the race, the decision is a violation of the rule of law.
Following his pledge to withdraw from the Colorado primary ballot, the Colorado Republican Party responded, stating that if the ruling stands, they would shift from a state-run primary to a party-run caucus. However, this move would likely trigger a rule change from the Republican National Committee, as they have already approved the state party’s nomination plan.
Ramaswamy’s decision to remove himself from the ballot in solidarity with Trump has sparked conversation about the implications for the remaining Republican candidates and the nomination process. Ramaswamy believes that every Republican candidate will follow suit, ensuring that it will not affect anyone’s path to the nomination.
The Republican National Committee has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.
ABC News’ Isabella Murray contributed to this report.