In a significant political development, the centrist group “No Labels” has successfully qualified as a new political party for the Maine primary election, as confirmed by the secretary of state’s office. This announcement comes amidst a cloud of uncertainty over former President Donald Trump’s eligibility to appear on Maine’s primary ballot.
Maine Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, validated the No Labels party’s status on Friday, following the party’s successful enrollment of a substantial number of voters. The party, which needed a minimum of 5,000 enrolled voters to qualify for the primary, has surpassed this requirement with a total of 9,423 Maine voters as of January 2.
This achievement not only secures the party’s place in the primary but also grants them access to the presidential election ballot in November. The party had submitted a request to form a new party in December, which subsequently underwent a review process.
Meanwhile, the political landscape is rife with speculation over whether former President Donald Trump will feature on Maine’s primary ballot. This follows a decision by Bellows to disqualify him due to his involvement in the January 6, 2021, insurrection. Trump has since appealed to a Maine court to reverse this decision.
Bellows, a Democrat, justified her decision last week, citing a Civil War-era constitutional provision that bars individuals involved in an insurrection from holding office. However, she has temporarily halted her decision, applicable only to Maine, allowing Trump to contest it in court before the state’s presidential primary election on March 5.
This development positions Maine as the second state to disqualify Trump from office, following a similar ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court last month. The US Supreme Court’s ruling will ultimately determine Trump’s eligibility to appear on the primary ballot in Colorado, Maine, and other states where his eligibility is under scrutiny.