Maine Decision To Bar Trump From Ballot Little Impact Presidential Race

A decision from Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D-ME) on Thursday to bar former President Donald Trump from the state's 2024 primary ballot has done little to impact Trump's standing as favourite to win the 2024 Presidential election.

• According to ElectionBettingOdds, Trump is attributed an implied probability of winning at around 40% compared to 30% for Biden, largely unchanged from before the announcement.
• Bellows said in her decision: "The U.S. Constitution does not tolerate an assault on the foundations of our government, and Section 336 requires me to act in response."
• Trump’s campaign said in a statement following the decision: “We are witnessing, in real-time, the attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter. Democrats in blue states are recklessly and un-Constitutionally suspending the civil rights of the American voters by attempting to summarily remove President Trump’s name from the ballot.”
• CNN writes: “[The decision] raises new questions over whether efforts to make Trump pay for January 6 are justified on the grounds of protecting America’s democracy from a uniquely pernicious challenge or could backfire politically against President Joe Biden and Democrats next fall."