GOP lawmakers slam Colorado court's Trump decision

A slew of GOP lawmakers slammed the Colorado Supreme Court's decision to kick former President Trump off the ballot under the 14th Amendment, with some claiming it's an attempt by Democrats to prevent Trump from winning the 2024 election.

The Colorado Supreme Court issued a ruling Tuesday night arguing Trump should be prevented from appearing on the state's Republican primary ballot because of his alleged role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

In a 4-3 ruling, the court ruled Trump was involved in an insurrection by promoting false claims of election fraud and directing his supporters to the Capitol, where some participated in the riots to stop the certification of 2020 election results.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) railed against the decision, calling it "nothing but a thinly veiled partisan attack."

"Regardless of political affiliation, every citizen registered to vote should not be denied the right to support our former president and the individual who is the leader in every poll of the Republican primary," Johnson wrote in a statement, adding he trusts the U.S. Supreme Court will "set aside this reckless decision and let the American people decide the next president of the United States."

Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump's campaign, vowed the Trump campaign would appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority and includes three justices nominated by Trump.

Cheung said the decision could be blamed on the "all-Democrat appointed" court. Colorado Supreme Court's seven-member bench was entirely appointed by Democratic governors, six of whom won retention elections and a seventh will do so next year.

House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (N.Y.) similarly dug into the justices, writing in a statement, "Four partisan Democrat operatives on the Colorado Supreme Court think they get to decide for all Coloradans and Americans the next presidential election."

Calling the decision "unAmerican," Stefanik argued Democrats "are so afraid" Trump will win the 2024 general election and that they are "illegally attempting" to boot him from the ballot.

Stefanik said this attempt will "backfire and further strengthen" Trump's reelection campaign.

Without calling out Democrats directly, Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) said "they will do everything they can to block Donald Trump from being president again."

Banks also appeared optimistic such "attempts" will not be successful, writing, "But it won't work. It only emboldens those of us who know America is worth fighting for and that Donald Trump is the fighter we need back in the White House."

Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) called the justices behind the decision a "disgrace to our country," and echoed the ruling is "just more election interference."

Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz (R), who publicly endorsed the former president earlier this year, said Democrats are "trying to imprison the party's 'chief political opponent.'"

"Democrats are trying to imprison their chief political opponent and have now apparently succeeded at removing him from the ballot. This is what dictators do," Gaetz wrote on X, formerly Twitter, adding he is confident the U.S. Supreme Court will reverse the ruling.

"The American people will decide their next president, not activist judges in Colorado," Gaetz continued.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) weighed in on the decision, suggesting the Colorado Supreme Court violated an interest of the U.S.

"The U.S. has put sanctions on other countries for doing exactly what the Colorado Supreme Court has done today," Rubio wrote on X.

Kari Lake, who is currently seeking one of Arizona’s seats in the Senate, said the decision overturns “over a century of judicial precedent.”

“This is HISTORIC election interference. SCOTUS MUST overrule,” Lake wrote on X.

Even Texas Rep. Chip Roy (R), who came under attack by Trump on Monday, expressed his opposition to the ruling. In a repost of Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah)'s post that read, "This lawless, cynical ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court will not stand," Roy wrote, "Agree."

A day earlier, Trump went after Roy, who has long-backed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis's Republican presidential nomination, calling for someone to primary Roy, though the election filing deadline already passed.

In a vow to appeal the ruling, Trump's campaign also shot back at the decision.

“Democrat Party leaders are in a state of paranoia over the growing, dominant lead President Trump has amassed in the polls. They have lost faith in the failed Biden presidency and are now doing everything they can to stop the American voters from throwing them out of office next November,” Cheung said in a statement.

Colorado's Supreme Court put its ruling on hold until Jan. 4 to allow Trump to first seek review from the Supreme Court. If he does, Trump's name will automatically remain on the ballot until justices resolve the appeal.

If the ruling is allowed to take effect, Colorado’s secretary of state may not list Trump’s name on the 2024 presidential primary ballot, nor may she count any write-in votes cast for him. 

Recent analysis from The Hill and Decision Desk HQ shows Trump with a 54 percent lead over his GOP rivals, while multiple recent polls of a Trump-Biden matchup show the former president narrowly beating Biden in several swing states.