Trump and the 14th - hypothetically

Not that I expect this to happen, BUT - should a court decide that Trump cannot hold office under the 14th amendment, does that mean he can't be on a ballot? Should such a ruling happen before the next election, what does the GOP do? Do they keep Trump off primary ballots? If not, there is a strong chance GOP voters nominate him anyway, then what? Does the RNC then pick someone else for the general election? If Trump is still legally allowed to be on the general election ballot and win, yet is not legally allowed to hold office under the 14th, does the VP then become president? Were confederated barred from actually running for office, or were they just not allowed to hold office?

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SomeMichGuy · M

If they can't take the office, running for it is futile.

That would likely suppress the vote in any jurisdictions where the 14th Amendment were to be applied.

I think it would split the vote for Republicans, in this case.

If someone were to win the Presidency, but be unable to assume it, the succession would make the VP the President and *that* person could appoint a new VP (appointment is how Ford became VP, and so went on to hold both top executive spots, without ever having been elected to either). So if Trump keeps running, look to his VP...

But we should try to get lawsuits in as many states as possible to invoke the 14th Amendment, so that he could never get enough electoral votes...

trollslayer · 46-50, M

@SomeMichGuy I just wonder at what point does the GOP (if they are smart) see the writing on the wall and change their primary rules and nominate someone else. It's a damned if they do damned if they don't, because it is either lose with Trump or lose with someone else (because GOP voters would still write in Trump). At least if they nominate someone else they can claim a moral victory for standing up to criminal behavior.