Trump's place on Washington state's ballot challenged by 8 voters

A group of voters in Kitsap County have put Washington on the list of states challenging former President Donald Trump's candidacy on the next presidential ballot.

Arguing what matters most is “that this country survives, and I’m not sure this country can survive Donald Trump," Frankey Ithaka is leading the local charge to challenge Trump's place on Washington state's ballot. On behalf of eight people, including themself, they filed the challenge in superior court for Kitsap and Thurston counties.

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“I think the language is clear in the 14th Amendment, and I think his intent is clear in his behavior and his words, and when you lay those two things together, I think your own personal politics kind of fade away," Ithaka said. "I think any rational person looking at those two things cannot deny that he engaged in an insurrection.”

Ithaka describes themself as a political person, though they are not a member of any political party. They have participated in more campaigns than they can count. Having a minor in political science, Ithaka said the Constitution is not unfamiliar territory for them. They have therefore taken interest in challenges to Trump in other states.

While the challenge has been filed in Washington state, and as the civil case works its way through the court process, the ultimate decision on the matter could be decided at the national level.

Challenges to Trump are based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. The amendment was approved after the Civil War, and includes a list of disqualifications from holding office. It has been argued that Trump's statements and actions on Jan. 6, 2021 qualify as insurrection. The argument has now spread across the United States.

In response to the recently filed challenge in Washington, the state's Republican Party chair Rep. Jim Walsh told KUOW:

"The 14th amendment arguments about Donald Trump or really any person being blocked from a ballot in a state are not serious stuff. They're political posing, basically an appeal to the hard base. In this case, the hard anti-Trump base. So you know, it's more theater than it is real law. But theater is part of politics, and so people are indulging in this. I think it's a great example of how Donald Trump means more to the far left in Washington and other states than he means even to the right."

No official with the state's Democratic Party is listed among the eight who filed the challenge, though Washington State Democratic Party Chair Shasti Conrad called Trump an "insurrectionist" when commenting to KUOW.

“In 2024, Washington Democrats are laser-focused on defeating Republican insurrectionists, conspiracy theorists, and those who wish harm upon our state and our neighbors — that means we’ll defeat Donald Trump if he’s on the ballot, but also his hateful MAGA agenda in all its forms," Conrad said.

Challenges to Trump's place on the presidential ballot have been filed in at least 27 states. Colorado was the first to disqualify Trump from its ballot based on this challenge. States such as Michigan and California have ruled otherwise. The U.S. Supreme Court is now slated to take up the issue. Oral arguments are expected in early February.

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“Given his behavior on January 6, 2021, to me that looks like an insurrection and our Constitution explicitly bars people who have engaged in an insurrection (from running) for office," Ithaka said.

“His behavior since then, his words and his financial support, seems to continue to support this insurrection. His continued words, to say that he’s potentially going to pardon all of the insurrectionists — that’s too dangerous to me.”

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1/12/24: This post has been updated to include statements from Washington state's Democratic and Republican parties.