In a dramatic turn of events, former President Donald Trump has launched appeals to both the Colorado Supreme Court and the US Supreme Court after being removed from the ballot in two separate states. The Colorado Supreme Court issued a ruling on Tuesday that led to Trump's removal from the ballot in the western state under the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, citing his alleged incitement of the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6th.

However, in anticipation of an appeal, the Colorado Supreme Court decided to stay the ruling until January 4th. Seizing this opportunity, Trump's legal team swiftly appealed to the US Supreme Court on Wednesday, seeking to overturn the Colorado ruling. In their filing, Trump's lawyers argued that the Colorado ruling was fundamentally flawed and went against the principles of a "government of the people, by the people, [and] for the people." They further claimed that if allowed to stand, this ruling would set a dangerous precedent, as it would be the first time in US history that the judiciary prevented voters from casting their ballots for a leading major-party presidential candidate.

Meanwhile, in the state of Maine, Trump faced a similar setback when the Maine Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, removed him from the ballot on December 28th. Bellows cited Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits officials from holding office if they engage in insurrection or rebellion against the United States. Unwilling to accept this decision, Trump formally appealed to a superior court on Tuesday, urging them to reverse the Secretary of State's ruling.

These legal battles highlight the intense controversy surrounding Trump's alleged role in the Capitol insurrection and its consequences for his political future. With appeals now pending in both Colorado and Maine, the outcome of these cases could have far-reaching implications for Trump's ability to participate in future elections. As the legal battles unfold, all eyes are on the courts to determine whether Trump's removal from the ballot will stand or if he will be granted a chance to regain his place as a major-party presidential candidate.