Iowa Republicans celebrate court ruling in favor of Trump

Iowa Republican politicians celebrated the U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous decision Monday that states cannot remove former President Donald Trump from a ballot over claims he incited an insurrection.

The ruling overturned a decision by the Colorado Supreme Court that would have precluded Trump from appearing on the ballot in Tuesday’s primary election. The Colorado court found Trump was not able to appear on the ballot because of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which bars individuals who have “engaged in insurrection” from holding office again.

In its decision Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled Congress has the sole discretion of enforcing the 14th Amendment — not state officials.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said that Colorado decision was “attempt to subvert the will” of the voters in the 2024 election.

“The decision of who should serve as President belongs to the voters,” said a statement from Reynolds, who had endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — not Trump — in Iowa’s GOP caucuses. “Not only would this disenfranchise Coloradans, but Iowans as well who believe Donald Trump is the best candidate on the ballot. Frivolous attempts like this to harm the integrity of our elections should be struck down in similar fashion.”

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, who endorsed Trump before this year's caucuses, called the ruling a victory.

“First, we won in Court. Now, we’re going to win at the ballot box,” Bird said on social media. “Let’s bring home the biggest victory yet for President Trump this November!”

Republican Party of Iowa Chair Jeff Kaufmann said the ruling preserved the rights of the voters to decide in the 2024 election.

"The Supreme Court unanimously affirmed what we all saw as a brazen, unconstitutional power grab attempting to cause election interference,” Kaufmann said in a statement. “The checks and balances worked against an unbalanced and unhinged effort to trash the Constitution and take away the right of people to vote in a free and fair election.”

Iowa bill would insulate Trump from challenges

While there has been no similar challenge to Trump’s ballot eligibility in Iowa, Republican lawmakers are moving to insulate him and other presidential candidates from such challenges in a proposed election bill.

Among the many changes proposed to Iowa elections laws, the bill would dictate that a presidential candidate’s ballot eligibility can be challenged only based on the legal sufficiency of the certificate of nomination. It would also remove a rule that federal candidates must sign a statement indicating they are aware they are disqualified from holding office if they have been convicted of a felony.

Republican Rep. Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton, the floor manager of the House bill, said the ruling affirms his argument that legal activists should not be deciding who is eligible to be on the ballot. Kaufmann was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 Iowa caucus campaign.

"I have been saying all along that it is not the job of activists on the far right or far left to pick who the party's nominees are," he said. "That is the will of the voters. My friends on the other side of the aisle seem to think that activists should subvert democracy and choose who's on the ballot."

Kaufmann said he still thinks the provision limiting ballot challenges for presidential candidates is necessary. He said he expects the House to vote Tuesday on the bill.

Ernst, Hinson praise ruling

Members of Iowa’s congressional delegation — all Republicans — also celebrated the decision Monday.

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst said on social media the “American people should decide.”

U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, of Marion, who endorsed Trump after the January caucuses, also showed her support for the former president on social media.

“I was proud to sign an amicus brief in support of President Trump’s Colorado ballot disqualification appeal & am glad the Supreme Court reversed this disastrous decision & stood up for American voters & our Constitution,” she said. “Voters decide elections, not liberal court justices.”