Illinois GOP legislators react to judge ordering Trump's removal from ballot

[March 01, 2024]  By Catrina Petersen | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – With early voting already under way, votes have already been cast in Illinois' GOP primary for former President Donald Trump, and now a Cook County judge has ruled his name be taken off the ballot.

Cook County Circuit Court Judge Tracie Porter issued her decision to remove Trump after a group of voters sued the Illinois State Board of Elections in a Cook County court because they disagreed with the state elections board's decision to keep Trump on the ballot. Objectors say Trump orchestrated an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and claim he’s in violation of the 14th Amendment.

State Rep. Chris Miller, R-Oakland, said Trump will be on the ballot until the issue is resolved by the United States Supreme Court, which has a Trump ballot access case from Colorado under consideration.

"In the early voting, people have already voted for Trump in the primary," said Miller. "I’m not sure what they’re going to do there."

Miller said the judge in Cook County should resign immediately, saying she is a political activist.

The judge placed her order on hold until Friday to allow for an appeal. Trump’s campaign said it will “quickly appeal.”

Separately, state Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dieterich, was tossed off the ballot by the state elections board due to Niemerg not raising his right hand when signing his statement of candidacy.

"That constituted the violation. [The hearing officer] said the notary didn’t sign me in properly, which is absolutely ridiculous,” said Niemerg. “Just like what we are dealing with our great President Donald Trump. Trump was removed off the ballot by a radical leftist in Cook County based on baseless claims much like they did to me.”

Niemerg said the Illinois Education Association and the Illinois Federation of Teachers worked with Vermillion County Democrat Chair Mickensy Ellis-White to object to his name being on the ballot.

The Center Square asked the Vermillion County Democrats for comment but they did not immediately respond.

An Illinois voter, Beth Findley Smith, objected to President Joe Biden’s nominating papers using the state statute that says candidates must use a notary commissioned in Illinois. A group of voters also objected to Biden being on the ballot because they claim he has committed treason in regards to an open border and that the 14th Amendment prohibits him from being on the ballot.

The Illinois State Board of Elections allowed Biden and Trump to stay on the primary ballot, despite all objections.

"[Biden] should be kicked off the Illinois ballot. If I am removed from the Illinois ballot, Joe Biden has no business being on the Illinois ballot. What you see and what I found out is the Democrats work with the woke special interest groups and they target conservatives in Illinois, including myself and our great President Donald Trump,” said Niemerg.

Miller and Niemerg raised questions about a recent law signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker that limits where people can challenge the constitutionality of state statutes.

"Didn’t the General Assembly pass a law where these things can only be heard in Springfield and Cook County?” Miller asked.

“Yes. They passed a bill to make it where Sangamon County and Cook County are the only two places where certain cases can be heard. They circumvent the [Fifth District] and go to Springfield or Chicago. We’ve got great judges in our area. They’re just trying to find ways around having cases heard in southern Illinois,” Niemerg said.

This new law may prohibit voters from suing the Illinois State Board of Elections for their decision in regards to keeping Biden on the March 19 primary ballot, according to the Republican lawmakers.