On Tuesday, the Illinois State Board of Elections dismissed a complaint alleging that former President Donald J. Trump engaged in insurrection by attempting to prolong his tenure after losing the 2020 election.
The complaint also aimed to disqualify him from the state’s primary ballot.
The eight-member board, comprising four Democrats and four Republicans, reached a unanimous decision, affirming that Mr. Trump is eligible to feature on the March 19 ballot.
The board clarified that it lacked the authority to make a determination on whether he was involved in insurrection. Attorneys representing residents contesting Mr. Trump’s eligibility expressed their intention to pursue an appeal through the legal system.
Illinois Triumph Spotlights Weaknesses in Trump’s Case
While the outcome in Illinois marked a triumph for Mr. Trump, the proceedings brought to light potential weaknesses in his arguments as the US Supreme Court evaluates a distinct case from Colorado regarding his eligibility for the upcoming ballot.
In the Illinois case, two Republicans involved— a board member with a background as a former prosecutor and a former judge appointed by the board for argument considerations— expressed their belief that Mr. Trump participated in insurrection on January 6, 2021, during the Capitol riot staged by his supporters, which disrupted the certification of the presidential election.
Catherine S. McCrory, the Republican board member, asserted her conviction that Mr. Trump manipulated, instigated, aided, and abetted an insurrection on January 6 before casting her vote on Tuesday in a downtown Chicago conference room.
Trump Faces Eligibility Challenges in 35 States
As the prominent Republican presidential candidate, Mr. Trump has encountered formal challenges to his candidacy in 35 states, leading to ineligibility determinations in two of them—Colorado and Maine.
Despite being deemed ineligible in these states, Mr. Trump is anticipated to be included on the primary ballots in both cases, as the decisions of ineligibility are temporarily suspended pending the US Supreme Court’s review of the Colorado ruling.
In various other states, the courts have permitted Mr. Trump to remain on their respective primary ballots.