In a decisive vote, Democrats who hold the majority in the Maine Legislature have dismissed a Republican attempt to impeach the state's top election official, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, for her decision to exclude former President Donald Trump from the state's ballot. The resolution, which targeted Bellows for invoking the U.S. Constitution's insurrection clause, was voted down by the Maine House with a tally of 80-60.

Bellows, the first secretary of state in history to prevent a presidential candidate from running using the insurrection clause, observed the proceedings from the gallery and expressed her commitment to abide by any legal ruling on her decision. The appeal regarding Trump's exclusion from Maine's March 5 primary ballot is currently pending in Maine Superior Court.

The decision to remove Trump from the ballot has drawn strong criticism from Republicans who argue that it disenfranchised the over 300,000 Mainers who voted for him in the previous election. GOP representatives, Michael Soboleski and James Thorne, described Bellows' action as "election interference of the highest order" and further dividing the state's political landscape. Republican Representative Katrina Smith added that the decision left people feeling disenfranchised.

Despite the Republicans' objections, it was an uphill battle for them to seek retribution against the Democrat. The proposal called for a panel to investigate Bellows' actions and report back to the House, followed by a trial in the Senate, where Democrats also hold a majority.

Democratic Representative Kevin O'Connell defended Bellows, stating that she faithfully carried out her oath of office and that she should not be removed for simply doing her job. He emphasized that while people may disagree with her decision, government officials have an obligation to follow the law and uphold the Constitution.

Bellows echoed O'Connell's sentiments after the vote, labeling the impeachment effort as mere "political theater." She reiterated that if individuals disagree with her decision, the appropriate course of action is to address it through the courts or for the legislature to amend the election law.

The controversy arises from Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits individuals who have engaged in insurrection from holding office. Legal scholars argue that this clause applies to Trump due to his role in attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election and inciting his supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Besides Maine, Colorado currently stands as the only other state to bar Trump from their ballot. The Colorado Supreme Court's decision is awaiting review by the U.S. Supreme Court.

While Maine's four electoral votes may seem modest, the state's unique system of splitting them could give it significant importance in upcoming presidential races. In both 2016 and 2020, Trump secured one of Maine's electoral votes despite losing the overall election.

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who assumed office in January 2021 and became the first woman to hold the position, had previously served as a state senator and as the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine, advocating for causes such as same-sex marriage legalization, same-day voter registration, and ranked-choice voting.