MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled against a petition seeking to keep former President Donald Trump off the state's 2024 primary ballot. In a decision issued on Wednesday, the court dismissed the petition while leaving the possibility for a subsequent challenge if Trump becomes the Republican nominee in the general election.

The court acknowledged that the petitioners had standing and that their claims were relevant to whether Trump should be excluded from the 2024 Republican presidential nomination primary. However, the court reached a different conclusion regarding the inclusion of Trump's name on the ballot for the general election.

According to the ruling, the administration of the mechanics of the election, including the placement of candidates on the general election ballot, falls under the purview of election officials. The court emphasized that the presidential nomination primary is an internal party election serving internal party purposes, and winning the primary does not automatically qualify a candidate for the general election ballot. There are no state statutes prohibiting the placement of an ineligible candidate on the primary ballot or sending delegates to a national convention in support of such a candidate.

As a result, the court dismissed the petition without prejudice, allowing the petitioners to bring their claims specifically relating to the general election at a later date.

Following the court's decision, Trump's campaign issued a statement highlighting the consistency of their argument against 14th Amendment ballot challenges. The campaign characterized these challenges as unconstitutional attempts to interfere with the election process and expressed satisfaction with the courts' validation.

The lawsuit that prompted the case cited the 14th Amendment's insurrection clause as grounds for disqualifying Trump from holding office. The clause states that anyone who has previously taken an oath to the Constitution and subsequently engaged in insurrection or rebellion cannot hold any office in the United States. The court considered the case with five justices, two of whom recused themselves. Of the remaining four justices, four were appointed by Democratic governors and one by a Republican.

Due to the upcoming presidential primary in March, state officials requested a swift decision from the court. A similar case regarding Trump's eligibility is currently under consideration by the Colorado Supreme Court.

It is important to note that Trump appeared in court in New York this week for a separate civil trial on fraud allegations. No information related to the outcome of the trial was provided in the initial text.

In the 2020 presidential election, Biden emerged victorious in Minnesota, securing over 233,000 more votes than Trump. A recent CBS News poll indicated Biden maintaining a lead over Trump among likely voters, although the margin was within the margin of error. The poll also revealed that respondents believed Trump would better serve in keeping the United States out of a war and improving their financial situations.

The Minnesota Supreme Court's decision regarding Trump's inclusion on the 2024 primary ballot sets the stage for potential future challenges in the general election, providing a framework for future legal debates surrounding the eligibility of candidates seeking office.