In a bid to secure his place on the primary ballots in Maine and Colorado, former President Donald Trump has filed appeals against decisions made by election officials that would bar him from appearing. Trump's appeals come as pressure builds on the U.S. Supreme Court to address these issues ahead of the upcoming primaries on March 5.

The decision by Maine's Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, cited the "insurrection clause" in the U.S. Constitution, specifically Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. This clause disqualifies individuals who have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the Constitution from holding public office. Bellows determined that Trump's actions on January 6, 2021, when supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, constituted an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, thus disqualifying him from the primary ballot.

Similarly, the Colorado Supreme Court also ruled against Trump's candidacy, stating that he engaged in insurrection on January 6. They concluded that as President of the United States, Trump fell under the definition of an "officer of the United States" in Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, thus rendering him ineligible for the primary ballot.

Trump's legal team has appealed to the Maine Superior Court, alleging bias and a lack of due process in Bellows' decision. They argue that Trump should not be deprived of ballot access based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. The Maine Superior Court has until January 17 to issue its own ruling, after which Trump's team will have until January 20 to make any further appeals. If necessary, the case would then proceed to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and potentially the U.S. Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the Colorado Republican Party has already asked the U.S. Supreme Court to consider their appeal on the matter, hoping to overturn the decision to exclude Trump from the primary ballot. Unless the U.S. Supreme Court upholds Colorado's Supreme Court ruling or declines to hear the case, Trump is expected to file an appeal in the coming days to secure his place on Colorado's primary ballot.

If either case reaches the U.S. Supreme Court, it will mark the first time that the court addresses the interpretation and application of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment concerning presidential eligibility. The legal community eagerly awaits a resolution on the question of whether the provision applies to the U.S. presidency and if it is self-executing or requires congressional action.

As the appeals process plays out, Trump's name technically remains on the primary ballots in both states. However, the final decision rests with the courts and may have significant implications for Trump's political future.