Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy expressed disappointment as his fellow GOP candidates declined to join him in withdrawing their names from the Colorado primary ballot, a move he made in solidarity with former President Trump. Ramaswamy criticized the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision to remove Trump from the state’s ballot, calling it unconstitutional and a violation of the democratic election process in the United States. In an interview with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo, Ramaswamy emphasized his decision to “lead by example” and condemned the influence of unelected entities in the election process.
Joined by his wife, Dr. Apoorva Ramaswamy, on the show, Ramaswamy explained the practicality of his statement regarding the Colorado ballot. He highlighted that if every Republican in the Colorado GOP primary followed suit and refused to participate, the alleged election interference would lose its impact. Ramaswamy urged other candidates, including Chris Christie, Nikki Haley, and Ron DeSantis, to take a similar stand. Expressing disappointment at the lack of response from these candidates, he underscored the importance of solving the issue of election interference within the Republican Party.
While acknowledging that collecting delegates is crucial for winning the election, Ramaswamy questioned the value of pursuing a small number of delegates in the face of what he deemed as blatant election interference. He emphasized the need to protect the constitutional republic and stood firm on his decision to withdraw from the ballot.
The Colorado Supreme Court’s 4-3 ruling last Tuesday disqualified Trump from the state’s ballot, citing the 14th amendment of the U.S. Constitution and his conduct during the Capitol riot of January 6, 2021. Despite the ruling being stayed until January 4 due to anticipated appeals, Ramaswamy strongly criticized the decision on various platforms, including a post on X, where he labeled it an “actual attack on democracy” and demanded the restoration of Trump’s name on the ballot.
While no other candidates pledged to remove their names from the ballot in solidarity, some of Trump’s rivals, including Ron DeSantis and Chris Christie, expressed their disagreement with the court’s decision. DeSantis condemned what he viewed as judicial overreach, emphasizing the abuse of power in the name of democracy. Christie, a vocal critic of Trump from within the GOP, asserted that Trump’s eligibility should be decided by the voters rather than the court.