An unclear clause in the constitution could exclude several candidates from a public vote on former President Trump’s 2024 running mate.
The Twelfth Amendment, adopted in 1803, prohibits Electoral College voters from voting for president and vice president from their home state.
According to , the idea was originally intended to weaken the power of great powers and promote national unity. Pointer Institute — but in modern times, it’s become even more of a nuisance.
Several of Trump’s vice presidential candidates have lived in the Sunshine State, including Trump, who moved to Florida from New York in 2019.
The current list of VIPs in question includes Sen. Marco Rubio, Rep. Byron Donald, and Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“Marco has a residency issue,” Trump said of Rubio. According to the Bulwark paper. The Florida congressman is attracting attention as a possible presidential candidate for President Trump.
Rubio’s supporters have floated the idea that he could temporarily move out of state for the election while continuing to serve in the Senate, although such a move would be legally prohibited. likely to give rise to a challenge. Rubio said he would be “honored” to serve in the executive position if offered.
Republican candidates said in February that Mr. Donald was also on Mr. Trump’s shortlist. Donald has only been a member of Congress since 2021, but he has won President Trump’s support as a relentless advocate on television. Donald himself told the Post that he didn’t think about the 12th Amendment, saying, “When I can cross that bridge, I can cross it.”
This week brought new buzz to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Trump’s former rival for the Republican nomination. The two met this week in Florida, where DeSantis reportedly promised his “full and enthusiastic support.”DeSantis claimed that He has no interest in Veep’s work.but his supporters are still dreaming.
Both Mr. Donald and Mr. DeSantis would also have to relocate from Florida and relinquish their current offices to avoid the 12th Amendment trap.
The issue horrified former Vice President Dick Cheney, who moved from Texas to his former home state of Wyoming in 2000. The federal court ultimately This is to confirm Mr. Cheney’s qualifications for the position.
“The common rationale is to avoid concentrating such power in a single state,” said Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University. “Sen. Mr. Rubio is not a viable option for Mr. Cheney. Mr. Cheney had strong ties to Wyoming since representing that state’s district in Congress. He has lived in various states. However, it was probably sufficient to satisfy the terms of the residency clause.
It is possible that President Trump could avoid this issue entirely if he moved his residence back to New York, but it seems unlikely that a candidate for second-in-command would receive such consideration.
“It’s legally and politically complicated,” said one Trump official. “You might be able to avoid it if you wanted to, but President Trump won’t move.”
