The Colorado Supreme Court's decision to boot Donald Trump off the ballot has been reversed, for now, pending the resolution of an appeal from the state's Republicans. 

Colorado's Democrat Secretary of State, Jena Griswold, said she would keep Trump on the ballot ahead of a January 5th primary deadline unless the U.S. Supreme Court says otherwise.

Trump will stay on ballot

It's the latest twist in an escalating legal battle that seems destined for the Supreme Court.

Separately, the Supreme Court of Michigan - a pivotal swing state that has helped decide the last two presidential elections - rejected demands to disqualify Trump.

The conflicting rulings, and the urgency of resolving this issue before the 2024 election, leave little doubt that the Supreme Court will take up the matter.

In a statement, Griswold urged the Supreme Court to move fast.

"Donald Trump engaged in insurrection and was disqualified under the Constitution from the Colorado Ballot," Griswold said in a press release.

"The Colorado Supreme Court got it right. This decision is now being appealed," she continued. "I urge the U.S. Supreme Court to act quickly given the upcoming presidential primary election."

Democracy under attack

The reversal comes after the state's Republicans appealed the Colorado Supreme Court's unprecedented 4-3 decision, which found that Trump is disqualified because he caused an "insurrection" on January 6th.

In addition to being deeply undemocratic, the Colorado Supreme Court's ruling has the potential to cause enormous political turmoil.

That's becoming clear after the state's ruling was replicated across the country in Maine. The Maine Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows (D), made the extraordinary unilateral decision to remove Trump, citing the same reasons as the Colorado court.

“We are witnessing, in real-time, the attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter,” Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement.

In their appeal to the Supreme Court, the Colorado GOP warned of the dangers if the Colorado Supreme Court's ruling becomes precedent.

"Any voter will have the power to sue to disqualify any political candidate, in Colorado or in any other jurisdiction that follows its lead," they said.

"This will not only distort the 2024 presidential election but will also mire courts henceforth in political controversies over nebulous accusations of insurrection.”