Trump trial date sets up potentially hostile GOP takeover

Trump's trial date has been set for May 20, 2024.

All but seven states will have finished their primaries by the trial start date, but the race is essentially over in March 2024.

Trump is expected to easily win the primary.

A lot of the questions about how this trial and possible conviction could play out are speculative – the entire situation is truly unprecedented.

But let’s start with Florida.

While the United States constitution only imposes three rules –you must be 35 years old, a “natural born” US citizen, and resident of the US for the previous 14 years– states can and do impose additional restrictions on who can run for federal office.

Two of those restrictions that apply to federal office are:

1.    You must have been a member of the party you’re running with for a full year before the start of qualifying

2.    If you have been convicted of a felony, you must have completed your sentence and have your rights restored by the state

These laws can be challenged in court successfully: I challenged the enforcement of #1 and won my case on appeal in 2022 while I was running against Matt Gaetz.