Former U.S. President Donald Trump has been convicted on all charges in the hush money case, making him the first former president to be criminally convicted and the first candidate from a major party to seek the White House while convicted.
However, Trump can still run for president, as the Constitution sets only three qualifications: being at least 35 years old, being a natural-born U.S. citizen, and having resided in the U.S. for 14 years. These conditions apply to Trump, so his trial or conviction does not affect his eligibility.
Historically, there have been precedents of presidents and presidential candidates running despite being in prison, such as Eugene Debs, who ran for president in 1920 from a federal prison.
The only way to potentially prevent Trump from running is by proving his involvement in the January 6, 2021 “insurrection” and Capitol riot under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
Courts have previously ruled against imposing additional qualifications beyond those in the Constitution, as in the 2019 California case Patterson v. Padilla.
Polls indicate that Trump’s conviction may negatively impact his electoral chances. A Bloomberg and Morning Consult poll showed that 53% of swing state voters would refuse to vote for him if convicted.
Despite this, Trump remains free on bail and will return to court on July 11 for sentencing. He is expected to appeal, which could delay any penalties. If he returns to the presidency, he could also pardon himself for federal crimes, a legally controversial action never before attempted.
Despite legal challenges, Trump remains a significant player in American politics.
