Fox News reports that U.S. Senator Marco Antonio Rubio (R-FL) was confronted by CNN Host Dana Bash during CNN’s State of the Union television show regarding the possibility of Rubio becoming former President Donald J. Trump’s vice-presidential running mate.
Bash pointed out that the U.S. Constitution prohibited state electors from voting for a president and a vice president who are from the same state – noting that Rubio and Trump are both residents of Florida.
Rubio responded by pointing out that if Vice President Kamala Harris were to be nominated as the presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, California Governor Gavin Newsom, similarly, could not be Harris’ running mate – as Harris and Newsom are both residents of California.
The Fox News article may be read in full HERE.
Here is the Twelfth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which was ratified on June 15, 1804:
Amendment XII (12): Election of the President and Vice-President.
The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate; —The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted; —The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. [***And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall evolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President. ***This sentence was superseded by Section 3 of the Twentieth Amendment.] The person having the greatest of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.
In a political era where nothing seems typical or normal, the issue of potential 12th Amendment conflicts raise yet another layer of complexity to the current electoral situation in the United States.
All this writer can say is that regardless of the raw politics of it all (which is not FGGAM’s purpose for publishing any of its articles), this constitutional issue is one about which informed citizens should be aware, if for no other reason than to avoid unnecessary legal issues and wasted time in debating about candidates when the U.S. Constitution would prevent certain pairings in the first place.
My brothers and sisters, let’s continue to pray for our politicians, and especially those who are running or being considered for president, vice president or elected office in the U.S. Congress (see 1 Timothy 2:1-3), and for all of us who will be voting during the upcoming 2024 General Election. Let’s be sure to prayerfully consider the candidates based on the scriptures – the infallible word of God found in the bible.
If there was ever a time to walk genuinely from the perspective of a biblical worldview, the time is now! Evil has become incredibly pronounced in our society, as evidenced by the prevailing culture of death and lawlessness (e.g., abortion, assisted suicide, ‘legalized’ illicit drug production-use-sales, and rampant crimes against persons and frauds). We need the wisdom of God (see James 3:13-18) more than ever! The casualty of our times is the truth. We should always remember that Jesus is the Truth (see John 14:6)! Amen.
Here are the above-mentioned scriptures:
1 Timothy 2:1-3 (ESV)
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior…”.
James 3:13-18 (NLT)
True Wisdom Comes from God
“If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.”
John 14:6 (NKJV)
“Jesus said to [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
