CNN
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Norma Anderson had already earned her spot within the Colorado historical past books earlier than turning into the lead plaintiff within the lawsuit in search of to disqualify Donald Trump from workplace.
The standoff towards Trump is one remaining chapter within the 91-year-old’s storied political profession, which incorporates stints because the first-ever lady majority chief in each chambers of the Colorado legislature.
“I didn’t notice I might go down in historical past as Anderson versus Trump,” she advised CNN in an interview.
The case she’s referring to – now Trump v. Anderson – revolves round Part 3 of the 14th Modification, which bans insurrectionists from holding public workplace. The Colorado Supreme Courtroom dominated in December that the ban applies to Trump due to the January 6, 2021, rebel, and the previous president is now asking the US Supreme Courtroom to overturn that call.
Anderson first received concerned when Residents for Accountability and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, recruited her to join their Denver-based lawsuit, which started as a case towards Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, who controls poll entry within the state. (At that stage, the case was often known as Anderson v. Griswold.)
“They got here to me and requested if I might have an interest,” Anderson mentioned. “And I mentioned completely.”
However earlier than embarking on the unprecedented case towards Trump, Anderson made loads of historical past of her personal.
She spent 12 years within the statehouse, earlier than having to depart as a result of time period limits. Whereas there, from 1997 to 1998, she was the bulk chief of the decrease chamber. After that, she gained a seat within the state Senate, and spent seven years there. She equally reached the submit of majority chief in 2003.
She was the primary lady to carry each senior positions.
Whereas serving within the Colorado statehouse, Anderson targeted on schooling, transportation and well being care, in line with a biography from the Jefferson County Historic Fee, which honored her in 2011 with a spot of their corridor of fame. She helped enact laws to enhance youngster literacy and decrease the price of in-state faculties and established a house nursing program with funds from a landmark lawsuit towards the big tobacco firms.
A lifelong Republican, Anderson left the Colorado legislature in 2006, because the state’s politics began shifting. She advised CNN she nonetheless identifies as a Republican.
Requested who she is supporting within the 2024 presidential election, Anderson mentioned, “If Nikki Haley makes the poll, she has my vote.”
She had slot in with the state’s politics, too – from 1968 by means of 2004, Coloradans voted for all however one Republican presidential nominee. However Colorado started taking a turn amid the Barack Obama wave of 2008, and has been gained by each Democratic nominee ever since he flipped the state that yr.
“I’m an old school Republican that believes in robust protection, supporting enterprise, and serving to those that don’t know the right way to assist themselves, and fewer authorities, and a good tax base,” Anderson mentioned.
Battling Trump – particularly in court docket – comes with acclaim in some circles, and vitriol in others. Anderson mentioned she has acquired lots of help from family and friends, apart from one or two holdouts who’re nonetheless die-hard Trump supporters. She mentioned most of her pals weren’t stunned that she received concerned within the case.
“I used to be born 4 months earlier than FDR was elected,” Anderson mentioned. “I’ve lived by means of lots of presidents. Some I favored, some I didn’t. However not one in all them brought about an rebel, till Donald Trump.”