House Republicans are exploring legal and constitutional strategies to block New York City mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani from being sworn into office if he wins Tuesday’s election, citing the Constitution’s post–Civil War “insurrection clause,” according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions.
The effort, first reported by the New York Post, is being led in part by the New York Young Republican Club, which argues that Mamdani’s past statements calling to “resist ICE” and his ties to left-wing organizations could qualify as “giving aid or comfort to the enemies” of the United States — language drawn directly from Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
That provision, enacted in 1868, bars from public office any person who has “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” against the United States, or who has provided “aid or comfort” to its enemies.
The clause was originally intended to prevent former Confederate officials from holding office but has recently re-emerged in political debates over ballot eligibility.“There is a real and legitimate push to see the insurrectionist Zohran Mamdani either a) removed from the ballot or b) removed from office if he is to win on Tuesday,” said Stefano Forte, president of the New York Young Republican Club.
Several House Republicans are said to be reviewing whether the clause could be enforced through new legislation or congressional action following next week’s election. The idea mirrors the legal arguments used in Colorado last year to try to disqualify former President Donald Trump from the state’s ballot — a move the Supreme Court ultimately overturned, ruling that Congress, not individual states, has the constitutional authority to enforce Section 3.
The Court’s decision has emboldened some GOP lawmakers who believe the ruling effectively places responsibility for such enforcement in the hands of Congress, where Republicans currently hold a narrow 219–213 majority in the House.
According to two congressional aides, Republican leaders may consider holding a post-election vote to declare Mamdani ineligible for office under the clause. Such a measure would face significant procedural and legal hurdles, including a likely filibuster in the Democrat-controlled Senate and near-certain court challenges.
In addition to the potential 14th Amendment challenge, House Republicans are pressuring the Justice Department to review Mamdani’s path to U.S. citizenship, claiming he may have violated the terms of his naturalization oath.
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) sent a letter Monday to Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging her to investigate what he described as “statements inconsistent with the oath of allegiance required of new citizens.” Ogles cited Mamdani’s 2018 naturalization and accused him of “refusal to disavow violent anti-American rhetoric.”He reiterated those allegations in a post on X, claiming Mamdani “came to the U.S. from Uganda to turn America into an Islamic theocracy.”
In his letter, Ogles argued that Mamdani’s past remarks and political affiliations amount to a “broader pattern of conduct inconsistent with the oath of allegiance.”
He urged the Justice Department to examine whether denaturalization proceedings are warranted, referencing existing immigration law that prohibits membership in communist or totalitarian organizations for new citizens.
Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) also joined the campaign, accusing Mamdani of omitting material information from his citizenship application, including membership in the Democratic Socialists of America and comments defending the “Holy Land Five,” a group of Palestinian-American leaders convicted in 2008 for funneling money to Hamas.
“New York City falls to communism next week, and they will have nobody but themselves to blame,” Fine wrote on X, referencing the upcoming mayoral election.
Mamdani, currently a member of the New York State Assembly representing Astoria, Queens, denied the accusations and said Republican lawmakers are trying to weaponize the law against a political opponent.
“No matter how many times these Republican Congress members or the president of this country calls me a Communist, it doesn’t make it true,” Mamdani said in comments to The Post last weekend.
A Justice Department spokeswoman confirmed receipt of Ogles’ letter but said responses to congressional correspondence have been delayed due to the ongoing government shutdown.“The Department does not comment on the status of ongoing or potential investigations,” the spokeswoman said.
In what political insiders are already calling a “career-ending moment,” Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) delivered a scathing and unexpected takedown of New York City mayoral hopeful Darius Kemp during a live televised town hall Wednesday evening — stunning viewers and leaving Kemp’s campaign in visible disarray.
The event, hosted at Columbia University and aired nationally, was billed as a bipartisan discussion on urban crime and federal funding. Kemp, a progressive rising star and the Democratic frontrunner for the 2025 NYC mayoral race, had been gaining traction with bold policy promises on housing reform and policing alternatives.
But that momentum came to a screeching halt when Rubio, invited as a federal voice on urban issues, publicly challenged Kemp’s credibility — and delivered a series of devastating blows that appeared to end his mayoral hopes in real time.
The Moment That Changed Everything
The pivotal moment came 47 minutes into the broadcast, when Kemp criticized “conservative obstruction” of urban funding, alleging that federal lawmakers like Rubio were “hoarding resources for red states while blue cities bleed.”
Rubio, who had remained composed throughout the event, suddenly shifted forward in his seat.
“Mr. Kemp, you talk about bleeding cities — but under your leadership on the NYC Housing Commission, millions vanished in a development project that never broke ground,”
Rubio said, locking eyes with Kemp. “Where’s the accountability for that?”
Gasps were audible in the audience.
Kemp attempted to interject, claiming the project was “under review” and “delayed by external contractors,” but Rubio wasn’t finished.
“We pulled the receipts,” Rubio said, holding up a stack of documents. “Signed contracts with shell companies, no oversight, and your own emails greenlighting a $12 million transfer to a firm owned by your former campaign treasurer. You want to be mayor? Explain that to New Yorkers.”
Kemp Crumbles Under Pressure
Caught off guard, Kemp stammered through a vague denial but failed to directly address the evidence. The moderators pivoted quickly, but the damage was done. Within minutes, clips of the confrontation flooded social media, with hashtags like
#RubioWrecksKemp and #MayoralMeltdown trending nationwide.
Political analyst Gina Moretti summed it up succinctly: “Rubio didn’t just derail Kemp’s talking points — he exposed a scandal in front of millions. That wasn’t a debate moment. That was a demolition.”
Immediate Fallout
By Thursday morning, Kemp’s campaign headquarters in Brooklyn was reportedly in crisis mode. A press conference scheduled for 9 a.m. was abruptly canceled. Several of his senior staffers were seen leaving the building carrying boxes, fueling speculation of a resignation.
Local news outlets confirmed that a formal ethics complaint has already been filed with the NYC Department of Investigations, and multiple city council members — including two who previously endorsed Kemp — have withdrawn their support.
“We need answers, not silence,” said Councilwoman Ana Patel (D-Queens). “If even half of what Rubio said is true, Kemp should not be leading this race — or any public office.”
Rubio’s Political Star Rises Again
For Rubio, the moment represents a sharp and sudden return to the national spotlight. Once considered a fading GOP voice, the Florida senator has recently made strategic appearances in key swing states and urban policy forums.
His takedown of Kemp has elevated him overnight as a Republican capable of going toe-to-toe with progressive urban candidates — and winning.
Rubio did not speak to reporters after the event but issued a succinct post on X (formerly Twitter):
“If you want to lead a city, you better come clean first.”
What’s Next?
As pressure mounts on Kemp to explain the alleged mismanagement and financial impropriety, insiders suggest that his withdrawal from the mayoral race is imminent. The Democratic field is already scrambling to reorganize, with speculation that Bronx Borough President Clara Molina may emerge as the new frontrunner.
For New York politics, the moment is seismic. For Darius Kemp, it may mark the abrupt end of a once-promising career.
And for Marco Rubio, it was five minutes that could redefine his political future.
Shockwave in Congress: Adam Schiff STUNNED as All Nine Republican House Members Sign His Removal!
Adam Schiff Faces Unprecedented Pressure as All Nine Republican House Members Demand His Removal
In a stunning turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, all nine Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee have united in a bold declaration: Adam Schiff must resign from his position as chairman.
This unprecedented move comes in the wake of accusations that Schiff has repeatedly promoted false narratives regarding the Trump campaign and its ties to Russia, undermining the integrity of the committee and eroding public trust in government institutions.