A report indicates House Republicans are examining potential legal measures to block New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani from assuming office if he wins Tuesday’s election. The effort centers on the U.S. Constitution’s “insurrection clause,” specifically the 14th Amendment, which bars individuals who “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” or provided aid to enemies of the nation from holding federal office.
Stefano Forte, president of the New York Young Republicans, stated that there is a growing push to either remove Mamdani from the ballot or prevent him from taking office if elected. The group argues that Mamdani’s public calls for resisting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could violate the amendment’s provisions.
Republican lawmakers are considering introducing legislation once the government shutdown concludes, though the process would face significant hurdles. A congressional vote to deem Mamdani ineligible would require navigating a narrow 219-213 Republican majority in the House and overcoming a Senate filibuster. Additionally, any legal challenge to remove an elected official would likely face court scrutiny.
The strategy mirrors Colorado’s failed attempt last year to bar former President Donald Trump from the ballot, which the Supreme Court dismissed by ruling that enforcement of the amendment rests with Congress. Proponents hope the maneuver could create political tension, forcing Democrats to take a stance on Mamdani, whom Trump has sought to position as a national opponent of his movement.
Trump reportedly expressed reluctance to allocate federal funds to New York City if Mamdani becomes mayor, calling him a “communist” and suggesting such aid would be wasted. The president also endorsed former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, stating he would prefer a “bad Democrat” over a “Communist” in the role.
Opinion polls suggest Mamdani is leading his main rival, Cuomo, ahead of Tuesday’s vote. Trump’s remarks during an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes also criticized Mamdani’s potential leadership, claiming he would outperform even former Mayor Bill de Blasio, whom he labeled a poor administrator.