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House narrowly blocks GOP effort to censure Ilhan Omar over Charlie Kirk remarks

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Thursday September 18, 2025

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., speaks at a hearing of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce in Washington, D.C. on July 15, 2025. Photo: Michael Brochstein/Sipa USA via AP Images

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (HOL) — The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly blocked a Republican-led resolution to censure Rep. Ilhan Omar, underscoring the deep partisan divides surrounding the Minnesota Democrat’s remarks after conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
The 214–213 vote late Wednesday, with four Republicans joining Democrats, tabled the measure introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), which sought to formally censure Omar and strip her of committee assignments on Education and Budget.

Mace argued Omar disparaged Kirk in a recent interview and accused her of “smearing” his legacy. She also suggested Omar should be deported to Somalia, where the congresswoman was born before becoming a U.S. citizen in 2000. Omar countered that the accusations were false and politically motivated, calling Mace’s push a ploy to bolster her campaign for governor.
Several Republicans broke ranks, citing free speech. Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) said Omar’s words were “vile and contemptible,” but defended her right to express them. “Even hateful speech is protected by the First Amendment,” he said. Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.) added that silencing opponents was not the answer: “The right response to reprehensible speech isn’t censorship, it’s more speech. That’s what Charlie Kirk believed and practiced.”
The failed censure came amid a wave of political maneuvering. Democrats countered by introducing a resolution against Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) over allegations of misconduct, signalling an escalation in the tit-for-tat use of censures. Mills ultimately voted with Democrats to table the measure against Omar.
Beyond the chamber, Kirk’s death has sparked tributes and legislation. Republicans have promoted bills in his name, including Sen. Mike Lee’s proposed “Charlie Kirk Act” to restrict government “domestic propaganda,” while House conservatives have floated new committees to investigate “radical left networks.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) hailed the vote as a rejection of “dishonest and racist” attempts to silence Omar but warned the fight is not over, as GOP lawmakers may revive the measure.
The outcome illustrates the rising fatigue in Congress over partisan censures, which have become increasingly common since 2021. What was once a rare punishment has now become a political weapon that lawmakers on both sides appear unwilling to relinquish.

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