House Vote Blocks Censure of Ilhan Omar for Charlie Kirk Comments

On September 18, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 214-213 to table a resolution by Republican Rep. Nancy Mace to censure Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar for comments about the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, who was killed at a Utah college event.

The resolution also sought to remove Omar from the Education and Workforce and Budget Committees. Four Republicans—Mike Flood (Nebraska), Jeff Hurd (Colorado), Tom McClintock (California), and Cory Mills (Florida)—joined Democrats to block the measure. Omar’s remarks, made in a Zeteo interview and a reposted video calling Kirk a “stochastic terrorist,” were labeled “despicable” by Mace, though Omar claimed they were misconstrued and condemned Kirk’s killing.

McClintock, Hurd, and Mills opposed the censure on First Amendment grounds, with Mills’ vote influenced by Democrats’ offer to drop a retaliatory resolution against him. Mace criticized the four Republicans on X, accusing them of prioritizing Omar over “decency, justice, and Charlie Kirk’s family.” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Mace’s rhetoric “racist, unhinged, and xenophobic,” while Omar accused Mace of using the issue to fundraise for her gubernatorial campaign.

The vote highlights tensions over political speech and accountability amid rising political violence, including the recent killing of former Minnesota Speaker Melissa Hortman. It also reflects the complex interplay of free speech principles and partisan divides, as some Republicans sided with Democrats to protect Omar’s right to speak despite disagreeing with her comments.