Last year, Colorado attempted to disqualify former President Donald Trump from its state ballot under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. However, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned that decision, ruling that only Congress—not individual states—has the constitutional authority to enforce the clause. The Court’s ruling clarified that states cannot unilaterally decide eligibility questions tied to insurrection or rebellion.

That decision has since energized some Republican lawmakers, who now view Congress as holding the ultimate responsibility for enforcing Section 3. With the GOP maintaining a narrow 219–213 majority in the House, certain members believe the ruling opens the door for legislative action on future eligibility disputes involving federal candidates. The interpretation has added a new political dimension to how Section 3 might be applied.

According to two congressional aides, Republican leaders are reportedly weighing the possibility of holding a post-election vote to declare Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani ineligible for office under the same clause. However, such an effort would encounter steep procedural and legal challenges, including a likely filibuster in the Democrat-controlled Senate and the strong probability of court intervention.