WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives attempted to censure Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar on Wednesday over a retweet involving conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. The censure failed by a 214-213 vote, with four House Republicans voting against it – including Rep. Jeff Hurd of Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District.
The censure resolution was pushed by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and would have removed Omar from all committee assignments. Omar denied making any direct comments about Kirk and pointed out that Mace’s censure resolution had no direct quotes from her. Rather, it was focused on her retweets criticizing Kirk’s political beliefs.
“Unlike (Mace), I have routinely condemned political violence, no matter the political ideology,” Omar wrote on X.
Later that day, Hurd hosted a telephone town hall to answer questions from constituents. When asked about why he voted against the censure, he cited his belief in the First Amendment.
“Ilhan Omar is a crazy liberal Congresswoman from Minnesota and she made some comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination,” Hurd said during the town hall. “… (She) said a bunch of horrible and evil things about Charlie Kirk and also about the people who support him and who believe in what he was talking about. Those comments are ghoulish and they’re also evil and I condemn them completely.”
Hurd said he voted against the censure motion because it “tried to strip (Omar) from her committee assignments and it tried to silence her for exercising her First Amendment right to free speech.” He said the proper response to “reprehensible speech” is not to silence someone, but more speech – which he said Charlie Kirk believed and practiced.
The next constituent to speak during the town hall cautioned Hurd against using the word “crazy” to describe an individual. As a mental health provider, they said they found the term “a little offensive.” The constituent encouraged Hurd to self-reflect on his use of the word.
“Thanks for your comments also about civility and discourse. I think those are well taken – good point,” Hurd responded.
Hurd and the other three House Republicans who voted against the censure – Reps. Mike Flood of Nebraska, Tom McClintock of California and Cory Mills of Florida – are facing backlash from fellow conservatives.
Other constituents at the town hall raised questions about Medicaid, the “Big Beautiful Bill” and public lands protection.
Hurd sent out a statement a few days following Kirk’s death.
“Charlie Kirk’s assassination is a tragic loss – for his wife and children, first and foremost, but also for our country,” Hurd wrote. “Public life carries an elevated risk of violence. That reality has a history in America, but it should never become normal in America. Political violence can’t be tolerated, and we must condemn it in every case.”
Abigail Hatting is an intern for The Durango Herald and The Journal in Cortez and a senior at American University in Washington, D.C. She can be reached at ahatting@durangoherald.com.
