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These 26 current US House representatives were born outside the US

23 October 2026 at 19:12
Two people in suits speak.
Reps. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) were born outside the US.

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  • The US House of Representatives has 435 members, each representing a state congressional district.
  • US representatives do not need to be natural-born citizens in order to take office.
  • See the 26 current representatives born outside the US.

Similar to the US Senate, members of the House of Representatives do not need to be natural-born citizens in order to take office.

In fact, the only members of government who do are the president and vice president.

The House of Representatives, one of the two chambers of Congress alongside the Senate, has 435 voting members. They represent congressional districts allocated among the states based on population and serve two-year terms with no term limits.

To qualify as a US House representative, a person must be:

  • At least 25 years old
  • A US citizen for at least seven years.
  • Live in the state they want to represent at the time of the election.

Many current House members were US citizens at birth despite being born in another country — for instance, because they were born to American parents working in government positions abroad.

Here are the 26 active House representatives born outside the US.

Becca Balint (D)
A woman in a suit.
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 11: U.S. Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) listens as U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before the House Judiciary Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on February 11, 2026 in Washington, DC. Bondi is expected to face questions on her department’s handling of the files related to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, President Trump’s investigations into political foes and the handing of the two fatal ICE shootings of U.S. citizens. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Alex Wong/Getty Images

State: Vermont

District: At Large

Place of birth: Germany

Balint has served in Congress since 2023. She was born in Germany while her father was serving in the US armed forces, making her a US citizen at birth.

Donald S. Beyer Jr. (D)
A man in a suit.
UNITED STATES - MARCH 1: Former Virginia Lieutenant Gov. Donald S. Beyer Jr., speaks during the Mount Vernon District Democratic Committee's annual Mardi Gras fundraiser at Don Beyer's Volvo car dealership in Alexandria, Va., on Saturday, March 1, 2014. Beyer won a straw poll over 10 other candidates vying to replace the retiring Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call

State: Virginia

District: 08

Place of birth: Free Territory of Trieste (now Italy)

Beyer has served in Congress since 2015. He was born to a US Army officer, making him a citizen at birth.

Salud O. Carbajal (D)
A man in a suit.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 1: Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA) arrives for a Democratic caucus meeting on Capitol Hill on September 1, 2026 in Washington, DC. House Republicans and Democrats are gathering for their first conference meetings after the August recess. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

State: California

District: 24

Place of birth: Mexico

Carbajal has served in Congress since 2017. He emigrated from Mexico at age 5 and became a naturalized citizen in 1990.

Sean Casten (D)
A man in a suit.
Representative Sean Casten, a Democrat from Illinois, during a House Financial Services Committee hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he's supportive of a plan floated by President Donald Trump to send $5,000 checks to American adults if Republicans retain their majorities in Congress, downplaying concerns about the potential cost. Photographer: Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Bloomberg/Getty Images

State: Illinois

District: 06

Place of birth: Ireland

Casten has served in Congress since 2019. He was born to American parents, making him a US citizen at birth.

Juan Ciscomani (R)
A man in a suit.
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 21: U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) arrives to a House Republican Conference meeting in the U.S. Capitol Building on July 21, 2026 in Washington, DC. The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to start a long recess through August after completing legislative business this week. (Photo by Finn Gomez/Getty Images)

Finn Gomez/Getty Images

State: Arizona

District: 06

Place of birth: Mexico

Ciscomani has served in Congress since 2023. He moved to Arizona when he was 11 and became a naturalized citizen in 2006.

Andrew S. Clyde (R)
A man in a suit.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 13: Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) speaks to the press during a press conference on Capitol Hill on June 13, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael A. McCoy/Getty Images)

Michael A. McCoy/Getty Images

State: Georgia

District: 09

Place of birth: Canada

Clyde has served in Congress since 2021. He was born to American parents, making him a US citizen at birth.

Dan Crenshaw (R)
A man in a suit.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 26: Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill on June 26, 2024 in Washington, DC. Republicans in the House are attempting to hold Attorney General Derrick Garland in contempt of Congress after he advised that President Biden assert Executive Privilege over the audio and video records of his interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Samuel Corum/Getty Images

State: Texas

District: 02

Place of birth: Scotland

Crenshaw has served in Congress since 2019. He was born to American parents, making him a US citizen at birth.

Sharice Davids (D)
A woman in a suit.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 30: Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS) listens as Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA), the chairwoman of the New Democrat Coalition, speaks to reporters outside of the West Wing of the White House on March 30, 2022 in Washington, DC. The coalition met with U.S. President Joe Biden to discuss Biden’s domestic agenda and how to move forward with new legislation since the failure to pass Build Back Better in the U.S. Senate. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

State: Kansas

District: 03

Place of birth: Germany

Davids has served in Congress since 2019. She was born in Germany to a mother who served 20 years in the US Army, making her a US citizen at birth.

Diana DeGette (D)
A woman in a suit.
DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 28: Diana DeGette participated in a League of Women Voters Congressional District 1 candidate forum at Montview Presbyterian Church on May 28, 2026, in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images

State: Colorado

District: 01

Place of birth: Japan

DeGette has served in Congress since 1997. She was born in Japan while her father served in the US armed forces, making her a US citizen at birth.

Adriano Espaillat (D)
A man in a suit.
Representative Adriano Espaillat, a Democrat from New York, joined by House Democratic Party caucus chairs, speaks during a news conference on the US Supreme Court birthright citizenship decision outside the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. The US Supreme Court rejected a central plank of President Donald Trump's immigration agenda on Tuesday, deeming his plan to restrict birthright citizenship to be unconstitutional. Photographer: Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Bloomberg/Getty Images

State: New York

District: 13

Place of birth: Dominican Republic

Espaillat has served in Congress since 2017. He came to the US as a child and became a naturalized US citizen in the early 1980s. Espaillat is the first formerly undocumented member of Congress.

Jesús G. "Chuy" García (D)
A man in a suit.
WASHINGTON, D C , UNITED STATES - 2019/06/25: U.S. Representative Jesús García (D-IL, aka Jesús G. "Chuy" García) speaking at a rally against the proposed United StatesMexicoCanada Agreement (USMCA), the proposed successor to NAFTA, at the Capitol. (Photo by Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

State: Illinois

District: 04

Place of birth: Mexico

García has served in Congress since 2019. He emigrated to Illinois in 1965 and became a US citizen in 1977.

Robert Garcia (D)
A man in a suit.
Representative Robert Garcia, a Democrat from California and ranking member of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, speaks to members of the media during a break in a closed-door interview with Kathryn Ruemmler, former lawyer at Goldman Sachs, not pictured, in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. Goldman Sachs Group Inc.'s former general counsel defended her association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to Congress, calling him a "masterful liar" who used her and others to help legitimize him. Photographer: Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Bloomberg/Getty Images

State: California

District: 42

Place of birth: Peru

Garcia has served in Congress since 2023. He emigrated to the US when he was a young child and became a naturalized citizen in his early 20s.

Carlos A. Gimenez (R)
A man in a suit.
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 20: U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) (C) speaks as Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL) (L) and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) (R) listen during a news conference on former Cuban President Raul Castro at the U.S. Capitol on May 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. Rep. Diaz-Balart held a news conference to urge the U.S. government to hold former Cuban President Raul Castro accountable for the 1996 downing of two Brothers to the Rescue planes, which resulted in the deaths of four volunteers, including three Americans. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Alex Wong/Getty Images

State: Florida

District: 28

Place of birth: Cuba

Gimenez has served in Congress since 2021. His family emigrated to Miami in 1960, and he became a US citizen in 1976.

James A. Himes (D)
A man in a suit.
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 14: U.S. Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) speaks to members of the press after a briefing at the U.S. Capitol on February 14, 2024 in Washington, DC. Earlier in the day, Turner released a public statement warning members of Congress about a "serious national security threat" without giving any information about the nature of the threat and demanded that President Joe Biden declassify the information. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Alex Wong/Getty Images

State: Connecticut

District: 04

Place of birth: Peru

Himes has served in Congress since 2009. He was born to American parents, making him a US citizen at birth.

Pramila Jayapal (D)
A woman in a suit.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 01: Ranking Member Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) listens during a hearing before the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement of the House Judiciary Committee at Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on September 1, 2026 in Washington, DC. The subcommittee held a hearing titled "Sanctuary Policies, Tragic Consequences," to examine how sanctuary policies, specifically in California, Colorado, and Maryland, endanger communities by putting the interests of criminal aliens ahead of the interests of Americans. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Alex Wong/Getty Images

State: Washington

District: 07

Place of birth: India

Jayapal has served in Congress since 2017. She emigrated from India at age 16 in 1982 and became a naturalized citizen in 2000.

Young Kim (R)
A woman in a suit.
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 02: U.S. Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) (2nd L) speaks as (L-R) Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Rep Claudia Tenney (R-NY) listen during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on February 2, 2022 in Washington, DC. House Republican leadership held a news conference to discuss GOP agenda after a caucus meeting. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Alex Wong/Getty Images

State: California

District: 40

Place of birth: South Korea

Kim has served in Congress since 2021. She emigrated to the US at age 12 and later became a naturalized US citizen.

Raja Krishnamoorthi (D)
A man in a suit.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 10: U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) speaks to the media as Microsoft Co-Founder Bill Gates testifies during a closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee on Capitol Hill on June 10, 2026 in Washington, DC. The committee is continuing to hold closed-door interviews as part of their investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. (Photo by Tom Brenner/Getty Images)

Tom Brenner/Getty Images

State: Illinois

District: 08

Place of birth: India

Krishnamoorthi has served in Congress since 2017. The exact year of his naturalization is not in the public record, but he moved to the US with his family as a child.

Ted Lieu (D)
A man in a suit.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 15: Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu (D-CA) speaks during a weekly news conference at the U.S. Capitol on September 15, 2026 in Washington, DC. Lieu spoke about Congress's ability to impose guardrails on artificial intelligence. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images)

Heather Diehl/Getty Images

State: California

District: 36

Place of birth: Taiwan

Lieu has served in Congress since 2015. The exact year of his naturalization is not in the public record, but he moved to the US with his family as a child.

Ilhan Omar (D)
A woman in a suit speaks.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 28: Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) speaks during a press conference at the Karmel Mall on January 28, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Omar continues to rally with community members after facing an attempted attack by a person who charged her podium with a syringe as she spoke yesterday at a town hall gathering. Protests and demonstrations continue around Minneapolis in the aftermath of the killings of Alex Pretti and Rene Nicole Good by federal law enforcement. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Brandon Bell/Getty Images

State: Minnesota

District: 05

Place of birth: Somalia

Omar has served in Congress since 2019. She was naturalized in 2000, five years after arriving in the US from Kenya, where her family had lived in a refugee camp after fleeing Somalia.

David Rouzer (R)
A man in a suit.
UNITED STATES - JUNE 31: Rep. David Rouzer, R-N.C., leaves the House Republican Conference meeting in the Capitol on Tuesday, June 2, 2015. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call

State: North Carolina

District: 07

Place of birth: Germany

Rouzer has served in Congress since 2015. He was born at Landstuhl Army Medical Center in Germany, where his father was stationed, making him a US citizen at birth.

Raul Ruiz (D)
A man in a suit.
UNITED STATES - JANUARY 14: Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., speaks during the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing titled "Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission," in Rayburn building on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, FCC Commissioners Anna Gomez, and Olivia Trusty testified. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

State: California

District: 25

Place of birth: Mexico

Ruiz has served in Congress since 2013. He was born in Mexico and raised in Coachella, California, after his aunt and uncle adopted him as a baby. He is a naturalized US citizen.

Victoria Spartz (R)
A woman in a suit.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 20: U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) questions Attorney General Merrick Garland as he testifies before the House Judiciary Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on September 20, 2023 in Washington, DC. The committee is holding an oversight hearing on the U.S. Department of Justice. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Win McNamee/Getty Images

State: Indiana

District: 05

Place of birth: Ukraine

Spartz has served in Congress since 2021. She arrived in the US in 2000 and became a US citizen in 2006.

Marilyn Strickland (D)
A woman in a suit.
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 15: U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-WA) speaks during a press event on reproductive right in front of the U.S. Capitol July 15, 2022 in Washington, DC. The House is voting on the Women’s Health Protection Act today. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Alex Wong/Getty Images

State: Washington

District: 10

Place of birth: South Korea

Strickland has served in Congress since 2021. She was born to an American serviceman father and Korean mother, making her a US citizen at birth.

Shri Thanedar (D)
A man in a suit.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 14: Congressman Shri Thanedar (D-MI) speaks at a press conference with other Democratic members of House Homeland Security Committee on the killing of Renee Good, outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on January 14, 2026. (Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images

State: Michigan

District: 13

Place of birth: India

Thanedar has served in Congress since 2023. He was naturalized in 1988 after emigrating from India a decade earlier.

Norma J. Torres (D)
A woman in a suit.
POMONA, CA - MAY 07: Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (D-CA-35) addresses the media after touring the temporary Office of Refugee Resettlement Emergency Intake Facility at Fairplex in Pomona Friday, May 7, 2021. Approximately 280 undocumented children are currently housed at the facility after being relocated from facilities near the border. (Photo by Will Lester/MediaNews Group/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin via Getty Images)

Will Lester/MediaNews Group/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin via Getty Images

State: California

District: 35

Place of birth: Guatemala

Torres has served in Congress since 2015. She emigrated to the US as a young child in the early 1970s and became a naturalized citizen in 1992.

Eugene Simon Vindman (D)
A man in a suit.
UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 21: Rep.-elect Eugene Vindman, D-Va.., on phone, and his brother Alexander, are seen after Eugene drew number 57, the last pick, during the New Member Orientation Room Lottery for office space at the Capitol on Thursday, November 21, 2024. Reps.-elect Lateefah Simon, D-Calif., left, and Maxine Dexter, D-Ore., are also pictured. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

State: Virginia

District: 07

Place of birth: Ukraine

Vindman has served in Congress since 2025. The exact year of his naturalization is not in the public record, but he moved to the US with his family as a child.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Thune weighs nightmare scenario for GOP as Democrats threaten to flip House

23 October 2026 at 18:01

FREMONT, Neb. — If Democrats are able to gain control of the House of Representatives, one relationship between the top two lawmakers on both sides of Congress could define the remainder of President Donald Trump's time in office.

If that’s the outcome on Election Night, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., would have to work with the Democratic leader who rises in the House, and that is expected to be House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who has led Democrats in the lower chamber since 2023.

But Thune, in an interview with Fox News Digital on the campaign trail in Nebraska, remained confident that wouldn’t be the outcome.

THUNE MAKES BOLD PREDICTION ABOUT REPUBLICANS' SENATE CHANCES AS GOP PULLS MILLIONS FROM KEY RACES

"Well, I mean, I think obviously that's an entirely different dynamic," Thune said. "You've got a situation with divided government and that creates a different incentive structure in terms of if you want to be able to get things done, but I don't assume for a minute that's going to happen."

"I still think that when push comes to shove and people look at the choices in front of them that we have a really good shot at hanging on both the House and the Senate," he continued.

Election forecasters predict that the Senate could stay in Republican control, though seven total races are considered toss-ups by the Cook Political Report. Republicans’ chances of holding onto power in the House, however, are murkier, given that dozens of battleground seats are in play that have shifted favorably toward Democrats.

The GOP has had a grip on the lower chamber since 2022, when it flipped the House during former President Joe Biden’s presidency. But a deeply unpopular Trump, whose approval ratings have dipped to historic lows, and continued economic pressures could contribute to Democrats regaining power.

JOHNSON DOWNPLAYS GOP'S MIDTERM WOES AS DEMOCRATS EYE HOUSE TAKEOVER: 'I AM VERY BULLISH'

Jeffries’ office did not respond to an inquiry from Fox News Digital asking whether he could work with Thune if both won their respective leadership spots.

There has been no love lost between the two men during this congressional term so far, with each sharply criticizing the other during key legislative fights.

Thune blasted Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., earlier this year as talks began to break down over funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The top Republican accused both of being "afraid of their shadows," and being controlled by their left flank.

That prompted Jeffries to retort to reporters that it was Thune who was "scared of his own shadow" during the partisan standoff. During the 2025 government shutdown, Jeffries accused Thune of "trying to bluff his way into an agreement" on federal spending.

Congress is no stranger to a divided government, either. From 2023 to early 2025, Republicans controlled the House and Democrats held a razor-thin majority in the Senate.

SCHUMER WARNS OF REPUBLICAN ADVANTAGE THAT COULD CHANGE THE BATTLE FOR SENATE CONTROL

During that time, according to data collected by the Pew Research Center, the split Congress produced 106 laws. This version of Congress has so far produced 121 laws, with some major legislative action happening, like the "big, beautiful bill" and a major housing affordability package, passing between historically long government shutdowns.

Thune is laser-focused on keeping the GOP’s control of the Senate, which was under Democratic control until 2024, when Trump and Republicans clinched a trifecta in Washington, D.C.

He’s crisscrossed the country for the last several weeks of the homestretch heading into the election on Nov. 3, boosting candidates in competitive races that could determine the balance of power in the Senate.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Republican control of the upper chamber, he contended, would be vital to continuing key chunks of Trump’s agenda, including confirming his judicial and other executive branch nominations.

"So if you want to see the country succeed and move forward, we've got to have a majority in the U.S. Senate to work with this president," Thune said. "Hopefully with a majority in the House as well, but I am very committed to doing whatever I can in the next couple of weeks getting around the country on behalf of our candidates to ensure that we have that majority in the Senate."

Reporter's Notebook: Congress braces for post-election game of musical chairs as leadership battles loom

23 October 2026 at 17:57

Capitol Hill is about to embark on a biennial game of musical chairs.

Everyone needs to find a seat when the music stops. Those who don’t are out.

There are four sets of leadership elections pending in Congress over the next few weeks. House Republicans and Democrats will pick their top leaders. The same with Senate Republicans and Democrats. The entire House must elect a speaker when the new Congress convenes on Jan. 3. The full Senate chooses the majority leader. That’s decided individually by the majority party in the Senate.

We anticipate a scramble for leadership positions in the days following the election, depending on which party captures the majority of each body for the new Congress.

JORDAN EMERGES AS POTENTIAL NEXT GOP LEADER IF DEMS SEIZE HOUSE

Let’s start with House Republicans.

If Republicans maintain control of the House, the GOP will likely maintain its current leadership team of House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., and Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn. However, if the GOP loses control of the House, recriminations — and an epic game of vicious political musical chairs likely commences.

The reason? In the minority, a party only has two top leadership positions compared to three in the majority. Will Johnson slide to minority leader? Does he want that slot? Does President Donald Trump want him in that position? Or someone else?

Regardless, whoever Trump wants as the top House Republican is the one who gets that slot in the new Congress.

Would Scalise become minority leader? Would he slide to minority whip? Where does Emmer fit in here? Could Emmer become the top House GOPer?

Then there is Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.

It’s clear that Jordan wants to become the top Republican in the House. He’s campaigned for Republican candidates and members for months and has raised money on the GOP’s behalf for years. It’s unclear if Jordan might be in a race against Johnson or any of the others soon.

Keep in mind that Scalise, Emmer and Jordan all lost bids to become speaker when the House dismissed former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in the fall of 2023. In fact, Jordan lost multiple floor votes for speaker before the House Republican Conference nixed him as the GOP nominee.

In the interim, Jordan has worked to build bridges among Republicans who opposed him three years ago. The Ohio Republican also remains a close ally of Trump. Jordan also maintains strong ties to the conservative House Freedom Caucus.

JEFFRIES WELCOMES DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS INTO THE FOLD AS CRITICS WARN PARTY IS REVEALING 'EXACTLY WHO IT IS'

The question is what rank-and-file Republicans want to do if they find themselves in the minority? Some might prefer a wholesale set of changes among the GOP leadership team. But it will come down to musical chairs. And somebody — if not several somebodies — probably lack a seat when the music stops.

For the Democrats, their situation is easier. Let’s say Democrats do win control of the House. Yes, the Democratic Socialists of America and some possible members have reservations about promoting House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., to become speaker of the House. But it’s hard to see that Democrats wouldn’t tap him as the first Black speaker in American history. House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., would matriculate to majority leader. House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., would likely become majority whip.

However, if Democrats don’t win the House, would their top leaders remain in place? Unclear. Democrats have established high expectations. So one can envision a scenario where rank-and-file Democrats are so exercised about a midterm loss that they call for some new leaders if Democrats fail to flip the House in such a toxic political environment for Republicans.

Then, there’s the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., does not wield the same political currency with Trump as Johnson. The president has started to make demands of the Senate schedule or what he wants passed. The South Dakota Republican has resisted many of those entreaties. But what happens if Republicans lose control of the Senate?

Many Senate Republicans are apoplectic at how the president treated Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who formerly served as Senate GOP whip. They will rage if the president calls for the dismissal of Thune — in the minority but especially the majority. So far, Trump has kept things in check and not expressed direct displeasure with Thune personally. But one wonders how long that would continue. Especially considering what the president said about former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. – who ushered three Supreme Court nominees to confirmation under dramatic circumstances.

THUNE MAKES BOLD PREDICTION ABOUT REPUBLICANS' SENATE CHANCES AS GOP PULLS MILLIONS FROM KEY RACES

Who could step into a possible Senate GOP leadership void?

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., is the obvious choice. Barrasso appears closer to the president than Thune — and remains airtight when given the opportunity to criticize Trump. That could work in Barrasso’s favor if there’s an opening.

But leadership elections are always about opportunities. And sometimes those figures with certain bona fides have too much baggage from being on the job for a while. Here are the names to watch if there’s a push for changes inside the GOP leadership ranks: Sens. Katie Britt, R-Ala., John Kennedy, R-La., and Rick Scott, R-Fla.

A former Senate aide, Britt has a solid "inside game" and works well with the administration. Kennedy’s folksy manner makes him a darling of TV appearances. He also spent lots of time on the road campaigning for Senate Republican candidates. Scott ran for majority leader two years ago and lost to Thune and Cornyn in the first round.

Then there are Senate Democrats.

Some have lobbed gobs of criticism at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. His age. His style of politics seems archaic to some. But it’s hard to argue with success. Schumer likely becomes majority leader if Democrats flip the Senate. But things could change if Democrats fail to gain control of the body. Political observers don’t think Democrats have as good a chance at flipping the Senate as the House. So it’s not a done deal that Democrats will want new leadership if Democrats fail to gain control.

The one "known" is the pending candidacy of Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, to succeed retiring Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill. However, one could envision a scenario where Schatz becomes the top Senate Democrat if Schumer departs. Like Britt, Schatz is an intense internal operator and understands the subtleties of the Democratic Caucus.

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Others who may have an interest in a leadership post — if they don’t run for president — include Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.

Booker has credibility for his record-breaking 25-hour speech last year. Murphy appeals to the party as a telegenic spokesperson — and spoke on the floor for nearly 15 hours on gun violence in 2015. Slotkin is a moderate Democrat in a purple state who likes to tangle with the Trump administration — despite picking some of her spots to address the press corps. She’s said that the "old" Senate leadership models are no longer working. Warren commands the support of progressives. And Van Hollen already has the backing of Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed.

This is a lot to sort out. And it all hinges on the election outcomes. Leadership elections usually take place in mid to late November. It’s possible there could be a delay in leadership elections if it takes a while to sort out which party controls which body of Congress.

But the music is already playing. And everyone is jockeying for a seat because the music is about to stop.

Ilhan Omar hit with expulsion threat as GOP lawmaker vows to boot her from Congress over DOJ probe

23 October 2026 at 14:27

EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital that he plans to pursue an effort to expel Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., if the Justice Department finds her guilty of immigration fraud.

Fine, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, made the comments after Fox News Digital reported that a federal court filing identified Omar under the name "Ilhan Nur Said Elmi," also listing "Ilhan Abdullahi Omar" as an alias. The filing has raised questions about Omar’s identity and immigration records but does not establish that she committed fraud.  

"I assume that she’s not a citizen, so we might not even have to do that," Fine said. "You can’t be in Congress if you’re not a citizen of the United States, but if it isn’t automatic, I absolutely will demand expulsion immediately."

ILHAN OMAR IS NOT THE MINNESOTA CONGRESSWOMAN’S 'REAL NAME': SOURCES

Omar is a naturalized U.S. citizen. She was born in Somalia and became a U.S. citizen in 2000. She has denied wrongdoing and called the investigation politically motivated.  

Fine said Democrats would attempt to block any Republican effort to censure or expel Omar.

HOMAN SAYS ILHAN OMAR COULD BE STRIPPED OF NATURALIZATION, DEPORTED IF IMMIGRATION FRAUD IS PROVEN

"I don’t think Democrats think you should have to be American. They don’t believe in borders," Fine said. "They’ve made that clear. They don’t believe in America."

The House has the constitutional authority to expel a member, but doing so requires a two-thirds vote. A criminal investigation or allegation alone does not automatically remove a member from Congress.

Fine also criticized Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., who in September introduced the Reimagining Safety Act, legislation that would dismantle the Department of Homeland Security and abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, while preserving some of its functions under a new agency, the Department of Community Safety.  

"Look at this bill filed by the congresswoman from Chicago, where she doesn’t believe we should have borders, border protection or the ability to deport anyone," Fine said.

ILHAN OMAR'S TURBULENT WEEK EXPLAINED: THE DUELING PROBES THAT THREW THE SOMALI-BORN PROGRESSIVE INTO CHAOS

Fine also criticized Democrats who have called the Justice Department’s investigation into Omar politically motivated, pointing to the separate inquiry into her financial disclosures. The investigation into her finances began under former President Joe Biden in 2024, a detail that Fine claimed Democrats have intentionally overlooked.

"Democrats don't get held accountable for anything, and they agree on this agenda that is anti-American and anti-citizen," Fine continued.

Omar’s Washington, D.C., residence was searched by Homeland Security Investigations agents on Oct. 12 as part of a federal investigation into possible false statements on immigration and naturalization documents. Federal authorities have also issued grand jury subpoenas to members of Omar’s family and seized her cellphone, according to The Associated Press.  

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Omar’s office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Fox News Digital's Peter D'Abrosca contributed to this report.

Antifa supporter charged with stealing GOP campaign signs in NY race to replace Stefanik

23 October 2026 at 10:30

A New York man was arrested after he was allegedly captured on video stealing campaign signs belonging to Republican congressional candidate Anthony Constantino while driving his employer’s vehicle.

Josef Marris was charged with two counts of criminal possession of stolen property, according to the Essex County Sheriff’s Office. He was also fired from East Branch Organics, according to Constantino’s campaign.

Constantino, who is running in New York’s 21st Congressional District, said the alleged thefts were intended to intimidate his supporters.

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"My campaign has lost more than $100,000 to sign theft and vandalism," Constantino told Fox News Digital. "There are now multiple attempts to intimidate my supporters by people who are clearly pro-crime and pro-violence. The media needs to stop pretending this is a both-sides problem."

Constantino’s campaign alleged that Marris carried out the thefts on behalf of Democratic candidate Blake Gendebien. Gendebien’s campaign did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

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Constantino also criticized Gendebien in a post on X, writing that the Democrat "is surrounded by FAR LEFT EXTREMISTS."

WE NEED TO TALK TO COMMUNISTS BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH THEY NEED TO LEARN

Marris has described himself as a communist and an Antifa supporter, according to social media posts reviewed by Fox News Digital. In April 2023, he posted an image of the three-arrow symbol, which has historically been associated with several socialist and anti-fascist movements.

The symbol alone does not establish that Marris is a member of Antifa or that Gendebien’s campaign had any connection to the alleged thefts.

THE BLUE WAVE LOOKS REAL UNTIL YOU LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER

The incident comes as Gendebien leads Constantino in a closely watched race to succeed retiring Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., in the 21st Congressional District.

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One of the district's media stations, North Country Public Radio, has flipped the congressional district from "solid" Republican to "likely" Republican.

House Dem leader's attack on voter ID comes back to haunt him after election fraud bust in his home state

22 October 2026 at 11:00

House Democrats' No. 3 leader is under fire for his opposition to voter ID in his home state of California.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., spoke at a press conference earlier this month criticizing a measure on Californians' ballot this Election Day that, if passed, would mandate that voters show government-issued photo ID at the polls.

He made the comments just weeks before the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a crime bust that saw several U.S. permanent residents accused of registering to vote despite not being citizens.

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Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., hammered Aguilar's opposition to voter ID and argued the DOJ's recent actions made it "obvious" that the ballot measure, called Proposition 39, was needed.

"Give me a break," Calvert told Fox News Digital. "You have to show an ID to board an airplane, cash a paycheck, rent an apartment or even buy cold medicine at the grocery store. Democrats claiming that requiring photo ID before casting a ballot is somehow 'racist' or 'voter suppression' is complete nonsense and an insult to every voter's intelligence."

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Rep. Vince Fong, R-Calif., said voter ID "is basic election security that the vast majority of Americans support, and 36 states already require."

"While opponents are resorting to lies and fearmongering, Proposition 39 is commonsense reform in a world where you need an ID to rent a car, stay at a hotel, open a bank account or board a flight," Fong told Fox News Digital. "The DOJ's recent voter fraud bust in California is exactly why these safeguards matter."

Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., similarly said showing photo ID is a "simple standard we already require to board a plane, purchase alcohol or pick up a prescription."

"This isn't controversial and it shouldn't be complicated. Our elections deserve at least as much consideration as a beer or a bottle of wine," Kim told Fox News Digital.

Aguilar, meanwhile, criticized Proposition 39 during a press conference with Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former Biden administration Cabinet Secretary Xavier Becerra earlier this month.

"We will not stand for this, because we will not stand for people to lose an opportunity to exercise their ability to vote. In Arizona, they tried this. They wanted folks to put their driver's license numbers on their ballots. Think about that. What if you miss one digit? Your vote doesn't count?" Aguilar proposed. "What if you're married in California? What if you're married, and you haven't changed your name and you go to vote? No longer will you be able to vote. That is what is at stake for Californians."

SCHUMER SAID 'DEMOCRATS SUPPORT VOTER ID' – THEN EVERY SENATE DEMOCRAT VOTED AGAINST GOP BILL

He called it a "voter suppression effort" pushed by Republicans.

"Republicans can win only when they suppress the vote. Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans know that they are bankrupt of ideas and solutions, and so they have to change the rules of the game," Aguilar said.

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Meanwhile, the California government criticized the DOJ's operation while pointing to reports that said more of those charged were registered as Republicans rather than Democrats.

"For nearly a decade, Trump has baselessly alleged mass voter fraud rings were employed by Democrats and utilized 'illegal immigrants' to sway elections across the country – often pointing to California," a release on Gov. Gavin Newsom's state website read. "Courts at all levels have rejected the claims of vast voter fraud or that elections were rigged against the President."

Voter ID laws currently exist in 36 states and polls have shown they have a majority of Americans' support.

But in Congress, several efforts to pass federal voter ID legislation have been thwarted by Democrats in recent years.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Aguilar's campaign for a response to his GOP House colleagues' comments.

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