US Midterms: Can MAGA Republicans Block Democrats From Taking House Seats?

MAGA allies are reportedly exploring a procedural challenge to block DSA-backed Democrats from taking House seats, raising questions about constitutional oath requirements and congressional control after midterm elections.

Washington: As US midterm polls are underway, some Republicans are exploring a strategy to prevent Democratic winners from taking their seats if the party secures a majority.

Members of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement are discussing a little-known procedural manoeuvre that could potentially be used to challenge the swearing-in of newly elected Democrats.

According to a Fox News report, conservative circles are debating a proposal to obstruct duly elected members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) from being sworn in to the House of Representatives.

Three DSA-backed candidates defeated Democratic incumbents in party primaries this year. If Republicans successfully use the proposed challenge to prevent them from taking their seats, the composition of Congress could be affected.

The proposal has raised questions about whether the manoeuvre could be used to prevent Democrats from securing a majority in the House.

How Republicans could challenge newly elected Democrats

After winning an election, newly elected representatives, known as "members-elect", must take an oath to defend the US Constitution before becoming full members of the House.

However, some conservatives are arguing that a member-elect should be allowed to challenge another newly elected representative's eligibility to take the oath if they can provide evidence that the individual does not intend to uphold the Constitution.

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For instance, if a Republican member-elect believes that a newly elected Democrat intends to violate the Constitution, they could raise an objection and present evidence to support their claim.

Such a challenge could potentially prevent the incoming representative from participating in the collective oath-taking ceremony involving all 435 House members.

Instead, the House could be required to deliberate on the objection and vote on whether the individual should be permitted to take the oath.

In effect, the member-elect could face an individual challenge rather than automatically joining the collective swearing-in ceremony.

Texas Republican Keith Self told Fox News that he could invoke the proposed manoeuvre.

“You cannot swear an oath to support and defend the Constitution while actively working to destroy it. The oath of office is not just words you say at a ceremony. It is a belief. It is an oath to our country and our fellow countrymen,” Self said, the report noted.

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"The House has both the authority and the duty to ensure that anyone who takes that oath does so in good faith, without mental reservation or purpose of evasion. As DSA candidates and the Red-Green Alliance gain ground, we must enforce the Constitution as written or risk allowing people committed to replacing it to take seats of power under false pretences,” he added.

The term “Red-Green Alliance” is used by conservatives to describe what they perceive as links between far-left political movements, represented by the colour red, and groups associated with political Islam organisations, represented by green, according to reports.

"Anyone who has personally embraced the destruction of the Constitution has no business being sworn in to uphold it," Self further said. He has represented Texas’ third congressional district since 2023.

Can the proposed manoeuvre be used?

The proposed strategy would depend on several factors, according to the report.

If House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, is elected Speaker, he could choose to dismiss such a challenge outright.

Republican Speaker Mike Johnson could also reject the objection if his party retains control of the House.

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Johnson addressed the issue while speaking to reporters at an event in Iowa earlier this month. He described the prospect of refusing to seat elected Democrats as a “nonsense narrative” and pledged, “We are going to follow the law.”

The proposal has emerged as the 2026 US midterm elections gather momentum, with the balance of power in the House of Representatives at stake.