WASHINGTON — Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is aggressively championing the Save America Act to implement strict voter ID and citizenship verification, while simultaneously raising alarms about the political rise of Zohran Mamdani and what he describes as escalating anti-Semitism within the Democratic Party.
During a recent media appearance, McCarthy detailed the core components of the Save America Act, which mandates that all voters present a photo identification and provide proof of citizenship. He likened the identification requirement to the security measures passengers must clear before boarding a commercial airplane. According to the former Speaker, these safeguards do not inherently benefit any single political faction. Instead, they serve to eliminate post-election disputes, ensure that only citizens are casting ballots, and maintain the integrity of the electoral process.
McCarthy emphasized that the push for rigorous election security is not strictly a partisan endeavor. He cited polling data suggesting that over 70 percent of the American electorate, including a vast majority of Democrats, support photo ID and citizenship requirements. Referencing advice from political guru James Blair to continuously message the issue if legislative hurdles arise, McCarthy argued that making it a central political theme exposes the opposition. He noted that while some lawmakers privately express hesitation, the public pressure of a recorded floor vote often forces them to support the measures.
To capitalize on this public backing, McCarthy is advocating for forced floor votes in both the House and the Senate. His goal is to put every lawmaker on the public record, challenging politicians to stop fearing electoral backlash and instead trust that supporting the legislation will ultimately win them votes. He specifically praised President Trump, noting that his relentless approach and refusal to quit are critical to pushing the agenda forward and holding opposing lawmakers accountable at the ballot box.
Shifting focus to internal Democratic dynamics, McCarthy expressed profound concern over the trajectory of the party regarding Israel and Jewish communities. He argued that the Democratic Party has transitioned from merely distancing itself from Israel to adopting an openly hostile stance. McCarthy stated that this brand of anti-Semitism and Jewish bigotry is no longer hidden, with candidates actively leveraging it to win elections. He criticized the party’s establishment for failing to forcefully condemn this behavior.
McCarthy pointed directly to Mamdani, highlighting his mayoral victory and his recent success in winning congressional races by defeating established incumbents. He noted that the current Democratic leader for Congress, Hakeem, is based in New York and recently suffered a defeat. Consequently, McCarthy asserted that Mamdani has effectively usurped Hakeem as the new driving force behind the Democratic Party. He warned that Mamdani’s political faction relies heavily on anti-Semitism as a core pillar of its platform, urging a robust political response to counter this growing influence.