Republican senators have largely backed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE) America Act but are balking at an aggressive push to use a talking filibuster to ensure the legislation passes.
Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged Tuesday that he does not have the Republican votes needed to pass the election integrity legislation using a talking filibuster, noting he lacks the support “to proceed or get on a talking filibuster, nor to sustain one if we got on it.”
DOES NOT SUPPORT:
John Barrasso (WY)
John Boozman (AR)
Shelley Moore Capito (WV)
Susan Collins (ME)
Tom Cotton (AR)
Kevin Cramer (ND)
Mike Crapo (ID)
John Curtis (UT)
Steve Daines (MT)
Deb Fischer (NE)
Lindsey Graham (SC)
Chuck Grassley (IA)
John Hoeven (ND)
Jim Justice (WV)…— Mark Meadows (@MarkMeadows) March 10, 2026
He said it is “just a function of math” and there isn’t anything he can do about it, adding that Republicans have conveyed that to President Donald Trump — a vocal supporter of the legislation. (RELATED: Senate Republicans Have The Power To Force Democrats To Filibuster Voter ID — So Why Don’t They?)
The comments come as the SAVE Act has gained a number of Republican co-sponsors in the Senate. However, the measure has yet to be brought to the Senate floor for a vote after previously passing the House.
The Daily Caller reached out to Thune for comment and was referred to remarks he made during Tuesday’s Senate GOP stakeout, where the senator said he must be a “clear-eyed realist” about whether the legislation can ultimately be achieved.
“I think it’s important that everybody understand that this really is about, it’s about the votes, it’s about the math. And I’m, for better or worse, I’m the one who has to be the clear-eyed realist about what we can achieve here. And so we’ll continue to convey that,” Thune continued.
“And I think that we’re going to have the fight on the floor. We’re going to vote on this. We’re going to put it up, and we’ll give the Democrats the opportunity to cast their vote on whether or not they think noncitizens ought to vote in American elections,” he said in part.
🚨 BREAKING: Senate Leader John Thune says he is powerless to get the SAVE America Act passed through the talking filibuster, he doesn’t have the votes
“It’s about the votes, it’s about the math! I’m the one who has to be a clear-eyed realist about what we can achieve here.”… pic.twitter.com/piewxrEq6d
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 10, 2026
Several Republican senators have voiced support for both the legislation and the use of a talking filibuster — a strategy promoted by SAVE America Act sponsor Utah Sen. Mike Lee — to try to advance the SAVE America Act with a simple majority. (RELATED: GOP Sen. Bernie Moreno Outlines Why John Thune Struggles To Move SAVE America Act Forward)
The talking filibuster differs from the modern legislative filibuster because it does not eliminate the Senate’s 60-vote threshold or require changing — or nuking — the chamber’s rules. Instead, it forces senators to physically hold the floor to block legislation.
Under this approach, the majority can wear down the opposition through continuous debate and enforcement of the Senate’s two-speech rule, which limits each senator to two speeches on the same legislative question per legislative day. By keeping the Senate in continuous session and refusing to adjourn, the majority can prevent the minority from resetting those speech limits, gradually exhausting their ability to prolong debate.
On Wednesday, Trump was asked by a reporter during a press gaggle outside the White House about Thune’s statement regarding the lack of votes for the SAVE Act.
“Well, he’s gotta be a leader,” Trump said. “He’s the leader, he’s gotta get’em. It’s the most popular bill I have ever seen put before Congress.” (RELATED: Chuck Schumer Makes Massive Gaffe While Ramping Up Hysteria Against Voter Integrity Bill)
🚨 HOLY SMOKES. President Trump just LIT A FIRE under Senate Leader John Thune, demanding he “BE A LEADER” and go get the votes for the SAVE America Act
Q: Thune says he doesn’t have the votes.
TRUMP: “Well, HE’S GOTTA BE A LEADER! If he’s the leader, he’s gotta get ’em!”
“It… pic.twitter.com/H0xEPbasbF
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 11, 2026
Several Republican senators — including North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis — have expressed opposition to using a talking filibuster. Others, including Maine Sen. Susan Collins, Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, and Utah Sen. John Curtis, have not publicly voiced support for the strategy. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski opposes the SAVE Act, but says she supports voter ID.
The Caller reached out to Collins, Wicker, and Curtis regarding their support for the use of the talking filibuster but did not receive a response prior to publication. The Caller also reached out to Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell’s office, which did not comment on the senator’s position on the talking filibuster.
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