Senate Fails to Advance SAVE Act In DHS Funding Package
A divided Republican conference in the Senate dealt a setback to President Donald J. Trump’s election integrity agenda early Thursday morning, rejecting an effort to attach key provisions of the SAVE America Act to a major Department of Homeland Security funding package.
In a closely watched vote during the Senate’s overnight “vote-a-rama,” several establishment Republicans broke ranks, joining Democrats to block the amendment. Sens. Thom Tillis, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, and Mitch McConnell—all frequent critics of the president—voted against advancing the proposal, aligning with every Democrat in the chamber.
The amendment, a modified version of the SAVE America Act, ultimately failed 48–50, underscoring concerns among conservatives that elements within the GOP continue to resist meaningful election reforms despite widespread voter demand for stronger safeguards.
The vote took place during the Senate’s marathon amendment session, where lawmakers can introduce a broad array of proposals regardless of their direct relevance to the underlying legislation. While the move was seen as a strategic attempt to force a vote on election integrity measures tied to immigration enforcement funding, it fell short amid internal party fractures.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune had attempted to maneuver the measure forward, while Sen. John Kennedy took a leading role in pushing a revised version of the bill. Kennedy even signaled his willingness to delay proceedings to force consideration.
Acknowledging potential procedural hurdles under Senate reconciliation rules—particularly the Byrd Rule—Kennedy brushed off critics who argued his proposal might not pass muster.
“I respect everybody in this body, everybody,” Kennedy said on the Senate floor. “If you vote against this bill, I’m not going to say a word. And I’m sure as hell not going to go on social media and call you an ignorant slut. That’s not the way I roll, unless I’m pushed too far.”
Kennedy’s proposal would have directed the Senate Rules Committee to draft legislation mandating voter ID for federal elections, restricting voting to Election Day, and requiring ballots to be counted within 36 hours—all cornerstone reforms long championed by conservatives. The plan also included a $10 billion cap for implementation.
The committee, chaired by McConnell, would have been tasked with crafting the final legislative language.
Despite expressing support for the broader goals of the SAVE America Act, Collins declined to back this specific version. Murkowski and Tillis similarly opposed the measure. Notably, both Tillis and McConnell are expected to retire following the upcoming midterm elections, raising questions about the future direction of GOP leadership.
President Trump has remained unwavering in his stance, previously pledging to reject any legislation that does not include robust election integrity provisions and warning against watered-down compromises.
The failed amendment comes as the Senate’s focus has shifted in recent weeks toward high-stakes reconciliation battles, debates over surveillance authorities, and escalating tensions abroad—including the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Still, Trump’s allies in Congress show no signs of backing down in their push to secure stricter election laws.
On foreign policy, both House Speaker Mike Johnson and McConnell voiced support for President Trump’s posture toward Iran, even as critics—including Pope Leo XIV—raised concerns about the escalating conflict.
“They’ve been at war with us for 47 years,” McConnell said. “They’ve killed Americans. They’ve killed Israelis. They’ve killed throughout the Middle East. They’re bad guys.”
While McConnell acknowledged uncertainty about how the conflict will ultimately conclude, he noted that Iran’s capabilities have been “significantly diminished.”
Johnson, meanwhile, invoked longstanding Christian doctrine to defend U.S. military actions, describing them as consistent with the principles of a “just war.”
As the Senate remains gridlocked, the battle over election integrity—and the broader direction of the Republican Party—appears far from settled.