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Mike Lee: Expect ‘hybrid version’ of talking filibuster ahead of SAVE America Act vote

March 14, 2026 | | Print Article

Tempering expectations on election integrity, Utah Sen. Mike Lee (R) gave an update on talks with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R) and what to expect, having “turned kind of a corner.”

“… let’s not get mired down in nomenclature.”

After considerable hemming and hawing from RINOs in the Senate, including politically expedient posturing to voice favor after the bill appeared dead on arrival — like an op-ed from the primary-challenged Texas Sen. John Cornyn (R) — the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act looked to be on the way to the floor for a vote.

However, those hopeful about seeing the zombie filibuster laid to rest, forcing Democrats to hold their ground “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”-style against voter ID measures widely supported by constituents on either side of the aisle, faced a letdown as Lee detailed an expected “hybrid version” on the horizon.

“Important update on the SAVE America Act and the effort to get it passed. Look, I am guardedly optimistic. We’ve turned kind of a corner,” said the senator in a video posted to social media Friday. “Over the last few days there’s been some uncertainty about exactly what procedure we will be and will not be using.”

“In the end,” continued Lee, “we’ve been working closely with Leader Thune and his staff, and they’ve been great to work with. What we’re coming up with is something that I think is best described as a hybrid version of the talking filibuster.”

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Given steadfast opposition from the likes of Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R), North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis (R) and other GOP senators, as well as Thune’s own statements on the lacking support from RINOS to sustain a talking filibuster as “just a function of math,” it appeared messaging was shifting even among some stalwarts to claim a win at bringing the bill to the floor and having Democrats speak out against it before it fails to pass the 60-vote threshold.

“But look, let’s not get mired down in nomenclature. What matters far more than what we call it is what we do with it. We’re gonna bring it to the floor. We’re gonna debate it for an extended period of time before filing cloture,” expressed Lee. “In my view at least — I don’t wanna speak for anyone else — this bill needs to remain on the Senate floor, before we file cloture on the bill, for as long as it takes to get it done.”

In concluding his update, the Utah lawmaker called for the momentum to be sustained while resetting expectations that the bill be debated to get Democrat opposition on the record regarding election integrity measures.

That said, social media users remained unsatisfied by the apparent political theater, and many had shifted gears to calling for Thune to be ousted as leader with hopes that someone like Lee, or even Vice President J.D. Vance, would take his place.

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Kevin Haggerty
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