A Republican effort to attach a modified version of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) to a budget reconciliation package failed when a quartet of GOP senators joined with their Democrat colleagues to reject the amendment.
The common-sense election security measures that have the support of an overwhelming number of Americans and the backing of President Donald J. Trump remain stalled in the Senate, where it faces an uncertain fate.
The amendment, which was sponsored by Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), was defeated during the “vote-a-rama” early Thursday morning, with the usual suspects being the deciding votes in the 48-to-50 defeat, casting doubt on whether the Save America Act can be saved with the clock ticking down toward the midterms.
48-50: Senate voted against Louisiana GOP Senator John Kennedy’s effort to include elements of the SAVE America Act, the GOP voter ID and citizenship requirements legislation, as part of the filibuster-proof reconciliation bill. Republican Senators Collins, McConnell, Murkowski,… pic.twitter.com/i1b85s4dth
— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) April 23, 2026
Jumping ship on their party were Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), all of whom have been a constant thorn in Trump’s side.
“I think we ought to go back to having an Election Day and not an election month,” Kennedy declared from the Senate floor.
“I respect everybody in this body, everybody,” the Louisiana Republican who is famous for his homespun wit said. “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.”
And the “ignorant sluts” came through again – for the Democrats.
The vote was another disappointment for Trump, who has insisted that the SAVE America Act be passed, emphasizing that 81 percent of Americans want voter ID.
It’s common sense: U.S. elections should be for U.S. citizens only.
Pass the SAVE America Act. pic.twitter.com/Z3xyb05MEA
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 21, 2026
Kennedy’s effort was complicated by the legislation not being specifically crafted to pass through reconciliation, but he gave it a shot anyway.
“Some say it can’t be done under the Budget Act and under the Byrd Rule and reconciliation. And you know what? They may be right. But you know what else? They can’t predict the future. They’re not clairvoyant,” he said before it went down to defeat.
Had the amendment not been thwarted by McConnell and friends, it would have allowed the SAVE Act to be passed with a simple majority vote rather than a filibuster-proof majority.
“Had Kennedy’s bid been successful, it could have instructed the Senate Rules Committee to craft legislation that would require voter ID to register and cast ballots in federal elections, limit voting to Election Day only and require that ballots be counted within 36 hours of an election,” Fox News reported.
Democrats have dug in to protect their election rigging racket with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) playing the race card by claiming the Save America Act is “reminiscent of Jim Crow laws” and insisting that “nothing is more important than defeating this dagger to the heart of democracy.”
And Schumer has an ace in the hole – four of them.
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