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Senate Republicans say they now have enough support to advance voter ID legislation backed by President Donald Trump, though the proposal still faces procedural and political obstacles in the chamber.
The Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act has secured backing from 50 Republican senators after weeks of lobbying by the White House and a group of conservative lawmakers. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah has led the push in the Senate, intensifying efforts as the bill moved through the House.
“I would love to see us turn to it next week, perhaps the day after the State of the Union address,” Lee said, according to Fox News. “I think that would be good timing. But I think this needs to get done sooner rather than later.”
The lobbying effort, which included both public messaging and closed-door meetings, helped draw support from Senate Majority Leader John Thune and several other Republicans. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine became the 50th Republican to back the bill, giving supporters enough internal votes to advance it procedurally if they pursue a standing, or talking, filibuster strategy.
Before leaving Washington for a weeklong recess, Lee and other supporters, including Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Rick Scott of Florida, pitched the legislation and discussed possible paths to passage with colleagues.
Despite Republican momentum, the proposal faces strong opposition from Senate Democrats, who have vowed to block it. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has said Democrats will resist the bill, arguing it could restrict voting access.
“We will not let it pass in the Senate,” Schumer told CNN’s Jake Tapper. “We are fighting it tooth and nail.”
Not all Republicans support the measure. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has said she will vote against it, while Sens. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina have not signed on as co-sponsors.
Some Republicans have suggested bypassing Democratic opposition by using a talking filibuster instead of eliminating the Senate’s 60-vote threshold outright. Under that approach, senators opposing the bill would be required to remain on the floor, rather than simply blocking the measure by withholding votes. Supporters argue it could allow the legislation to move forward, while critics say it could tie up Senate business for weeks with no guarantee of success.