Senate Republicans breathed new life into the SAVE America Act late Monday, even after a string of setbacks and a revolt from several GOP senators threatened to leave the election integrity measure stalled for good.
The fight unfolded during the Senate’s overnight “vote-a-rama” on Republicans’ $70 billion immigration enforcement package, where lawmakers made two separate attempts to attach the SAVE America Act, a House-passed measure backed by President Donald Trump that would require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections.
Both efforts ultimately failed because they needed to overcome the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster hurdle, but one of the votes gave conservatives fresh optimism.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., first tried to add a revised version of the SAVE America Act that included several provisions Trump had pushed for months, including a ban on men competing in women’s sports.
That proposal ran into opposition from four Republicans. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., joined Democrats in voting against the amendment, denying Republicans even the 50 votes they would have needed to begin a talking filibuster strategy.
A second attempt led by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, fared better.
Collins switched her vote and backed the original SAVE America Act, allowing the amendment to reach 50 votes. With Vice President JD Vance available to cast a tie-breaking vote, conservatives argued the bill would have cleared the chamber if not for Senate rules.
Lee celebrated the outcome on X while the vote-a-rama continued.
“That means that but for the Zombie Filibuster, the House-passed SAVE America Act would now be on its way to the White House for President Trump’s signature,” Lee said.
The vote marked the strongest showing yet for legislation that has languished in the Senate for months despite strong support from conservatives and Trump allies.
Lawmakers like Lee have repeatedly urged Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., to force Democrats into a talking filibuster, arguing Republicans could eventually pass the bill with a simple majority.
Thune has resisted that approach out of concern that Democrats could use the process to flood the Senate with amendments aimed at reshaping the bill or undermining other pieces of Trump’s agenda.
Republicans staged an extended floor debate over the SAVE America Act in March, but momentum behind the effort faded in the months that followed.
Another option would be eliminating the legislative filibuster altogether, something Trump has called for at various points during his second term.
But Republicans remain divided on changing Senate rules, with several senators worried such a move would come back to haunt the party when Democrats eventually reclaim the majority.
Trump has also turned his attention to Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough after she ruled the SAVE America Act could not be included in the immigration package under reconciliation rules requiring only a simple majority.
The president has repeatedly urged Thune to remove her.
“We have every right to change her, and should do so, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump said on Truth Social. “As long as she’s there, we will never get our desperately needed, SAVE AMERICA ACT, approved, and put into full force and effect!”
Thune has shown little appetite for that option.
“That’s not a new request, as you all know, and as is typically the case, the parliamentarian, the rulings break both ways,” Thune said. “And, you know, we lose a few, we win a few, but that’s been true when Democrats have been in the majority, too.”
For now, the late-night vote gave supporters of the SAVE America Act something they have lacked for months: signs of life.
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