Thune: Republicans will use SAVE Act in midterms if Democrats don’t get ‘on board’

The Hill
by Alexander Bolton
March 18, 2026
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3 min read

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Senate Majority Leader Thune says Republicans will use SAVE Act opposition as a midterm campaign issue against Democrats.

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune says Republicans will use Democratic opposition to the SAVE Act as a campaign issue in the midterm elections if Democrats don't support the voting reform bill currently on the Senate floor. The SAVE America Act would require documented proof of citizenship, such as passports, for voter registration. Thune's statement signals the GOP plans to make voting requirements and election security central to their midterm messaging. The bill represents a significant partisan divide, with Republicans framing it as election security and Democrats likely opposing it as an obstacle to voter participation. The legislation's fate in the Senate will likely shape both parties' campaign narratives heading into the fall elections.

What's Being Done

Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced Republicans plan to make Democratic opposition to the SAVE Act a central campaign message in midterm elections.

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