Senate Majority Leader John Thune is currently navigating a difficult path to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, despite the bill clearing the House last month. Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno highlighted these challenges during a Tuesday appearance on “The Ingraham Angle,” pointing to a lack of party unity as the primary obstacle.
The legislation, which mandates documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for federal election registration, passed the Republican-controlled House in February 2026 with a narrow 218–213 vote. However, the bill now sits in a Senate where Republicans lack the 60 votes necessary to bypass a filibuster.
Moreno noted that Thune’s position is complicated by a small group of Republican senators who are prioritizing individual agendas over the party’s collective goals. “He can’t fire. He didn’t hire these people,” Moreno said. “And, unfortunately, Laura, I’m just going to be blunt. There’s three or four Republicans that just won’t be part of the team, and they’re rowing their own different direction.”
The Ohio senator emphasized that because senators are independently elected, leadership has few tools to force compliance. “Leader Thune has very little leverage over them. Now, we’re working through it,” he added.
Pressure to pass the measure has intensified following repeated calls from President Donald Trump, who has identified the SAVE Act as a cornerstone of his administration’s effort to overhaul election laws.
This pressure has extended to the campaign trail; reports indicate that the President is withholding his endorsement in the Texas Senate GOP primary to signal his frustration with the legislative standstill.
Despite the current friction, Moreno expressed a degree of optimism following a “spirited” Tuesday lunch among Republican members. He suggested that internal dialogue is moving toward a consensus on the importance of the bill.
“I think we’re getting closer to having people realize how important it is for us to deliver on a fundamental promise,” Moreno stated, noting that while Thune is personally calling holdouts to negotiate, the lack of leverage remains a significant hurdle for the majority leader.
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