Schumer Slams GOP Voting Bill as 'Jim Crow 2.0'

Senate Majority Leader doubles down on criticism despite Democratic voter support for new legislation.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic Senate Majority Leader from New York, has again compared the Republican-backed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act to the Jim Crow era of racial discrimination, despite the bill receiving support from some Democratic voters.

Why it matters

Schumer's strong rhetoric against the SAVE Act highlights the ongoing partisan divide over voting rights and election integrity, with Democrats accusing Republicans of trying to suppress minority voters while GOP supporters say the bill is necessary to ensure secure and fair elections.

The details

The SAVE Act, proposed by Republican lawmakers, includes provisions such as stricter voter ID requirements, limits on mail-in and early voting, and other measures that Democrats argue will make it harder for some citizens, particularly minorities, to cast their ballots.

  • Schumer made his latest comments criticizing the SAVE Act during a television interview on February 15, 2026.

The players

Chuck Schumer

The Democratic Senate Majority Leader from New York who has been a vocal critic of the Republican-backed SAVE Act, comparing it to the discriminatory Jim Crow laws of the past.

Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act

A Republican-proposed bill that includes stricter voter ID requirements, limits on mail-in and early voting, and other measures that Democrats argue will make it harder for some citizens to vote.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

The ongoing debate over the SAVE Act highlights the deep partisan divisions in the US over voting rights and election integrity, with both sides accusing the other of trying to gain political advantage through changes to voting laws.