Thune 'Pessimistic' About Winning Democratic Support for SAVE Act

Senate Minority Leader says voter registration reform bill faces uphill battle in Congress.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 11:52pm

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Senate Minority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) expressed doubt that the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act, a voter registration reform bill, will receive enough Democratic support to pass the Senate. Thune told Fox News he is "always pessimistic that Democrats are actually going to come to their senses" and support the legislation, which would require voters to show proof of citizenship when registering and photo ID when voting.

Why it matters

The SAVE Act is a top legislative priority for former President Trump, but it faces an uphill battle in the Senate where it needs 60 votes to overcome a filibuster. Thune's comments suggest the bill may struggle to gain bipartisan support, raising questions about the future of voter registration laws and election security measures.

The details

The SAVE Act would mandate that voters provide documented proof of citizenship when registering to vote and display photo ID when casting their ballots. Thune acknowledged the bill would need support from at least seven Democrats to reach the 60-vote threshold, something he expressed skepticism about. The majority leader said he is hopeful Democrats could be "won over" during the debate period, but Democratic leaders like Chuck Schumer have vowed to block the legislation.

  • The Senate debate on the SAVE Act began on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

The players

John Thune

Senate Minority Leader from South Dakota who expressed doubts about the SAVE Act's chances of passing the Senate.

Chuck Schumer

Senate Minority Leader from New York who said Democrats will not allow the SAVE Act to pass the Senate.

Donald Trump

Former President who has made the SAVE Act a top legislative priority.

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What they’re saying

“I'm always pessimistic that Democrats are actually going to come to their senses and do what common sense would dictate they do, and that is support this.”

— John Thune, Senate Minority Leader

“Senate Democrats will NOT allow the SAVE Act to pass through the Senate, no matter how long it takes.”

— Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader

What’s next

The Senate will continue debating the SAVE Act over the coming days and weeks, with Thune hoping some Democrats can be "won over" despite Schumer's vow to block the legislation.

The takeaway

The SAVE Act faces an uphill battle in the Senate, with the Republican minority leader expressing doubts about gaining enough Democratic support to overcome a filibuster. This highlights the partisan divide over voter registration and election security measures, and the challenges Congress faces in enacting sweeping electoral reforms.