Cornyn Reverses Filibuster Stance as Trump Pressures GOP on SAVE Act
Donald Trump’s push to pass the SAVE America Act is colliding with Senate rules and a Texas primary that could reshape the fight over the filibuster.
The House-passed bill would require proof of citizenship and photo ID to vote in federal elections, but it faces a 60-vote Senate threshold that Republicans currently cannot meet. According to AP News and other outlets, Trump has demanded Republicans prioritize the bill and even called for scrapping the filibuster to get it through.
That pressure is now reshaping Republican politics.
Texas Sen. John Cornyn, long a defender of the filibuster, abruptly reversed course and said he would support changing Senate rules to pass the bill. The move came as Cornyn faces a runoff challenge from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, with Trump’s endorsement still undecided.
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According to reporting from the Houston Chronicle and Wall Street Journal, the reversal is widely viewed as an attempt to align with Trump’s agenda and secure support from the former president.
But Senate Majority Leader John Thune and several Republicans say eliminating the filibuster would damage Senate rules and they insist the votes aren’t there.
The result is a high-stakes standoff where a Texas Senate race, Trump’s endorsement power, and the Senate’s most controversial rule are suddenly tied together.
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