Sen. John Kennedy on the SAVE Act’s Prospects

Republican Senator John Kennedy from Louisiana expressed optimism on Monday regarding the passage of the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE) in Congress, despite some obstacles ahead.

A coalition of Republican lawmakers, spearheaded by Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna, has urged House Republican leaders to include an updated version of the SAVE Act in the upcoming spending package to secure their support. In an interview on “The Will Cain Show,” Kennedy was asked about the election integrity bill’s chances in the Republican-majority House and Senate. He conveyed confidence but acknowledged existing challenges.

“Most Republicans would likely vote in favor, and I would too,” Kennedy noted. “However, there are some unpredictable members within the Republican ranks. We might need to rein them in. The real question is how Democrats would vote if they choose to support it. There’s some maneuvering to do, but I don’t see it as an impossible task.”

The SAVE Act mandates that states verify citizenship before allowing individuals to register for federal elections. The House passed the bill in April 2025 with a narrow margin of 220 to 208 votes, with only four Democrats voting alongside Republicans.

Recognizing the importance of election integrity, Republican Senator Mike Lee from Utah, the bill’s Senate sponsor, remarked when it was reintroduced in January, “Public confidence in our elections is crucial for the legitimacy of our democracy. A significant majority believes that only American citizens should register and vote in our elections.”

Nonetheless, the bill could face a significant hurdle in the Senate. Luna indicated that the SAVE Act might struggle to pass as an individual measure due to the requirement for a 60-vote threshold to overcome a filibuster. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer labeled the bill a “poison pill,” suggesting that any legislation including it would face opposition from his team.

The discussion surrounding the SAVE Act gained momentum this week, as some House Republicans pushed for it to be attached to the government funding package. Former President Donald Trump encouraged lawmakers to pass the spending bill without alterations, which proved challenging for conservatives pushing for a Senate vote on the election integrity measure. Senate Minority Leader John Thune mentioned last week that he supports the bill and aims to bring it to the floor once it passes out of committee.