Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday he does not expect the Senate to pass President Donald Trump's top election bill before lawmakers leave Washington for the August recess, casting doubt on the legislation despite an ongoing push by Trump and several Senate Republicans.
"The chances of the Senate passing the federal SAVE Act before recess are basically zero," DeSantis wrote on X. "Happy to be wrong about this but I don't think I am."
The Republican governor made the comments after an X user urged him to encourage Congress to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act, which would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote, photo identification to cast a ballot, and impose additional restrictions on mail voting.
I think the chance the Senate actually passes a real SAVE Act before the August break is basically zero. Happy to be wrong about this but I don’t think I am. https://t.co/VUU5mqPQYb
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) July 28, 2026
DeSantis also responded to another user that he had already signed a Florida version of the measure into law and argued that supporting other policy priorities did not conflict with backing the federal bill.
Well, for one thing, I’ve already signed the SAVE Act for Florida.
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) July 28, 2026
Second, I’m the vice-chair of President Trump’s college sports committee and our goal was to help facilitate fixes to transfer portal, eligibility and NIL, which is being done. Why would I not want to see the… https://t.co/QUvHIN8Saz
His remarks come as Trump intensifies pressure on Senate Majority Leader John Thune to cancel the chamber's scheduled August recess until the SAVE America Act reaches his desk. Trump has repeatedly urged Republicans to remain in session and has also called on Thune to eliminate or bypass the Senate filibuster to advance the legislation.
A group of Senate Republicans, led by Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, has echoed that demand, with Sens. Rick Scott, Ashley Moody and Jim Banks saying they are willing to forgo the five-week recess to continue debating the bill.
Despite the pressure, the legislation remains well short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a Democratic filibuster. Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority, and no Senate Democrat supports the measure. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called the proposal "Jim Crow 2.0" and said it is "dead on arrival" in the chamber.
Some Republicans have also questioned the bill's prospects. Sen. Thom Tillis has argued that implementing new nationwide voting rules so close to the 2026 midterm elections would create unnecessary disruption and has described the legislation as "dead" unless supporters can secure bipartisan backing.
The SAVE America Act has failed multiple times in the Senate, including unsuccessful attempts to advance it as standalone legislation and to attach it to a budget reconciliation package. Although the House recently approved a budget framework containing funding for voting-related changes aligned with the proposal, Thune has said Republicans currently lack the votes to move it through either legislative path.
