The SAVE Act moved past a major obstacle after two Republican senators who had not supported a plan to bypass the modern “zombie” filibuster reversed course.
What changed
Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), engaged in a tight primary with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, had not previously embraced the talking filibuster to advance the election-integrity bill.
The talking filibuster would require the minority to physically sustain debate under the two-speech limit rather than using the contemporary filibuster to block legislation without debate.
If used, Republicans could pass the SAVE Act with a simple 51-vote majority, which could include a vote from Vice President Vance.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) urged President Trump to endorse Cornyn in the Texas runoff as the clearest route to protecting the majority.
Paxton said he would remain in the race but vowed to drop out if Cornyn agreed to advance the talking filibuster to secure passage of the SAVE Act.
On Saturday, Cornyn stated on social media that he had supported the Save America Act from the start and that he would back the talking filibuster if that is what it takes, tagging President Donald Trump.
Contrary to fake news in the twitterverse: I have supported the Save America Act from day one. I will happily support the “talking filibuster” if that’s what it takes to pass this into law. @realDonaldTrump
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) March 7, 2026
Paxton welcomed the development in a social media post of his own, though he expressed doubt over his opponent’s sincerity as the attorney general posted on X.
Paxton added that Cornyn remained ‘too cowardly’ to abolish the filibuster or to call out his friend McConnell, and that the president deserved better.
Other supporters and obstacles
Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) also confirmed she would support a maneuver to quash the ‘zombie’ filibuster after reports to the contrary.
She said she has been working with Senator Mike Lee to find the votes and path forward to pass the SAVE America Act, which includes the talking filibuster.
The two confirmations are a significant shift, but final passage still faces resistance from senators like Thom Tillis, Susan Collins, Mitch McConnell, and Lisa Murkowski.
Their opposition means Republicans remain short of the votes needed without further defections or agreement on procedure.
What comes next
Leadership decisions and intra-party pressure will determine whether the talking filibuster is used and whether the SAVE Act reaches the president’s desk.
