A Republican intraparty clash broke out on social media between Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Mike Lee (R-UT) over the SAVE Act, with Cornyn arguing the bill lacks the votes to advance and warning that GOP infighting is damaging the party’s political prospects.Cornyn, who is serving his final months in the Senate after losing his Texas primary to Trump-backed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, has increasingly used his platform to criticize party strategy and leadership.The exchange began with Lee pressing colleagues to stay focused on passing the legislation through sustained effort, even if it required time-consuming procedural work and internal discipline.
The SAVE Act, which would require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections, passed in the House earlier this year, but remains stalled in the Senate. Cornyn rejected the idea that more effort alone could move the legislation forward, framing the fight as a matter of math.
“Mike, I am a co-sponsor and have repeatedly voted for this but you don’t have the votes,” Cornyn wrote. “[Senate Majority] @LeaderJohnThune can’t change that. It is math.”
He added that Republicans should focus their fire on Democrats rather than internal disputes. “Republican on Republican attacks are hurting our chances to win the majority in November,” he wrote.
