Rep. James Comer accused Republican senators of being too “weak” to pass the SAVE America Act, after the bill stalled in the Senate despite moving through the House and drawing opposition from four Republicans who joined Democrats last month.
For Comer, the frustration is personal—and it comes with a blunt question. On Sunday, Kentucky Republican Rep. James Comer turned on what he called “weak” behavior among his own party’s senators when it comes to the SAVE America Act.
During an appearance on Fox News’ The Big Weekend Show. Comer asked Republican senators whether they were so unwilling to act that they would “vote for a valid ID to be shown to vote” and still get “beat in your home state.” Then he escalated the challenge: “I mean. if you’re that weak you don’t need to be a United States senator.”.
The SAVE America Act, Comer’s critics say, is a direct push to reshape federal election rules. The proposal would require voters to show a valid ID and provide proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections. It would also limit mail-in voting. making it only available to Americans with a disability. an illness. and those who are in the military or traveling.
President Donald Trump has publicly backed the legislation, insisting it should be passed heading into the 2026 midterms.
Comer’s complaint is that the bill’s path has stalled at the moment it matters most. He pointed to the fact that the SAVE America Act has already moved through the House, but has “stalled several times in the Senate.”
Last month, the pressure intensified when four Republicans—Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)—joined Democrats in voting against it.
Comer then went after Senate leadership for what he described as an absence of votes. When asked for an update on the legislation by co-host Joey Jones. Comer said he was hearing that Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson were not communicating in a way that could move the bill forward.
“Unless [Senate Majority Leader] John Thune is talking exclusively with [House Speaker] Mike Johnson, all that I’m hearing from the senate leadership is that they don’t have the votes,” Comer said.
He followed up with a claim that went beyond simple math. Comer said leadership doesn’t just lack the 60 votes typically needed for a filibuster—adding that he was hearing they “don’t have 50 votes,” which he said he “don’t believe that.”
What Comer emphasized next was public support. He said polls show both Republican and Democratic voters overwhelmingly favor voter ID requirements. A 2025 Pew survey, Comer said, found 71% of Democrats and 95% of Republicans are in favor of voter ID.
He closed by framing the issue as one of trust in election integrity. “I hope that the Senate will get it together and figure out somethin’ that we can pass to give the American people confidence in the integrity of the elections,” Comer said.
James Comer SAVE America Act voter ID proof of citizenship mail-in voting John Thune Mike Johnson Susan Collins Lisa Murkowski Thom Tillis Mitch McConnell 2026 midterms Pew survey
So Collins and Murkowski are just fake republicans now? Wild.
I feel like this is just gonna be another way to stop people from voting, idk. Like “valid ID” sounds simple until your DMV is backed up for months. Also mail-in already got enough drama.
Wait, I thought they said it’s ONLY for Americans with disabilities and illness? That part sounds messed up. How is that supposed to be about election integrity if they’re limiting who can even vote by mail or something. Maybe I read that wrong.
Comer’s calling senators weak but he’s the one pushing for more hoops. If Trump backs it then it’s probably about 2026 and not really “valid ID” like they pretend. And Kentucky too? McConnell voting against his own party always feels like a personal betrayal even if it’s “just politics.”