Exclusive: SAVE Act hangs in the balance as Republican Study Committee pushes for Senate passage



While the Senate continues stalling the commonsense SAVE Act, the Republican Study Committee members are pressuring their colleagues to send the bill to President Donald Trump's desk.

The House passed the SAVE Act for the second time in April, but the Senate has yet to schedule a vote to pass the bill. Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas originally spearheaded the legislation, which would simply require proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in federal elections.

'American elections should be fair and free, not subject to foreign influence.'

Since then, dozens of RSC members have been pressuring the Senate to hold a vote, telling Blaze News that "the Senate must do their job."

"Voting in American elections is a right reserved for American citizens, and the House did our job by passing the SAVE Act months ago to secure it," RSC Chairman August Pfluger (Texas) told Blaze News. "We're already a full year into the 119th Congress, and the American people are still waiting for the Senate to deliver what we promised them in 2024. They sent us here to get things done, not to make excuses."

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Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call Inc. via Getty Images

"This is a commonsense reform with broad public support from Americans who want elections that are free, fair, and secure," Roy told Blaze News. "Now it's time for the Senate to act. All it takes is 51 Republicans willing to demand a vote. And if Democrats choose to filibuster, they can explain to the American people why they believe noncitizens should be allowed to vote. That is a debate we will win every time."

Roy and Pfluger secured the backing of dozens of colleagues, including RSC Vice Chair Ben Cline of Virginia and Republican Reps. Mark Alford of Missouri; Riley Moore of West Virginia; Kat Cammack of Florida; Andy Harris of Maryland; Andy Ogles of Tennessee; Claudia Tenney of New York; Burgess Owens of Utah; Abe Hamadeh of Arizona; Anna Paulina Luna of Florida; Brandon Gill of Texas; John McGuire of Virginia; Robert Aderholt of Alabama; Mike Collins of Georgia; Eric Burlison of Missouri; Ralph Norman of South Carolina; Marlin Stutzman of Indiana; Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania; Mike Ezell of Mississippi; Russell Fry of South Carolina; Mark Harris of North Carolina; Buddy Carter of Georgia; Mike Kennedy of Utah; and Lance Gooden of Texas.

As Luna of Florida noted to Blaze News, "House Republicans are aligned."

"American elections should be fair and free, not subject to foreign influence," Gill told Blaze News. "Illegal aliens have no right to be in America, and they certainly shouldn't be voting."

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Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images

"We hear from the other side that voter ID is somehow racist," Owens told Blaze News, referring to common talking points peddled by Democrats. "That is nonsense. What is racist is assuming minorities can’t get an ID. That’s called the soft bigotry of low expectations, and it is wildly insulting. I’ve been a proud day-one co-sponsor of the SAVE Act."

"The longer the Senate waits, the longer this commonsense protection sits on the shelf," Pfluger told Blaze News. "Seven Democrat Senators must decide: Do they stand with Republicans in affirming that our elections are legal, fair, and only for American citizens, or don't they? The answer should be obvious. Pass this bill and get it to President Trump's desk."

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Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good Loses Contested Reelection Bid By 370 Votes, Recount Confirms

A Virgnia recount determined that Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good narrowly lost his reelection bid to former state Sen. John McGuire.

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Results showing narrow primary defeat for Rep. Bob Good certified, but the congressman wants a recount



The results for Virginia's 5th Congressional District Republican primary have been certified by the State Board of Elections, according to the Associated Press. The outlet has still not called the contest.

According to the results on enr.elections.virginia.gov, state Sen. John McGuire won the race by more than 300 votes, defeating incumbent U.S. Rep. Bob Good.

But Good, who chairs the House Freedom Caucus, wants a recount.

"Now that the preliminary certification of the primary election has concluded, we will move into a recount," a post on the @GoodForCongress X account states. "In a race with nearly 63,000 votes that is separated by a 0.6% margin, Republican voters across the 5th District deserve to know that all legal votes have been accurately counted. We will vigorously pursue that objective over the coming days and weeks, as permitted by Virginia law."

'Reminder that either way we have two left hands in politics'

Trump had endorsed McGuire in the primary while slamming Good as "BAD" for the state and the nation.

While Good endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president last year before DeSantis launched a White House bid, the congressman endorsed Trump when DeSantis dropped out of the GOP presidential primary this year.

Good has a 100% session score and a 100% lifetime score from Heritage Action.

"Reminder that either way we have two left hands in politics," Blaze Media's Daniel Horowitz tweeted.

Horowitz and other conservatives have been critical of Trump's endorsement track record.

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Bob Good Narrowly Loses Primary Bid Against Trump-Backed Challenger, Says He Will Push For A Recount

McGuire won by roughly 375 votes

'We believe we can still prevail': Bob Good's political fate hangs in the balance as GOP primary outcome remains uncertain



The outcome of the Republican primary in Virginia's 5th Congressional District remains uncertain, but the unofficial results so far indicate that Trump-backed state Sen. John McGuire holds a more than 300-vote lead over incumbent U.S. Rep. Bob Good.

"There are still a few votes left to count, but it's clear that all paths end with a victory," McGuire said in a tweet posted at 12:15 a.m. on Wednesday.

But the Associated Press has not yet called the contest, and Good, who serves as chair of the House Freedom Caucus, has not conceded.

'How do we 'Drain the swamp' ... if we crown someone king and refuse to gently rebuke that king ...'

"This race remains too close to call. We are in a period where the law provides a process for evaluating the accuracy of all the vote totals from election day to ensure everyone can have full confidence in the certified results. Provisional ballots and mail-in ballots are also still to be counted. We are asking for full transparency from the officials involved and patience from the people of the 5th District over the coming weeks as the certification of results is completed. We believe we can still prevail," Good tweeted.

Former President Donald Trump, the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee, had endorsed McGuire and claimed that Good is "BAD" for the state and the nation.

Blaze Media's Daniel Horowitz tweeted on Wednesday morning, "How do we 'Drain the swamp' and 'down with the uniparty' if we crown someone king and refuse to gently rebuke that king when he not only protects every uniparty dude but now goes after the few who aren't? What is the point of this?"

"Trump is king. He is king of the Republican Party. He is more than a powerful politician. He literally reigns over this motley crew," BlazeTV host Steve Deace said in a post on X. "And thus his subjects' behavior simply reflect his will. Good fell out of favor with the king, and since Trump is king it does not matter the merit of those reasons they just are, hence his court will now go and do likewise."

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Results of Republican primary between Rep. Bob Good and Trump-backed challenger John McGuire still unclear



The outcome of the Republican primary in Virginia's 5th Congressional District between incumbent Rep. Bob Good of Virginia and Trump-backed state Sen. John McGuire remains unclear, but unofficial results so far indicate that the race is quite close.

"Right now, we're still waiting on the final election results of today's Primary. As we wait, I wanted to thank you for your support thus far," Good tweeted late Tuesday night. "No matter the outcome, you've shown the DC Swamp that you won't back down from standing for what's right. Keep the faith and don't stop fighting now."

Good serves as chair of the House Freedom Caucus.

Former President Donald Trump, who is also the GOP's presumptive 2024 presidential nominee, had claimed that the congressman is "BAD" for the state and the nation, and endorsed McGuire.

'Bob Good is BAD FOR VIRGINIA, AND BAD FOR THE USA.'

But Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Mike Lee of Utah had both thrown their support behind Good.

Lee called Good "a true, proven, constitutional conservative."

Paul had said that Good "is THE liberty loving conservative in this race."

In 2020, Good defeated Trump-backed incumbent Rep. Denver Riggleman in a Republican convention.

Then, in 2022, Trump endorsed Good, calling the lawmaker "a proven conservative in Virginia's 5th District."

Good endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president in 2023 before the governor launched a Republican presidential primary bid. Then, in January, Good endorsed Trump when DeSantis dropped out of the primary.

But ahead of the 2024 primary in Good's district, Trump has been targeting the lawmaker for ouster.

"Bob Good is BAD FOR VIRGINIA, AND BAD FOR THE USA. He turned his back on our incredible movement, and was constantly attacking and fighting me until recently, when he gave a warm and 'loving' Endorsement - But really, it was too late. The damage had been done!" he declared in Truth Social posts. "I just want to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, and the person that can most help me do that is Navy Seal and highly respected State Legislator, John McGuire, a true American Hero."

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