South Dakota Republican delegates voted against a proposal to censure Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) during the state party convention on Friday. The resolution accused Thune of obstructing President Donald Trump’s election agenda related to the stalled SAVE America Act, which aims to impose strict voting requirements. Although the measure advanced from the party’s Resolutions Committee, it did not pass in the full convention.
The SAVE America Act seeks to implement proof-of-citizenship and photo ID requirements for voters, which voting rights advocates argue could hinder millions of eligible Americans from registering. Trump has intensified calls for Republicans to pass the bill, recently canceling a planned signing ceremony for a bipartisan housing affordability bill until the SAVE America Act is addressed.
Thune noted the difficulty in moving forward with the bill due to a lack of votes, stating, "We don’t have the votes, either to proceed to a talking filibuster nor to sustain one if we got one." The situation highlights the ongoing internal conflict within the Republican Party regarding voting restrictions as the midterm elections approach.