Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) didn't hold back Tuesday, calling Sen. Mike Lee's (R-Utah) social media arguments for a procedural showdown on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act "bullshit," exposing sharp divisions within the Senate Republican Conference over how to advance the voting rights bill.
In a blunt exchange, Tillis dismissed Lee's call for Republicans to force Democrats to hold the floor in a continuous talking filibuster—a tactic that would require Democrats to block the bill through nonstop debate—as "goofy." Tillis said such a move is impractical and risks backfiring, comparing it to "a remake of a bad movie that just keeps on getting released."
Lee had argued on social media that Republicans should push for a full-fledged filibuster to pressure Democrats into publicly opposing the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship to vote. But Tillis countered that the strategy is unrealistic, given the Senate's tight schedule and the need for bipartisan cooperation on other priorities. The SAVE Act has stalled as the Senate shifts focus to a government funding deadline and looming Social Security benefit cuts that could reshape the political landscape.
The infighting comes as the GOP conference is already fractured over broader messaging on voting rights and election security. Tillis, a key negotiator on the bill, has pushed for a more pragmatic approach, while Lee, a staunch conservative, insists on forcing Democrats to go on record with their opposition. The tensions mirror similar splits in the Democratic Party, where Bernie Sanders' socialist blueprint has pushed centrists to the margins.
"I think it's silly. All of it's just goofy stuff," Tillis said, rejecting Lee's social media campaign as counterproductive. He argued that the GOP should focus on building a consensus rather than engaging in theatrical floor fights. The SAVE Act, which has passed the House, faces an uphill battle in the Senate, where Democrats have opposed it as a voter suppression measure.
Lee fired back on social media, accusing Tillis of "surrender" and insisting that Republicans must use every tool to force a debate on election integrity. The exchange underscores the challenge for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell as he tries to unify his conference ahead of the 2024 elections, where voting rights remain a central issue.
Political analysts note that the GOP's internal strife over the SAVE Act could hand Democrats a political weapon, especially as Fetterman warns the 'dirtbag left' gains signal party fracture after socialist wins in New York primaries. The debate over voter eligibility is likely to intensify as both parties gear up for the next electoral cycle.
For now, Tillis and Lee remain at odds, with no clear path forward for the SAVE Act in the Senate. The GOP conference is expected to huddle in the coming days to hash out a strategy, but the public spat suggests that unity may be elusive.
