U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), who just lost a heated GOP senatorial primary to Trump-endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, responded to Sen. Mike Lee‘s (R-UT) complaint about the stalled SAVE Act.
Lee wrote Friday on social media: “We will *not* regret putting in the hard work to pass the SAVE America Act—even though it will take weeks, requiring hard work. We will regret *not* passing it. Are the long weekends and recesses really worth losing our country? Of course not. @LeaderJohnThune, let’s do this!”
[NOTE: President Trump on Wednesday endorsed a third $350 billion reconciliation bill, urging Congress to “IMMEDIATELY” pass it with the SAVE Act included.]
Cornyn replied to Lee: “Mike, I am a co-sponsor and have repeatedly voted for this but you don’t have the votes. @LeaderJohnThune can’t change that. It is math. Try focusing on Democrats instead of Republicans. Republican on Republican attacks are hurting our chances to win the majority in November.”
Mike, I am a co-sponsor and have repeatedly voted for this but you don’t have the votes. @LeaderJohnThune can’t change that. It is math. Try focusing on Democrats instead of Republicans. Republican on Republican attacks are hurting our chances to win the majority in November. https://t.co/pPsx67mkii
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) June 12, 2026
Several pro-Trump supporters have replied to Cornyn with the message, “This is why you lost,” and are suggesting that Senate Leader Thune should resign if he can’t get enough votes to pass the SAVE Act.
Lee replied, “On what planet is this an attack on Republicans? We have majority support for the bill. In this rare circumstance, we should put it on the floor and keep debating it until it passes. That’s not an attack on Republicans. That’s a plan of attack against voter fraud.”
[NOTE: Cornyn continues to warn Republicans about the possibility of losing the upcoming midterms. On Friday, he amplified a new Texas A&M University Bush School of Government and Public Service poll. As nonpartisan political analyst Charlie Cook wrote: “Besides Ohio, look at this new Texas poll. When a Republican President, and a Republican Vice President, a GOP Texas Governor and both Republican Senators are all underwater in favorability in an independent poll, something is going on.”]
Besides Ohio, look at this new Texas poll. When a Republican President, and a Republican Vice President, a GOP Texas Governor and both Republican Senators are all underwater in favorability in an independent poll, something is going on. https://t.co/4mOzTb5R9k
— Charlie Cook (@CharlieCookDC) June 11, 2026