Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) has publicly declared the SAVE America Act—a key election integrity measure requiring proof of citizenship and photo ID for voting—to be more vital than preserving the longstanding filibuster rule.
It's a remarkable shift, as the congressman still seeks an endorsement from President Trump in his hotly contested primary runoff against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R).
Cornyn's evolution comes in the form of a New York Post op-ed published on Wednesday. In it, he notes his prior defense of the 60-vote threshold, but comes to the realization that Democrats, should they regain the majority, will assuredly "nuke" the filibuster to ram through their own extreme agenda.
And, he notes, they're currently using the rules to stifle an agenda that the American people support.
"When the reality on the ground changes, leaders must take stock and adapt," writes Cornyn. "Today, Democrats are weaponizing the Senate’s rules to block the SAVE America Act, defund the Department of Homeland Security, and hurt the American people — all to spite President Donald Trump."
Zero lies detected.
CORNYN has a new op ed saying the SAVE America Act is more important than the filibuster.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) March 11, 2026
“For many years, I believed that if the US Senate scrapped the filibuster, Texas and our nation would stand to lose more than we would gain.
“My fellow conservatives and I have proudly…
READ MORE: Trump Tells Senate GOP He's Not Signing Any Other Legislation Until SAVE America Act Is Passed
Why Are Democrats Trying to Protect Illegals at Polling Places? GOP Senator Demands Answers
Cornyn went on to point out that Democrats had previously sought to scrap the filibuster in an effort "to increase election fraud."
The SAVE America Act, by contrast, would eliminate a good percentage of election fraud.
"It would make it easy to vote but harder to cheat, by requiring proof of citizenship and voter ID," the senator writes. "These basic, commonsense protections are massively popular with the American people — and the fact that the radical left apparently sees them as such a threat to their chances in November truly gives their game away."
We know all of this. Is this revelation too little, too late for Cornyn? Critics couldn't help but notice the timing of Cornyn's pivot as the President has held off on an endorsement in his primary runoff, most notably Paxton himself.
"John Cornyn did exactly what I predicted," the AG mocked on X. "In one week, I've made him more conservative than in the past 24 years. The historic flip-flop's great and all, but why aren't you calling out your buddies like McConnell opposing the (SAVE America Act)?"
John Cornyn did exactly what I predicted. In one week, I've made him more conservative than in the past 24 years.
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) March 11, 2026
The historic flip-flop's great and all, but why aren't you calling out your buddies like McConnell opposing the bill?
Tell the American people who's opposing this. pic.twitter.com/kVjqUxkuL5
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has come out against the "talking filibuster" as a means to get the Act passed. Cornyn voiced support for that tactic over the weekend.
Cornyn contends that critics who suggest he's pivoting on the filibuster to curry favor with the President are wrong.
"I've always been open to it," he said in an interview with the Washington Examiner, addressing the talking filibuster. "I think, because there were people misrepresenting my position, I felt like it would be good to just be very clear."
Not having a murky stance on the SAVE America Act is Paxton himself, whose position regarding the importance of the election integrity legislation has not wavered. In fact, he's willing to stake his future on it.
"The Save America Act is the most important bill the U.S. Senate could ever pass, and I'm committed to helping President Trump get it done," he said on X. "I would consider dropping out of this race if Senate Leadership agrees to lift the filibuster and passes the SAVE America Act."
In a new statement, Paxton hammered Cornyn for his pivot on the filibuster.
"You attacked the talking filibuster as not 'feasible' days ago. In October, you refused to help the President abolish the filibuster and said 'it's a nonstarter,'" he said. "Texas deserves better than someone who only does the right thing when desperately trying to save themself."
You attacked the talking filibuster as not "feasible" days ago.
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) March 11, 2026
In October, you refused to help the President abolish the filibuster and said "it's a nonstarter."
Texas deserves better than someone who only does the right thing when desperately trying to save themself. https://t.co/B718djZ08H
Cornyn's 'adaptation' on the SAVE America Act is the true non-starter. He has zero chance of getting Trump's endorsement if he doesn't do everything he can to get it passed.
The President, in an interview with NBC News, said he's “not happy it's (the Act) not moving” and that he has “expressed that to everyone.”
“It supersedes everything else," he later added on Truth Social.
"After careful consideration, I support whatever changes to Senate rules that may prove necessary for us to get the SAVE America Act and homeland security funding past the Democrats’ obstruction, through the Senate, and on the president’s desk for his signature," Cornyn writes.
Editor's Note: The Democrats are doing everything in their power to undermine the integrity of our elections.
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