The South Dakota Freedom Caucus said the group “stands firm” in support of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act, sharing several X posts directed at U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD).
“Stay on the bill. Deliver the SAVE America Act,” the group posted, with a photo of Sen. Thune. “Voter I.D. No citizens. No votes.”
“The caucus stands firm,” said the post. “We demand voter integrity.”
The group also shared a post in which South Dakota Freedom Caucus Vice Chair Sen. John Carley (R-29) discussed the South Dakota Senate’s passage of election integrity legislation.
“Senator Thune, are you paying attention?” said the post. “The SD Freedom Caucus is getting it done while you drag your heels on the SAVE America Act.”
The posts come as Restoration of America launched a nationwide advertising campaign urging the U.S. Senate to pass the SAVE America Act, which has stalled in the U.S. Senate.
According to Fox News, Restoration of America’s initiative includes a $5 million nationwide advertising push, which features a $3.1 million national television buy, as GOP leaders consider incorporating portions of the bill into a larger legislative package later this year.
The Senate bill, introduced on January 30, 2026, is an expanded version of the earlier SAVE Act.
Its provisions include a requirement for photo identification to vote in federal elections, proof of citizenship to register to vote, and enhanced measures for states to remove non-citizens from voter rolls. Supporters say the legislation is intended to strengthen election integrity ahead of the 2026 election cycle, according to Senator Mike Lee’s office.
On March 26, a Senate cloture vote related to voter ID provisions in the SAVE America Act failed 53–47, falling short of the 60 votes needed to advance the legislation. According to official Senate records, South Dakota U.S. Senators John Thune (R) and Mike Rounds (R) voted in favor of advancing the measure.
As Senate Majority Leader, Thune controls which legislation is brought to the Senate floor for consideration. He has not scheduled a vote on the measure, citing concerns that it would be blocked by a Democratic filibuster. Some Republican senators, including Ron Johnson (WI), have called for a vote to change Senate rules and eliminate the filibuster, but no such vote has been brought forward.
President Donald Trump (R) told reporters last week that Thune has “got to be a leader” to whip the votes necessary to pass the bill, reported the Washington Examiner.
“He’s got to be a leader. He’s the leader, he’s got to get them,” said Trump.
Restoration of America describes itself as an umbrella organization for a network of conservative entities, including a 501(c)(4), a 501(c)(3), a political action committee and the Voter Reference Foundation. The network focuses on issue advocacy, election integrity initiatives, media projects and broader political infrastructure efforts, according to its website.
