Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) denied Wednesday that he reversed his stance on the Senate filibuster rules to curry favor with President Trump amid speculation that he made the switch in order to win the president's coveted endorsement in his competitive reelection primary.
Cornyn, who once likened Democratic attempts to scrap the filibuster as taking a 'wrecking ball' to Senate rules, wrote in an op-ed published by the New York Post on Wednesday that he was now open to changing the rule to advance a Trump-backed nationwide voter ID bill. The legislation, known as the SAVE America Act, would require Americans to show photo ID when voting in federal elections and proof of U.S. citizenship to register.
What the Right Is Saying
Cornyn's reversal on the filibuster has drawn support from Trump and other Republicans who have made passing the SAVE America Act a top priority. The Texas senator's op-ed explicitly aligned him with Trump's agenda, writing that he supports '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.'
Trump has pressured GOP lawmakers to pass the legislation, warning them during a Florida rally that 'It will guarantee the midterms. If you don't get it, big trouble.' He has also threatened not to sign any bills into law until the act is passed.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has said there are not enough votes to change filibuster rules, even as he has vowed to hold a vote putting Democrats on the record. House Speaker Mike Johnson has made the voter ID bill a central priority for the GOP.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressives and voting rights advocates have long opposed changes to the filibuster, arguing it is a essential procedural safeguard in the Senate. Democrats have criticized Republican efforts to eliminate the 60-vote threshold as a power grab that would fundamentally change the institution and enable rapid passage of restrictive legislation.
Voting rights organizations have warned that the SAVE America Act, if passed without the filibuster, could disenfranchise millions of voters who lack easy access to photo identification. The legislation passed the House last month but has yet to reach the Senate floor.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats have defended the filibuster as a feature that protects minority rights and prevents one-party rule. They argue that eliminating the filibuster would set a dangerous precedent that future Democratic majorities would also exploit.
What the Numbers Show
The SAVE America Act passed the House on a party-line vote, with no Democrats supporting the measure. The legislation faces significant obstacles in the Senate, where 60 votes would be needed to overcome a filibuster under current rules.
Cornyn faces a primary runoff against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on May 26. The winner will face Democratic Texas state House Rep. James Talarico in the November general election. Trump has not yet endorsed either Republican candidate but has indicated he is nearing a decision.
If Cornyn were to flip his position on the filibuster, it would mark a significant evolution from his 2021 stance when he warned that eliminating the procedural tool would be like taking a 'wrecking ball' to Senate traditions.
The Bottom Line
Cornyn's public support for changing filibuster rules puts him in alignment with Trump's legislative priorities at a critical moment in his primary campaign. Whether his reversal helps secure the president's endorsement remains to be seen, but it positions him as a Trump ally on a signature Republican issue.
Paxton has attacked Cornyn as a 'coward who has refused to support abolishing the filibuster,' suggesting that Cornyn's new position may not be enough to satisfy the former president's most ardent supporters. The Texas runoff will test whether voters prioritize Cornyn's established Senate record or Paxton's more confrontational approach to Democratic opposition.