Sen. Mike Lee rejected Chuck Schumer's claim that the SAVE America Act is "Jim Crow 2.0," calling the comparison a "paranoid fantasy." The bill would require photo ID for federal voting, proof of citizenship to register and cleaner voter rolls; Democrats say it would suppress minority and low-income voters. Republicans, led by Sen. John Thune, plan to force votes and consider filibuster changes, while Trump has hinted at a possible executive order if Congress fails to pass the measure.
Mike Lee Calls Schumer's 'Jim Crow 2.0' Label A 'Paranoid Fantasy' As Voter ID Fight Escalates
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, called the accusation that his voter ID legislation was "Jim Crow 2.0" by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., "paranoid fantasy."(Getty Images)
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) dismissed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's characterization of the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act as "Jim Crow 2.0," calling those claims a "paranoid fantasy" and urging critics to stop what he described as fear-driven rhetoric.
The bill — which cleared the House and is being advanced in the Senate by Lee — would require a photo ID to vote in federal elections, demand proof of citizenship when registering, and direct states to maintain voter rolls free of ineligible names. Democrats argue the measures would function as voter suppression, disproportionately affecting low-income and minority communities.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told Fox News Digital that the SAVE America Act, voter ID legislation backed by President Donald Trump, would get a vote in the Senate.
Lee pushed back, saying identity and eligibility checks are common in everyday life: background checks for firearms, employment tax forms and other routine transactions. "By their logic, it's Jim Crow to require somebody to establish citizenship before taking a job with a new employer, and that's insane," Lee said. He added that other constitutionally protected activities, like buying firearms, still carry identification requirements.
"It's paranoid fantasy," Lee told Fox News Digital. "These are absurd arguments. They should be ashamed to make them."
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has vowed to bring the SAVE America Act to the floor, and Republicans say they have enough votes to overcome the initial procedural hurdle. However, Democrats can still block the bill under the Senate's 60-vote threshold for cloture — the traditional filibuster — a tactic Lee often derides as the "zombie" filibuster.
President Donald Trump listens during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington.
Some Republicans oppose eliminating the filibuster entirely, but lawmakers have discussed alternatives, including reinstating a talking or standing filibuster that would require extended debate and force Democrats to repeatedly make their case on the floor.
Former President Donald Trump has suggested he might issue an executive order if Congress does not act. Lee declined to speculate on specific executive actions without seeing the text, but argued that statutory law would provide longer-lasting protections than an executive order that a future administration could rescind.
What’s next: Republicans plan to pursue votes and procedural changes to move the bill forward, while Democrats maintain they will block what they view as restrictive voting measures. The debate is likely to center on competing claims about election integrity and access as the Senate considers how — and whether — to act.
Help us improve.
