Darline Graham Bucks John Thune, Says She’ll Stay In Town Until SAVE America Act Passes

Republican South Carolina Sen. Darline Graham said Monday she would object to a summer recess so the Senate could vote to pass the Safeguard America Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act.

Graham said the SAVE America Act was “top priority” and she would remain in Washington, D.C., to see it passed. President Donald Trump and other Republican senators also called on Senate Majority Leader John Thune to cancel the upcoming recess.

“President Trump is 100% correct. The SAVE America Act is top priority. I will stay here as long as necessary to get it passed and signed into law,” Graham said. “I came to Washington to fight for the people of South Carolina and deliver on our conservative agenda.”

“John Thune should not allow the United States Senate to ‘leave town’ until it passes The Save America Act or, far better still, TERMINATES THE FILIBUSTER, where Republicans can then quickly pass everything they ever dreamed of, including a full and deep throated SAVE AMERICA ACT, the Budget, and the ever looming Debt Ceiling disaster, 1929!” Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday. “The Dumocrats will do it on day one, and can’t believe how lucky they got with this Senate leadership. Remember, stupidity always brings LOSING & DEATH!”

Lee and Tuberville suggested canceling a two-week recess in July, although senators entered their recess early after nobody objected in June. Thune repeatedly said the chamber lacked the necessary votes to pass the SAVE America Act, while Republican North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis said attempts to pass it were a “waste of time.”

Graham was sworn in on July 14 to replace her late brother, former Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, after his sudden death from an aortic rupture. The late senator’s memorial service will be held Tuesday inside the Capitol Rotunda, but he will not lie in state.

A six-person Armed Forces body bearer team is expected to bring Graham’s casket to the East Front of the Capitol and escort his casket to the Rotunda, where some members of congressional leadership are expected to speak. Another funeral will be held Wednesday in South Carolina after a Tuesday afternoon service at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

The upper chamber could vote on Graham’s bill, the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, by Thursday. The legislation would penalize purchasers of Russian energy and pressure Moscow to end the war in Ukraine.

Trump canceled the signing of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act because the Senate had not passed the SAVE America Act. He threatened to oppose reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) if the SAVE America Act was not attached.

Before his passing, Graham introduced an amendment to attach the SAVE America Act to the Secure America Act, a reconciliation package signed into law on June 10. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina voted against the amendment.