State party moves to censure John Thune for antagonism to election integrity

John Thune, the Republican senator from South Dakota, has put himself crossways with President Donald Trump and much of his own state through his antagonism to the SAVE America Act.

That would require identification for registration and voting in federal elections, assuring that only U.S. citizens are participating.

He’s claimed there’s not support, and he’s rejected several of Trump’s suggestions for ways to get it across the finish line in the Senate.

So now his own state party is reacting.

With a censure move.

A report at the Washington Examiner said a committee of the South Dakota Republican Party voted to approve a measure to censure Thune, the Senate majority leader.

BREAKING

EXCLUSIVE NEWS

👉The Resolutions Committee voted to approve the resolution to censure Senate Majority Leader Thune👈

Now, it will to a floor vote before the South Dakota Republican Party. pic.twitter.com/x54LXm7tQq

— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) June 26, 2026

The condemnation appeared online through the work of conservative activist Scott Presler.

Thune insists the Senate doesn’t have 60 votes needed to pass the act, even as Trump has demanded it.

Thune has been encouraged to change Senate rules to bypass the filibuster, which he has not done.

Trump repeatedly has warned that the GOP might stick to the filibuster rule while it is the majority, but if and when Democrats take over they will immediately blast the requirement so they can move quickly and aggressively on their agenda.

The submission said; “His failure in regards to the SAVE America Act is his most glaring, and can not be ignored. It is for this reason that we, the elected representatives of the South Dakota Republican Party, find it regretfully necessary to censure South Dakota Senator and US Senate Majority Leader John Randolf Thune until such time as the SAVE America Act is officially signed into law.”

It warns Thune’s failure threatens election integrity and “undermines US Citizen’s trust in the electoral process.”

Republicans argued that the act is a basic principle of voter ID, the report explained.

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Bob Unruh

Bob Unruh joined WND in 2006 after nearly three decades with the Associated Press, as well as several Upper Midwest newspapers, where he covered everything from legislative battles and sports to tornadoes and homicidal survivalists. He is currently a news editor for the WND News Center, and also a photographer whose scenic work has been used commercially. Read more of Bob Unruh's articles here.