U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds has the backing of the political class and its deep-pocket donors in his quest to succeed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who terms out after the midterms, but the Republican base has yet to weigh in.
With Donalds shying away from debating other GOP primary candidates, including DeSantis-appointed Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, some in the party are slow to get behind the congressman. Holding a commanding lead in the polls, Donalds opted to take a hard stance in support of the SAVE America Act, which is widely supported by voters in all parties.
Speaking at a House Freedom Caucus press conference this week, Donalds blasted the Republican-led U.S. Senate for its refusal to pass the legislation designed to ensure voter integrity, serving up a heaping helping of red meat to the base in saying the upper chamber, which is about to embark on yet another vacation, “sucks.”
“The Senate sucks, I just want to come out and say it. They suck,” Donalds declared. “This is not hard. Eighty percent of the American people want the SAVE Act to pass. Not 80% of Republicans — 80% of the American people. And the only organization that refuses to act is the United States Senate.”
BREAKING: Rep. Byron Donalds just went NUCLEAR on the US Senate failing to pass the Save America Act:
“The Senate SUCKS, I just want to come out and say that.”
“If Bernie Sanders wants to hold the floor for six months, go ahead, let him. Swap out the depends, get some body… pic.twitter.com/v4OtioxcGZ
— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) June 25, 2026
Saying Republican senators “don’t want to do the right thing and actually have a true filibuster on the floor and debate the matter on the floor,” he added, “What is happening in the U.S. Senate is laziness, and quite frankly, it’s disgusting.”
“You have a filibustering debate,” Donalds insisted. “If Bernie Sanders wants to hold the floor of the U.S. Senate for six months, let him go ahead. Swap out the Depends, get some body armor, somebody slip you some whatever you need, keep it going, because it demonstrates the stupidity of your arguments. And that is what the American people want to see.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) keeps saying he does not have the votes to pass the SAVE America Act, apparently no realizing that as the GOP leader it’s his job to get the votes.
Here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story, as seen on X:
Congressman Donalds, you miss the point of this delay. Or perhaps you’re dancing around it. Senator Thune is working overtime to derail President Trump’s agenda. He doesn’t represent the American People. He represents the Deep State. If the Republicans lose their majority in…
— Hacksaw Von Blowtorch (@VonBlowtorch) June 25, 2026
Hey @SenateGOP this is what Americans want!
Get your asses back in chambers and pass the SAVE America Act.
Invoke the talking filibuster and get the damn thing done! If Democrats want to go on vacation let them!
If anyone see’s any members while they are on vacation take…
— jimmy bishop (@jbishop103) June 25, 2026
The @SenateGOP is a huge mess and disaster. Poor leadership, poor membership, poor decision making. It is time to replace many of them.
— StOrMyNiGhT (@Nautiguy48) June 25, 2026
@SenateGOP wants to lose. They think it will be better for fundraising. They don’t understand how PISSED people are about stolen elections like what happened to @spencerpratt.
— Lindsay Wright (@l1nzwright) June 25, 2026
