Texas Senator Ted Cruz Calls for ‘Talking Filibuster’ to Save Voter ID Legislation

By Sam Barron | Thursday, 12 February 2026 09:23 PM EST
Senator Ted Cruz, Republican from Texas, said on Thursday that the SAVE America Act is common sense legislation. The bill, recently passed by the House, would require proof of citizenship before anyone may register to vote and a photo ID for voting.

“That is common sense,” Cruz stated. “The overwhelming majority of Americans agree with it.”

“And unfortunately, Democrats in the Senate are absolutely opposed because as a party, they have decided that voter fraud is good for them—meaning they want illegal aliens voting for them,” Cruz added.

“That’s how they stay in power. They don’t want voter ID,” Cruz continued.

The Senate’s filibuster rule, which requires 60 votes to advance legislation, means the bill has no chance of passing the upper chamber.

“The case that I’m making to my colleagues is we ought to use every procedural tool we can to run through the Democrats’ opposition,” Cruz said.

“We should nuke what’s called the zombie filibuster,” Cruz explained. “The zombie filibuster is essentially allowing the Democrats to say, ‘we’re filibustering this,’ but then not requiring them to do anything.”

“We should require the Democrats to do an old-fashioned talking filibuster,” Cruz added. “Think Jimmy Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington—or the 21 hours I filibustered on the Senate floor fighting Obamacare.”

“We should make them stand and talk and talk and talk,” Cruz continued. “And when they can’t talk anymore, then we should pass it.”

Cruz noted many Democrats support voter ID, recalling a Supreme Court moment when he argued for photo ID voting before liberal Justice John Paul Stevens agreed.

“Justice Stevens said photo ID protects the integrity of democracy,” Cruz stated. “When someone illegally votes, that act disenfranchises legal voters.”

“This is about fighting to save the right to vote for every American and not let the Democrats steal it,” Cruz added. “Every illegal vote cancels out one of our votes.”

Cruz also dismissed concerns from Democrats that Hispanics and African Americans wouldn’t be able to get IDs.

“I’m proud to be a Hispanic. And somehow the process of getting a driver’s license was not that complicated,” Cruz said.

“You need an ID to drive a car, buy a beer at a bar, get on an airplane, get married, or watch an R-rated movie,” Cruz added. “And here’s the kicker: you need an ID to go to the Democratic National Convention.”