WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans voted on Tuesday to kick off floor debate on President Donald Trump’s plan to nationalize elections and gut mail-in voting, which he and other Republicans have described as a must-pass bill in order to avert a GOP bloodbath in the November midterm elections.

But the sweeping legislation, titled the SAVE America Act, has no clear path to becoming law thanks to unified Democratic opposition in the Senate and a number of Republican senators who are unwilling to eliminate the filibuster in order to get it to Trump’s desk.

“I’m not prepared to go down this uncertain and ill-defined path that we’re looking at,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said Tuesday.

The Alaska Republican, who believes the bill would make it harder for people to vote in her rural state, added that it “doesn’t have the 60 votes [needed to end debate], so it’s not going to pass.”

The legislation would require voters to prove their citizenship when they register to vote, show ID when they cast their ballots, and eliminate mail-in voting in all but rare instances. Trump has also demanded that Republicans include a ban on transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports.

On Tuesday, the president called on Republicans to pass the bill by any means necessary or else face electoral consequences.

“Only sick, demented, or deranged people in the House or Senate could vote against THE SAVE AMERICA ACT,” Trump fumed Tuesday on his social media website Truth Social. “If they do, each one of these points, separately, will be used against the user in his/her political campaign for office - A guaranteed loss!”

Asked about the threat against his members, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters, “I prefer to have our fights with Democrats.”

“We may not agree on everything, but I’m way more in favor of ensuring that we have Republicans holding these seats in the U.S. Senate than handing them to Democrats,” he added.

Democrats and voting rights groups have warned the bill could disenfranchise millions of voters by imposing citizenship and photo ID requirements, since many Americans do not have proof of either readily available.

They’ve also pointed out that the bill would burden married women in particular, because many legally change their last name after marriage.

“He knows that without rigging the game, he is in trouble.”

“It’s not a voter ID bill. It is a voter suppression bill,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said, vowing that Democrats will be united in killing it.

To his point, even Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), a frequent Trump ally, is opposed to the bill because of how it would limit mail-in voting, which he called “absolutely secure.” Many GOP senators agree with him, pushing back on Trump’s false claims of widespread voter fraud.

Schumer also accused Trump of attempting to “steal” the coming midterm elections by changing voting rules instead of changing his policies amid broad voter discontent with the economy and the war in Iran.

“He knows his [poll] numbers are in the gutter. What does he want to do? He wants to cheat ... He knows that without rigging the game, he is in trouble,” Schumer said.

The debate over the bill is expected to stretch into next week at least, and include late-night sessions and weekend work. Republicans supporting the measure are hoping to extend it past a previously scheduled recess next week in hopes that Democrats will eventually tire of debating at some point and ultimately fold.

“Once we’re on the bill, we shouldn’t recess — even for the weekend — until this is done,” Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), a leading advocate of the bill, said in a social media post, adding that Trump agreed with him.

But that’s not likely to happen for several reasons. Democrats say they are prepared to debate as long as is needed to table the measure. Some are even planning to force votes on ending the war in Iran as a way to counter-program and stall the debate over the SAVE Act. Republicans also aren’t unified on the bill — several oppose it outright. Canceling recess and blocking precious floor time for a doomed bill doesn’t make sense to many of them.

“We’re not quite sure how much floor time it will take up, but right now, it appears that it’s almost unlimited,” Murkowski told reporters on Tuesday.

By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.