Wyoming billionaire Timothy Mellon, a grandson of Andrew Mellon and one of the Republican Party's largest donors in 2024 with nearly $200 million in contributions, has sharply reduced his midterm giving to Senate Republicans. Mellon has donated only about $3 million publicly to GOP candidates so far, withholding support because the Senate failed to pass the SAVE America Act, a voting restrictions bill backed by President Trump. The legislation would have limited mail voting, imposed national voter ID requirements, and mandated proof of citizenship for registration.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune supported the measure but acknowledged insufficient votes to overcome a Democratic filibuster. Mellon's team has privately told fellow Republicans he is not backing Senate candidates due to this failure. An angry Mellon personally responded to a solicitation letter from Senate Republicans stating he would not donate.

While House Republicans received a $20 million donation from Mellon last month, his absence from Senate races is conspicuous. Republicans maintain a broad financial advantage through Trump's super PAC and other megadonors, but Mellon's withdrawal illustrates acrimonious fallout from the voting bill's collapse. The reclusive 84-year-old donor, close to Representative Steve Scalise and Robert F.

Kennedy Jr., gave $197 million to Republicans in 2024, including $100 million to Trump's MAGA Inc. super PAC.