Democrats are divided as the Senate moves to close the party shutdown

Eight critical votes advanced on the temporary spending package on Sunday evening and put the government on the road to reopening and tore up the democratic strategies of the Democratic Party, bringing scrutiny of the shutdown strategy and leadership.

One of the eight said that the democratic demopres who met at the beginning were torn.

“After six weeks – it goes on for seven weeks – that path doesn’t work,” said the king. “It was not going to happen. The question was: Would the shutdown achieve the goal of getting the necessary support for the expansion of tax credits? Our judgment is that it will not produce that result.”

“The evidence for that is about seven weeks of fruitless efforts to make that happen. Can it change in a week? Or after Thanksgiving?

Shutdown sparks strategic debate: Will Trump and GOP pay a political price in 2026?

For some Democrats, it was the party’s high numbers that led to the losing effort.

“Senator Schumer is out of business and needs to be replaced. If you can’t lead the fight to stop health care premiums from the American people, what are you going to fight for?” Rep. R. Khanna, D-Calif., said in a social media post on Sunday.

The government first sparked the shutdown 40 days ago on Oct. 1 When Democrats rejected the short-term payment in progress, Republicans said the ObamaCare administration was looking to expire by the end of the year. Republicans, who see spending and tax bills as completely unrelated, have refused to negotiate on tax bills during the shutdown.

Ultimately, Republicans avoided any higher deals on Obamacare Credits.

The package advanced by the Senate on Sunday looks to open the Government on Jan. 30, 2026, and includes a three-year spending package for veterans’ loans, state agriculture spending and the legislative branch.

In return, Democrats voted for the package to protect the inclusion of language that prevents the Trump administration from creating more surloffs effective Jan. In addition, they got a stop-gap vote to be considered under the tax bills later this year, although that vote has always failed without Republican support.

For some Democrats, the failure to defend an extension – or even a partial extension – of ObamaCare funding is unacceptable.

The government shuts down after killing congress on spending

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Dn.Y., leaves to speak at a news conference following the Senate Senate Demote Demoten in Washington, Jun. 17, 2025. (anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

“I can’t support a deal that leaves millions of Americans wondering how they’re going to pay for their health care or how they’re going to be able to afford to be sick,” Sen. Mark Warner, D-VA.

“That’s not a deal. It’s an unconditional offer for 24 million Americans that their health care premiums will be doubled,” rep. Ritchie Torres, DN.Y.

But after 40 days of waiting, frustration over the lack of an off-ramp is not just coming from the senators who voted to advance the law.

“I just don’t get the point,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said moments later that she opposed the bill. “I want Republicans to grow a backbone and say, ‘No matter what Donald Trump says, we’re going to put these nuts back on health care,’ but it looks like I’m done.”

Sen. Chris Coon, D-DELD., who had promised to vote on the package because of its silence on Obamacare, said he understands the cracks in the party’s unity.

Congressman Johnson flips the script on Dem leaders with a stark warning about a government shutdown

Sen. Chris Coon, D-DEL., rides the Senate Subway at the US Capitol in Washington, Jan. 27, 2025. (anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

“In health care, I like to keep trying,” Coal said. “But I understand, I respect my colleagues who say it’s time.”

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A final vote on the spending package is expected to take place in the Senate early this week. After that, it must clear the house of representatives before it becomes law and opens the government.