Progressive Democrats erupted in anger Monday following a dramatic defection by eight Senate Democrats who broke with party leadership to vote in favor of ending the prolonged government shutdown. The move, coordinated in apparent secrecy with Senate Republicans, has left many on the left fuming over what they perceive as a major political concession.
Although Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) did not orchestrate the deal and formally voted against it, he has nonetheless become a lightning rod for criticism. Many lawmakers and activists are holding him responsible for failing to prevent the defections, portraying him as unable to maintain party unity in a moment of high-stakes negotiations.
“Despite voting against the deal, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is emerging as the top target for not containing the defections,” Axios reported, citing several senior Democrats.
“Schumer is voting no,” a senior House Democrat told the outlet. “But that doesn’t mean [a] primary [challenge is] not coming.”
The backlash underscores growing tensions within the Democratic Party, particularly between its progressive wing and the Senate leadership, as lawmakers grapple with the fallout from what many view as a compromise that undermined their leverage in the shutdown standoff.
Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced. If you can’t lead the fight to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) November 10, 2025
Democrats Slam Senate Shutdown Deal as “Empty Promise” on Obamacare Subsidies
The agreement brokered by the eight Senate Democrats reportedly included a commitment from Senate Republicans to eventually allow a vote on legislation aimed at permanently extending COVID-era Obamacare subsidies.
For many Democrats, however, the assurance fell far short of what was needed.
“It’s complete BS,” Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) told Axios. “A concept of a possible vote. People need healthcare, damn it. Not some lame promise about a mythical future vote.” Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) similarly dismissed the deal, saying, “Sounds like a lousy deal to me.”
“People are furious,” an anonymous House Democrat, identified as a centrist, told reporters. “It’s an awful deal and a total failure to use leverage for anything real.”
The criticism reflects deep frustration among Democrats over what they see as a missed opportunity to secure concrete protections for healthcare while navigating a politically charged shutdown.
Tonight is another example of why we need new leadership. If @ChuckSchumer were an effective leader, he would have united his caucus to vote ‘No’ tonight and hold the line on healthcare. Maybe now @EdMarkey will finally join me in pledging not to vote for Schumer?
— Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) November 10, 2025
Progressives Criticize Senate Shutdown Deal as Insufficient
A Democrat described as “progressive” told Axios that “people are pissed” because it appears Senate Democrats “got almost nothing” from the agreement.
Joel Payne, a spokesman for MoveOn, also weighed in, claiming that the shutdown deal will “screw over millions of working Americans” and arguing that “too many Democrats in Congress… are failing to listen to the clear message voters sent on Election Day.”
Time to pass the torch, Chuck. https://t.co/VH7UQHNWhE
— Chris D. Jackson (@ChrisDJackson) November 10, 2025
Sen. Bernie Sanders Criticizes Democrats Who Voted to Reopen Government
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, directed his criticism at the eight Senate Democrats who sided with Republicans to end the government shutdown.
“Tonight, eight Democrats voted with the Republicans to allow them to go forward on this continuing resolution,” Sanders said Sunday evening. “And to my mind, this was a very, very bad vote.”
Tonight was a very bad night. pic.twitter.com/t2rM48XEyV
— Sen. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) November 10, 2025
Democrats Slam Shutdown Agreement as “Empty Promise”
“This is not a deal — it’s an empty promise,” Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, wrote on X regarding the shutdown agreement.
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) echoed the criticism, tweeting, “Tonight’s vote does NOTHING to address this Republican health care crisis.”
Absolutely pathetic. I cannot believe we caved to this wannabe dictator and his goons. Thanks to the Democrats who voted no. We’ll remember who bent the knee.
— Harry Sisson (@harryjsisson) November 10, 2025
Critics Accuse Schumer of Orchestrating Shutdown Vote While Avoiding Responsibility
Adam Cochran, a policy consultant and independent investigative journalist, directly accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of orchestrating Sunday’s shutdown deal vote while attempting to dodge accountability.
“Schumer organized this, and then is voting no last second, and letting retiring Dems take the heat,” Cochran wrote on X. “If this goes through, that needs to be the end of Schumer leadership regardless of how he votes. He’s the minority leader, the buck stops at him.”
