GOP Prevails in Government Shutdown Showdown as Eight Democrats Cross Party Lines (Page 1 ) | November 15, 2025

In a dramatic late-night vote, the U.S. Senate approved a measure to reopen the federal government after a prolonged shutdown that began on October 1, with eight Democrat-caucusing senators breaking ranks from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s demands to restore Obamacare subsidies. The decisive move handed Republicans a major political victory and set the stage for renewed fiscal negotiations in Washington.

According to The Washington Times, the deal will keep the government funded through January. While it stops short of guaranteeing the continuation of Obamacare subsidies, it does include a commitment to hold a vote on the issue next month. The agreement replaces the House-passed continuing resolution from September 19, requiring lawmakers to reconvene in Washington to approve the updated version. If the measure passes the lower chamber, the federal government could officially reopen as early as Tuesday or Wednesday.

The 60–40 vote, finalized shortly before 11 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, included seven Democratic senators and one independent who caucuses with Democrats siding with the GOP. Only one Republican—Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, known for his libertarian stance—voted against the bill. Sixty votes were required to advance the resolution without resorting to the “nuclear option,” a procedural move that would have effectively ended the Senate filibuster.

Among the Democrats who crossed the aisle were Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.), Dick Durbin (Ill.), John Fetterman (Pa.), Maggie Hassan (N.H.), Tim Kaine (Va.), Jackie Rosen (Nev.), and Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.). Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine also voted in favor of the measure, ensuring its passage.

Former President Donald Trump expressed confidence ahead of the vote, telling reporters, “It looks like we’re getting very close to the shutdown ending.”

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who led negotiations on behalf of the breakaway Democrats, described the deal as imperfect but necessary. “This was the only deal on the table,” she said. “It was our best chance to reopen the government and immediately begin negotiations on the Obamacare subsidies.”

The agreement also includes provisions to rehire federal workers furloughed during the shutdown, with full back pay for those affected. Employees who were working without pay are also expected to receive their delayed salaries once the government reopens.

Still, the legislation faces one final hurdle: approval in the House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a slim majority. While some House Democrats have shown willingness to compromise, party leadership remains firmly opposed to reopening the government without extending the health care subsidies.

“I have been clear on this from the beginning: I will not turn my back on the 24 million Americans who will see their premiums more than double if we don’t extend these tax credits,” said Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) on social media.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), considered a rising figure in Democratic politics and a potential 2028 presidential contender, also denounced the bipartisan vote. In a video posted to X, he warned, “There’s no way to sugarcoat what happened tonight. And my fear is that Trump gets stronger, not weaker, because of this acquiescence.”

As the bill moves to the House, both parties face renewed pressure to balance political principle with public expectation. For now, the GOP appears to have emerged from the shutdown showdown with the upper hand—though the long-term political cost for Democrats who broke ranks remains to be seen.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries Condemns Senate Spending Deal, Blames GOP and White House

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, voiced strong opposition to the newly proposed spending package, signaling a potential showdown in the House. “For seven weeks, Democrats in the House and Senate have waged a valiant fight on behalf of the American people,” Jeffries said in a statement. “It now appears that the Senate Republicans will send the House of Representatives a spending bill that fails to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.”

Jeffries also sought to shift responsibility for the failure to secure an extension of the tax credits—originally expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic to cap out-of-pocket health care costs at 8.5 percent of household income for families earning below 400 percent of the federal poverty level—onto the White House and congressional Republicans.

“Donald Trump and the Republican Party own the toxic mess they have created in our own country, and the American people know it,” Jeffries declared, underscoring his party’s frustration as negotiations over health care subsidies and government funding continue to divide Washington.

Polling Paints a Mixed Picture on Shutdown Blame

Polling data has been divided, with results showing no clear consensus among Americans on who bears responsibility for the government shutdown. So far, surveys have not generally indicated that the public places primary blame on former President Donald Trump for the ongoing standoff.

Democrats See Unexpected Gains in Off-Year Elections as Shutdown Politics Play Out

Despite the turmoil surrounding the government shutdown, Democrats notched larger-than-expected victories in off-year elections across several traditionally blue states. The impact was especially pronounced in Virginia, home to a significant number of federal employees in the Washington, D.C., suburbs, where the shutdown appeared to galvanize Democratic turnout and enthusiasm.

In the final days before the election—and even just hours before polls closed—reports began to surface suggesting that Senate Democrats were considering working with Republicans to bring the shutdown to an end.

Still, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer remained defiant. “This healthcare crisis is so severe, so urgent, so devastating for families back home that I cannot, in good faith, support this CR that fails to address the healthcare crisis,” Schumer said, according to Fox News. He went on to accuse Republicans of proving they were “against any health care reform.”

What remains uncertain is how this episode will affect Schumer’s standing as minority leader. While his uncompromising approach during the standoff energized much of the Democratic base, his earlier failure to oppose a spring continuing resolution nearly cost him his leadership position. Several prominent progressive activist groups had, at the time, called for Schumer to either step aside or be replaced—pressure that could intensify depending on how the latest negotiations unfold.