Democrats' confidence in shutdown strategy soars after election sweep [View all]

Source: The Hill

11/06/25 6:00 AM ET


Senate Democrats feel confident after Tuesday’s election that they have the advantage over Republicans in the government shutdown battle and are pointing to President Trump’s statement that Republicans are getting “killed” politically as a big reason to stand their ground.

A bipartisan deal hashed out by centrist Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee to reopen the government as soon as this week now appears stalled after Democrats won sweeping victories in New Jersey, Virginia and California. Democratic sources say they do not expect a bipartisan deal to reopen the government to be unveiled this week.

One Democratic senator who requested anonymity said if a small group of Democrats abandon the broader caucus’s position and vote to reopen the government in return for modest or even paltry concessions from Republicans, it would have a devastating effect on Democratic voters’ morale.

“It would be hugely deflating. When your strategy — when something is working, you don’t stop,” the senator said. The lawmaker acknowledged “shutdowns are horrible” but argued “the solution is not to pacify the other side,” especially when Democrats feel they are finally getting strong political traction. Democrats felt elated by the results of Tuesday’s elections.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5592094-democrats-shutdown-strategy-election/