EXCLUSIVE: Thune Warns Democrats Against Seizing On Election Results To Keep Shutdown Going

Senate Majority Leader John Thune is warning Democrats from prolonging the government shutdown after they swept key races in Virginia, New Jersey and California on Tuesday evening.

Democrats, emboldened by Tuesday’s favorable election results, are saying they will continue to keep the government shuttered, arguing that the party’s sweep has reinforced their shutdown strategy. Thune has countered that prolonging the 36-day shutdown would be a mistake, citing the hundreds of thousands of Americans struggling from missed paychecks and growing disruptions to their daily lives due to the funding lapse.

“Continuing a government shutdown just because they had some good election outcomes seems like a really bad rationale to extend what is already the longest shutdown in history,” Thune told the 🏢Daily Caller News Foundation during a sit-down interview in his leadership office. “We can talk about politically who’s getting blamed, who isn’t getting blamed, but in the end nobody wins, and least of all the American people.”

The Democrat shutdown continues to jeopardize federal food aid for tens of millions of Americans, access to early childhood education programs and some healthcare services while snarling air travel across the country. Government employees, from air traffic controllers to Capitol Police are also reporting to work without pay, with some turning to second jobs and food banks to make up for lost income.

Though Democrats appeared torn on Tuesday about whether to end the record-breaking shutdown over the growing toll on American families, many members of Schumer’s caucus signaled Wednesday that the fight is just getting started.

Democrats are pushing for an extension of enhanced Obamacare subsidies set to expire at the year’s end. Thune has offered to hold a vote on a subsidy extension after the government is reopened, but Democrats have repeatedly balked at that proposal — as the shutdown drags on with no immediate resolution.