Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman had a blunt message for members of his own party amid tense negotiations over a potential government shutdown.
Democratic lawmakers returned to Washington Monday and vowed to keep the government open, even as they voted against a GOP spending bill in the Senate that would temporarily fund operations. Fetterman had a blunt suggestion for Democrats holding the line in government shutdown talks: “win elections,” he reportedly said, according to CNN’s Manu Raju, who posted the quote Monday on X.
“John Fetterman, pushing back on Dems’ hardline over shutdown talks, says he has a suggestion for his party as it demands changes on health care policy as part of spending talks: ‘Win elections,’ he told us,” Raju wrote.
Democrats said a government shutdown could impact their constituents. Most of them, though, stood by their vote to block a Republican-led plan to keep the government open.
John Fetterman, pushing back on Dems’ hardline over shutdown talks, says he has a suggestion for his party as it demands changes on health care policy as part of spending talks: “Win elections,” he told us
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) September 29, 2025
“A shutdown would disrupt vital services, halt disaster relief, and put countless federal employees out of work,” Democratic Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar wrote Monday on X. “At the end of the day, a government shutdown doesn’t impact politicians – it harms everyday Americans.”
Cuellar voted alongside 210 House Democrats to reject a seven-week stopgap measure, which Republican leadership introduced Sept. 19. Democratic Maine Rep. Jared Golden stood as the only Democrat to support the bill and break with his party.
President Donald Trump met with congressional leaders Monday in a last-ditch effort to prevent a government shutdown. Both sides left the White House without a deal. Democrats continued to demand health care concessions. Republicans pushed for a clean funding extension.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries led House Democrats in demanding roughly $1.5 trillion in additional spending on Obamacare subsidies and Medicaid as the price of their support. Republicans rejected the proposal outright.
Fetterman’s office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
(Featured Image Media Credit: Screenshot/YouTube/John Fetterman)
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].
