Democrats are poised to smash the record for the longest shutdown in history and some lawmakers want to keep the government shuttered deep into November.
Tuesday — when millions of Americans are heading to the polls in California, New Jersey and Virginia — marks Day 35 of Democrats’ shutdown that continues to drag on despite ongoing funding talks behind the scenes. With the funding lapse all but guaranteed to stretch into Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will hold the title for the longest shutdown on record.
Some members on the party’s left flank have suggested that favorable results for Democrats during Tuesday night’s election results should inspire the party to keep the government closed until their demands are met.
“I think it’s pretty clear, and I think tomorrow’s results may confirm this, that the American people want us to fight for them,” Democratic Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, a rumored 2028 presidential candidate, told reporters on Monday. “This is an awful situation [President Donald] Trump has put us in where we’re balancing one kind of pain versus the other, but my sense is that people out there want us to fight.”
Murphy also claimed that “people will die” if Republicans do not agree to attach an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies slated to expire at the year’s end to a government funding measure. Republicans have consistently refused to negotiate on health care policy until Democrats supply the votes to reopen the government.
A 35-day shutdown in Trump’s first term previously held the record for the longest in American history. This shutdown revolved around the president’s demand for Congress to fund his southern border wall. That funding lapse was less painful because Congress had already passed spending measures to fund several agencies, including the Pentagon.
Democrats, however, are signaling that they are willing to weather the shutdown’s pain despite tens of millions of Americans losing federal food aid — in addition to air travel disruptions due to staffing shortages and small businesses feeling the squeeze over halted federal contracts and lending programs. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees have also not received their paychecks during the shutdown, forcing many individuals to take up second jobs and visit local feed banks to make ends meet.
“We need to reopen the government, but not surrender on health care,” Democratic Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal told the DCNF.
“I just got back hearing from people in Miami whose health insurance premiums are doubling and tripling, and they’re talking about not getting cancer treatment that they need because Donald Trump would rather shut down the government than help people afford their health care,” Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren said. “That’s pretty tough.”
The expiration of enhanced ACA tax credits accounts for just 3.3% of increased 2026 rates, according to analysis from the Paragon Health Institute.
Some Republicans are optimistic that a handful of Democrats will buck Schumer and reopen the government following Tuesday’s election results. Republicans just need five more Senate Democrats to vote for a clean continuing resolution to end the stalemate.
“I get the impression that for some Democrats waiting until after tomorrow’s elections is an issue,” Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins told reporters while leaving the Capitol on Monday night.
“I do believe that we are finally making progress,” Collins added. “It’s too soon to declare that this nightmare of a shutdown is over, but I’m very consciously hopeful that it will be resolved by the end of this week.”
Andi Shae Napier and Caden Olson contributed to this report.
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