The Senate’s agreement to end the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history has created a rare political split within one of New Hampshire’s most prominent Democratic families.
According to Fox News, Democratic congressional candidate Stefany Shaheen, running in a crowded primary for an open House seat, announced Monday that she “cannot support” the deal, which was brokered in part by her mother, Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.
The elder Shaheen, a former governor who is retiring next year instead of seeking a fourth Senate term, was one of seven Democrats who voted with Republicans to end the shutdown.
The family divide highlights the broader debate within the Democratic Party over whether to accept a deal that does not extend Affordable Care Act subsidies immediately.
Stefany Shaheen, whose eldest daughter Elle nearly died from Type 1 diabetes at age eight, emphasized her focus on health care.
“We need to both end this shutdown and extend the ACA tax credits,” she said in a social media post. “Otherwise, no deal. It’s essential to ensure people have access to healthcare and it’s past time to put paychecks back into people’s pockets and food back on families’ tables.”
Pointing to a lack of commitment from House Speaker Mike Johnson to hold a vote on the ACA subsidies, she added, “I cannot support this deal when Speaker Johnson refuses to even allow a vote to extend health care tax credits.”
The subsidies are set to expire at the end of the year, threatening to push health insurance premiums higher for millions.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen defended her vote, emphasizing the immediate need to restore pay for federal workers, contractors, and essential services.
“We’re making sure that the people of America can get the food benefits that they need, that air traffic controllers can get paid, that federal workers are able to come back, the ones who were let go, that they get paid, that contractors get paid, that aviation moves forward,” she said on Fox & Friends.
She added, “We are going to be able to continue to fight about healthcare because we’re going to have a vote in December.”
Stefany acknowledged the family difference in an interview with WMUR: “Every family has differences of opinion and views, and here, we just have very different views about the best way to approach this.” Her mother responded with reassurance: “Stefany is very independent. That’s what’s going to make her an excellent congresswoman.”
Both mother and daughter emphasized that their personal relationship remains strong. “We talk every day. So, she knew where I was, and I knew where she was,” Jeanne Shaheen said.
The disagreement underscores the tension between immediate legislative compromises and the long-term policy goals within the Democratic Party as the shutdown finally comes to an end.
