Washington Examiner congressional reporter Lauren Green said Monday that the Democratic Party has faced pressure in recent weeks, prompting some members to take the first steps toward ending the government shutdown.
The Senate passed a measure by a vote of 60-40 on Monday night, the 41st day of the shutdown, and sent it to the House. The legislation would fund the government through January 2026, but it does not include the Obamacare subsidies that Democrats have fought for, which will be voted on next month.
Green said funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits is running out, and another military pay deadline is approaching. As such, she said the Democratic Party is facing “a lot of pressure” to end the shutdown.
Democrats “got a promised vote on the Affordable Care Act subsidies that will be running out at the end of this year,” Green said on Fox 5 DC. ‘That should come within 40 days of the vote, so we’ll see that vote in December. But regardless of the promise of that vote coming to the floor in December doesn’t guarantee any passage in the Senate. It also doesn’t guarantee that the House will bring up the bill.”
Green also said there are “really great frustrations” within the Democratic Party over ending the shutdown, citing possible 2028 presidential candidates such as Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s criticism of the party.
Green added that the eight senators who sided with Republicans to pass the bill are not up for reelection next year. Despite this, the “ramifications” for these Democrats will still be “pretty large.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) took a victory lap over Monday night’s vote, saying he is “very, very happy” the shutdown is “coming to an end.”
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Amid the infighting among Democratic lawmakers, Washington Examiner chief political correspondent Byron York said Monday that this is the latest instance of the “bitter civil war” in the party between “its progressive wing” and the shrinking lawmakers who identify as “centrists.” He added that this will continue through the 2028 presidential election.
Washington Examiner reporter Samantha-Jo Roth said one thing the Democrats succeeded in with the shutdown is putting healthcare back in the national spotlight. However, she also said that progressive Democrats view this new vote as the party backing down under pressure, something that could hurt it going into the 2026 midterm elections.