The senators who bucked their fellow Democrats to help reopen the government are largely immune from progressive fury due to retirements and the absence of 2026 reelections, but the plotline could thicken for some midterm Senate candidates.
In particular, the contentious battleground primary already in full swing in Maine may be supercharged by the shutdown-ending deal that cleared the Senate earlier this week and was due to be passed by the House on Wednesday evening.
The Democratic bids to take on Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) pit establishment-backed Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) against progressive outsider Graham Platner. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) voted against the shutdown deal yet faces palpable fury from the Left and renewed calls for his ouster over the rebellions, presenting the latest opportunity for critics to scrutinize Mills as a recruit of the Senate Democratic leader.
Both Mills and Platner were opposed to the block of Senate Democrats that dropped their healthcare demands to support funding legislation to end the shutdown. But while Mills urged Democrats to “fight back,” Platner went a step further by calling on Schumer to “step down” and characterizing the deal as a “surrender” to Republicans.
“He’s trying to portray Mills as the establishment pick by a guy, the Senate minority leader, who couldn’t hold the caucus together,” said Democratic strategist Brad Bannon. “That triangle is not a coincidence. It’s a connection.”
Among the eight Democratic defectors was Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats and an architect of the shutdown agreement. Collins, a centrist Republican, was also involved, directing further attention in the state to how Democratic leadership in Washington navigated the 43-day saga that left Democrats with no policy wins on expiring Obamacare subsidies.
“Janet Mills is Schumer’s hand-picked candidate, so anything that’s bad for Schumer is bad for Mills,” Bannon added.
A Maine Democratic strategist, granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, made the case that both candidates’ shutdown positions presented a greater opportunity to contrast Republicans like Collins, who supports extending the subsidies but with reduced eligibility and benefits, rather than a litmus test for Democratic voters. To that effect, Mills and Platner made healthcare affordability arguments in favor of the tax credits, rather than attacking one another directly.
Neither the Mills nor the Platner campaigns responded to requests for comment for this story. Senate Democrats’ campaign arm, which is tied to Schumer and supports Mills, also did not respond.
Those who crossed party lines to strike a deal settled for a promise from Republicans to hold a vote next month on a bill of the Democrats’ choosing to extend the insurance premium credits past 2025, demands around which caused the longest shutdown in U.S. history. Democrats are now looking to quickly “regroup” in the three working weeks left before the vote to cobble together legislation that has no guarantee it can pass, a bitter pill to swallow after weeks spent demanding Republicans make concessions.
Elsewhere in the country, the senators who rebelled are also largely insulated from long-term blowback. Those who are up for reelection, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), are retiring. The rest are not up for reelection until 2028 and beyond, including Sens. King, Tim Kaine (D-VA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Fetterman (D-PA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). Some may also choose to retire, while Fetterman is already expected to face primary challengers over his frequent disagreements with the party.
DEMOCRATS ‘REGROUP’ FOR SENATE OBAMACARE TALKS AFTER SHUTDOWN DEFEAT
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), a potential primary challenger to Schumer in 2028, said those senators “hope that people are going to forget this moment.” She blasted Schumer and Senate Democrats but dodged whether the Democratic leader should be replaced or if she’ll mount a challenge, saying that the “problem is bigger” than just Schumer.
“A leader is reflected as a reflection of the party, and Senate Democrats have selected their leadership to represent through them,” Ocasio-Cortez told reporters Wednesday. “The question needs to be bigger than just one person. We have several Senate primaries this cycle.”
Rachel Schilke contributed to this report.