Democrats vote to keep government shuttered for eighth time in a row, two weeks in

Almost all Senate Democrats voted down a bipartisan effort to reopen the government on Tuesday as the funding lapse hit the 14-day mark.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the vast majority of his caucus rejected a clean bipartisan funding measure, arguing Republicans must address rising healthcare costs in the government funding bill. Republicans have consistently argued that they will not negotiate unrelated healthcare policy until Schumer supplies the votes to end the shutdown.

The failed vote was the eighth time that Schumer has led his caucus in rejecting the House-passed continuing resolution (CR). The clean CR contains no partisan policy riders and largely extends government funding at current levels.

Republicans have consistently argued that they will not negotiate unrelated healthcare policy until Schumer supplies the votes to end the shutdown.

Still, just two Democratic caucus members — Democratic Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Independent Maine Sen. Angus King — joined Republicans in voting for the measure that would advance a bill to reopen the government on Tuesday. Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, who has consistently voted to reopen the government during the shutdown, did not vote. Just one Republican, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, opposed the measure. Republicans need a total of 60 Senate votes to clear the upper chamber’s filibuster and end the shutdown.

Despite Schumer voicing confidence that Democrats will benefit politically from a prolonged shutdown, the party does not appear to be experiencing a bump in polling yet.

A spate of polling suggests that voters still trust GOP lawmakers and the Trump administration more on economic issues. Recent surveys have also found that more respondents blame Republicans rather than Democrats for the shutdown.

Republicans and the Trump administration hold a 4-point advantage on the economy compared to congressional Democrats, according to a Harvard CAPS/Harris poll surveying 2,413 registered voters.

An October survey from the Democratic polling firm Navigator Research found that Republicans have a 2-point advantage on inflation and cost-of-living issues and that voters favor Republicans on “getting things done” by an 11-point margin.

A Reuters-Ipsos poll conducted the week prior to the shutdown showed voters delivering a 10-point advantage to Republicans for handling economic policy.

Republicans have accused Schumer of shutting down the government in an attempt to improve his standing with the Democratic Party base voters. The minority leader encountered scathing criticism from members of his party after joining with Republicans to fund the government in March.

“We’re only stuck as long as a handful of Democrats decide they want to follow the leader and play politics rather than do the right thing on behalf of the American people and open up the government,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune told Fox News’ Harris Faulkner on Tuesday.

Democrats are still digging in for a long shutdown fight despite the funding lapse creating financial stress for millions who rely on federal paychecks and disrupted access to some government programs.

The Trump administration moved to shore up a federal food aid program assisting low-income mothers and their babies on Friday by transferring $300 million in tariff revenue to avert a lapse in funding.

Trump also directed the Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth to identify funding to ensure active-duty service members do not miss a paycheck during the next pay period that begins on Wednesday.

“Let’s be clear: These emergency measures can’t fully fix the Democrats’ damage,” House GOP conference chair Lisa McClain said Tuesday at a leadership press conference. “Sadly, as Americans suffer, Democrats celebrate.”

Mike Johnson told reporters on Monday that the country was headed for one of the longest shutdowns in American history due to Democrats’ refusal to reopen the government.

The longest federal funding lapse occurred during Trump’s first term between 2018 and 2019. The shutdown lasted 35 days.

Caden Olson contributed to this report.

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