Senate Democrats’ decision to accept a shutdown deal that does not guarantee extended health care subsidies has sparked widespread backlash from across the party, which has been reinvigorated by their recent electoral successes. Nearly every major Democratic Senate candidate, including Texas hopeful Colin Allred and Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, has criticized the deal, calling it a betrayal of the American people. Sen. Jon Ossoff, one of the party’s most vulnerable incumbents, voted against advancing the deal, as did several senators considering a 2028 presidential bid.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker also joined the criticism, with Newsom calling the deal an “empty promise” and Pritzker denouncing it as a failure. The deal has also sparked a familial dispute, with Stefany Shaheen, a candidate running in her father’s former Senate seat, criticizing Democrats’ willingness to cave. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly argued that the compromise failed to help millions of Americans whose health care premiums are set to rise dramatically.
The political fallout extends to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is up for reelection in 2028. Several progressive Democrats and advocacy groups are calling for his removal from leadership, blaming him for failing to keep his caucus in line when the deal did not address the “health care crisis.” Rep. Ro Khanna, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, accused Schumer of being “no longer effective.” The Sunrise Movement and Justice Democrats have also urged voters to reject the eight Senate Democrats who allowed the funding patch to proceed.
Despite the criticism, Democrats arguing for the deal claim that the bill takes important steps to reduce the impact of the shutdown and shifts the responsibility for rising health care costs onto Republicans. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto stated that if Republicans are willing to join Democrats in lowering costs, they have an opportunity to do so before the midterms. However, the growing internal dissent suggests that the deal may have done more harm than good, creating a deep rift within the party and undermining its efforts to unite around key issues.