As the government shutdown of 2025 enters its second week, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is launching a series of ads to urge Republicans to resume negotiations.
The Democrats are framing the ongoing impasse as a battle over healthcare, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, both Democrats from New York, asserting that their caucuses will not support a funding bill that fails to extend the expiring Obamacare subsidies, which were enhanced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Fox News, the DCCC is investing in a four-figure ad campaign across 13 districts where Democrats believe they can maintain or gain seats in the 2026 midterm elections. The ads highlight that "Republicans control the government" and accuse them of shutting it down. In districts held by Democrats, the ads emphasize that the local representatives are "protecting affordable health care."
The House and Senate are currently in recess, following the Senate's fourth unsuccessful attempt on Friday to advance the GOP's proposal to fund federal agencies through November 21. This bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), extends the fiscal year 2025 federal funding levels, including $88 million for security spending for lawmakers, the White House, and the judicial branch, in response to an increased political threat environment.
Democrats have voiced concerns that Americans who depend on the enhanced Obamacare subsidies are at risk of seeing their healthcare premiums surge if this issue is not addressed in the current measure. These subsidies were temporarily increased during the COVID-19 pandemic under former President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan and were later extended through 2025 under his Inflation Reduction Act.
Republican leaders have expressed their willingness to discuss the reform and extension of these subsidies at a later date. However, they accuse Democrats of holding the government hostage, thereby jeopardizing vulnerable Americans who rely on federal services.
"Vulnerable House Republicans shut down the government because they dont care about working Americans having access to affordable health care," DCCC spokesperson Nebeyatt Betre told Fox News Digital.
"While Republicans create a healthcare crisis, House Democrats will keep working to lower Americans healthcare costs. Make no mistake: vulnerable House Republicans own this shutdown, and the DCCC is making sure voters know who to blame."
In response, the House Republicans' campaign arm released an ad earlier this week, following the government shutdown at midnight on Wednesday. Their ads, also a four-figure investment, accuse Democrats of refusing to "fund the government," thereby harming military paychecks, veterans, farmers, and small businesses.
Republicans have cited the Democrats' counter-proposal for a CR as evidence that Democrats are striving to restore healthcare for illegal immigrants. The Democrats' plan proposed repealing the healthcare changes implemented in the GOP's "One Big, Beautiful Bill," which, among other provisions, tightened restrictions on Medicaid access.
However, Democratic leaders have denied advocating for illegal immigrants. "Out of touch Democrats shut down the government to bankroll handouts for illegal immigrants and appease their radical base. Voters wont forget who betrayed them, and the NRCC will make sure Democrats pay the price," NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella told Fox News Digital.
The ongoing political tug-of-war over healthcare and government funding continues to unfold, with both parties leveraging their positions to sway public opinion and, ultimately, the outcome of the 2026 midterm elections.
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