Over A Dozen Senate Democrats Join Republicans To End Shutdown As Election Races Wrap Up

This news comes as no surprise, given that a government shutdown cannot persist indefinitely, especially in a Democrat-controlled environment where a prolonged closure could potentially pave the way for enduring cuts from the Republican side.

According to Western Journal, the deal currently under consideration could have been reached at any point since the government shutdown commenced on October 1. Axios reported on a "three-legged plan" proposed by the Republicans on Monday, which was essentially similar to previous plans, with the only notable difference being a "sharper focus" on the specifics.

November 05, 2025

The three components of the plan include a continuing resolution with a longer funding period than the already-approved November 21 deadline, a vote on Obamacare subsidies, and a bill to fund military construction, the legislative branch, and other immediate priorities.

Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota expressed optimism about the progress, stating, I think were getting close to an off ramp here. Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois, a Democrat, echoed this sentiment, telling the media, Theyre trying again, and they seem more optimistic. Delaware Senator Chris Coons, also a Democrat, highlighted the need for leaders of both parties and both chambers to engage in dialogue.

However, this hurdle could have been overcome earlier if the Democrats had not attempted to "win the shutdown" a strategy that doesn't seem to be resonating with the national public, according to polls, but could have potentially aided them in three significant elections on Tuesday.

As the polls were closing, Punchbowl News reported a substantial shift in the negotiations. The Republicans currently hold 55 of the 60 votes needed to reopen the government, meaning they only require five more to surpass the filibuster threshold. This is a target they could easily achieve if even half of the Democrats reportedly "engaging" decide to join forces.

Three races could have been significantly influenced by the shutdown. In Virginia, where a large portion of the Democratic electorate consists of federal employees in the northern D.C. suburbs, the party's attorney general nominee, Jay Jones, was exposed for sending texts fantasizing about the assassination of the state's Republican House speaker. He was also accused of suggesting that the death of a few police officers in the line of duty might be beneficial, as it could prompt a reconsideration of policing methods.

Despite these controversies, the Democrats managed to secure a victory for their gubernatorial nominee, former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger, and even helped Jones cross the finish line, albeit with a much smaller margin of victory.

In New Jersey, Democratic nominee Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a rising star from the suburbs, faced a different set of circumstances. Unlike Spanberger, Sherrill hails from a part of the New Jersey suburbs that isn't a stronghold of Democratic support. However, she managed to secure victory in the election, with The New York Times estimating that Sherrill could end up with 56 percent or more of the vote.

Lastly, in California, Proposition 50 aimed to redraw the congressional lines in response to Texas' redistricting. While Texas' House redistricting aimed to reflect the state's voter makeup more accurately by 2025, California's new map is designed to eliminate all Republican strongholds and provide the Democrats with overwhelming margins in their House caucus.

While Tuesday's results were anticipated regardless of the shutdown and do not significantly impact the GOP, they saved the Democrats from another potential embarrassment, similar to that of 2024. This victory has temporarily diverted attention from questions about the party's direction and the concerns of large donors, especially as we approach 2026.

However, the fact that individuals with controversial views had a successful night cannot be ignored and will need to be addressed in due course. For now, the focus is on reopening the government, conveniently just after the first Tuesday in November.