The resolution to the 41-day government shutdown has sparked a rift within the Democratic party, with a notable mother-daughter pair finding themselves on opposing sides of the divide.
Stefany Shaheen, a contender for a New Hampshire House seat in the upcoming competitive Democratic primary, has publicly criticized the bipartisan agreement, which was partially brokered by her mother, Senator Jeanne Shaheen. Stefany Shaheen, along with a significant portion of congressional Democrats, contends that the deal falls short as it does not ensure the continuation of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies set to expire at the end of the year.
"Improving health care has been the cause of my life," Stefany Shaheen stated in a post on Sunday evening. "So I cannot support this deal when Speaker [Mike] Johnson refuses to even allow a vote to extend health care tax credits." She further emphasized the need to both end the shutdown and extend the ACA tax credits, declaring, "Otherwise, no deal."
According to the Daily Caller, Stefany Shaheen's sentiments mirror those of numerous Democratic lawmakers and left-leaning activist groups who have expressed their displeasure with the bipartisan agreement. They argue that the Democrats who deviated from party lines to back the deal have essentially capitulated to Republican demands.
Interestingly, none of the eight Democratic caucus members who supported the shutdown deal are up for reelection in 2026. Senator Jeanne Shaheen announced in March that she would not seek reelection.
The shutdown agreement, which maintains government funding levels through January 2026, was reportedly negotiated by Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Senator Maggie Hassan, independent Maine Senator Angus King, and several Republicans. The deal also includes commitments from Republicans to reemploy federal workers laid off during the shutdown and to vote on a Democrats' chosen ACA subsidy bill in mid-December.
However, a majority of Democratic lawmakers have lambasted the deal for its failure to guarantee an extension of the subsidies before December's end. Republicans are unlikely to support an extension without significant reform, implying that a clean extension proposed by Democrats may not meet the Senate's 60-vote threshold.
Independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, a prominent figure on the Democratic Party's left flank, described the vote as "very, very bad." He also claimed the bill would increase health care premiums for over 20 million Americans, despite the funding measure not addressing health care. Democratic Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren also criticized a "yes" vote on the shutdown deal as a "mistake," stating, "I will not support a deal that does nothing to make health care more affordable."
Despite the backlash, Senator Shaheen defended the deal she helped negotiate, arguing that it included the most favorable terms Democrats could secure to end the shutdown. "This was the only deal on the table," Shaheen told reporters on Sunday night. "It was our best chance to reopen the government and immediately begin negotiations to extend the ACA tax credits."
Shaheen and the seven other Democratic caucus members who defied Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer were also under immense pressure to end the record-breaking shutdown due to its impact on a vast number of Americans. The shutdown resulted in hundreds of thousands of federal employees missing paychecks, and shortages of unpaid air traffic controllers disrupted air travel in major hubs across the United States.
Stefany Shaheen's campaign to succeed Democratic New Hampshire Representative Chris Pappas, who is running for Senator Shaheen's Senate seat, is not guaranteed success despite her recognizable surname. Maura Sullivan, a Marine veteran who served in the Department of Defense under former President Barack Obama, is also competing for the Democratic nomination.
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