Democrats are in turmoil after eight members of their Senate caucus joined Republicans on Sunday night to advance a stopgap measure reopening the government.
The move, which followed 40 days of gridlock, has sparked an internal backlash that now threatens Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s leadership and further divided the party.
The vote marked a major shift in the standoff that led to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Eight Senate Democrats — Dick Durbin, Jacky Rosen, John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto, Jeanne Shaheen, Maggie Hassan, Tim Kaine, and independent Angus King, who caucuses with Democrats — voted with Republicans to move the House-passed bill forward.
None of the senators who crossed the aisle face reelection in 2026.
Schumer voted against the measure but immediately faced widespread criticism from within his own party for failing to keep his caucus unified.
Many Democrats opposed the deal because it does not address expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies. As the shutdown entered its sixth week, pressure grew amid reports of canceled flights, suspended food assistance, and unpaid federal workers.
Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut called the vote “a mistake.”
This CR is a major mistake. Here are my thoughts on this important night.
Donald Trump and his Republican enablers caused the shutdown. And even more egregiously, Trump has gone out of his way to make it worse, most recently by illegally trying to use hungry kids as leverage to…
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) November 10, 2025
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Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont described it as “a very bad night.”
Tonight was a very bad night. pic.twitter.com/t2rM48XEyV
— Sen. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) November 10, 2025
Others were more direct in their criticism of Schumer’s leadership.
“Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced,” Rep. Ro Khanna of California wrote on X.
“If you can’t lead the fight to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?”
Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced. If you can’t lead the fight to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) November 10, 2025
Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts echoed that sentiment, saying, “Tonight is another example of why we need new leadership. If @ChuckSchumer were an effective leader, he would have united his caucus to vote ‘No’ tonight and hold the line on healthcare. Maybe now @EdMarkey will finally join me in pledging not to vote for Schumer?”
Tonight is another example of why we need new leadership. If @ChuckSchumer were an effective leader, he would have united his caucus to vote ‘No’ tonight and hold the line on healthcare. Maybe now @EdMarkey will finally join me in pledging not to vote for Schumer?
— Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) November 10, 2025
The criticism extended beyond Capitol Hill.
On ABC’s The View, Sunny Hostin agreed that Schumer should be replaced, while Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin accused him of failing to show leadership in New York’s mayoral race and of negotiating what Pocan called “a terrible deal.”
BREAKING: Utter chaos has erupted among the left-wing base as The View is NUKING Chuck Schumer for letting his party cave to Donald Trump on the shutdown
“Chuck Schumer’s days are over. He needs TO GO. ”
AMAZING! Let them eat each other alive
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 10, 2025
“Don’t endorse or say who you voted for in NYC despite there being a Dem candidate,” Pocan posted.
“Get Dem Senators to negotiate a terrible ‘deal’ that does nothing real about healthcare. Screw over a national political party. Profile of scourge? Next.”
Don’t endorse or say who you voted for in NYC despite there being a Dem candidate.
Get Dem Senators to negotiate a terrible “deal” that does nothing real about healthcare.
Screw over a national political party.
Profile of scourge?
Next.
— Mark Pocan (@MarkPocan) November 10, 2025
Schumer defended his approach late Sunday, saying he would “keep fighting,” but the backlash continued to mount.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts criticized Republicans, saying, “I want Republicans to actually grow a backbone and say, regardless of what Donald Trump says, we’re actually going to restore these cuts on health care — but it looks like I’ve lost that fight.”
Sen. Murphy maintained that the deal failed to address key issues. “This bill doesn’t do anything to arrest the health care catastrophe, nor does it constrain in any meaningful way President Trump’s illegality,” he said.
“I think the voters were pretty clear on Tuesday night what they wanted Congress to do … and I am really saddened that we didn’t listen to them.”
Democrats say they have been promised a December vote in the Senate to extend ACA tax credits and to rehire government workers who lost their jobs during the shutdown. But several lawmakers voiced skepticism about that pledge.
“A wink and a nod to deal with this health care crisis later — with no actual guarantees — is just not enough,” said Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin.
Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin agreed, saying, “The promise of a vote in over a month does not meet that threshold.”
The House is expected to take up the compromise later this week. Democratic leaders there have signaled opposition, but members from competitive districts may face mounting pressure to support it.
Outside Congress, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin denounced the agreement as “a betrayal of the American people,” placing blame on Republicans and President Trump.
“The voters will never forget the day Trump turned his back on them so he could focus on building his gilded ballroom,” Martin said.
The outcome has left Democrats deeply divided, with frustration directed at both party leadership and the concessions made to end the stalemate.
As the shutdown nears its end, Schumer faces growing questions about his future atop the caucus and whether the fractured party can repair its divisions before the next legislative battle.
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