WASHINGTON ― Democrats’ big election wins this week are complicating bipartisan talks to reopen the federal government, with some Democratic lawmakers urging their party to hold the line and keep fighting, and some Republican senators embracing President Donald Trump’s call to eliminate the filibuster and pass a funding bill without Democratic votes.
Inside the Democratic caucus, opinions are mixed on how their party should proceed. Some senators in the moderate wing are weary of what has become the longest-ever government shutdown, and its impact on federal workers and millions of Americans who are going without food assistance. Other Democrats ― particularly those in the progressive wing ― are urging their caucus to stand strong and keep pushing for an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that are due to expire this year.
“There’s a wide range of views,” one Democratic senator who requested anonymity to speak freely told HuffPost. “From, we should reopen this right now, to, you’ve got to be kidding me? Like after the election last night, clearly we should be pushing for more.”
The senators who wanted to end the shutdown had seemingly had the upper hand in recent days, but the massive Democratic wins on Tuesday night have scrambled the dynamics. Progressives argue the victories show Democratic efforts to directly battle Trump and highlight skyrocketing health care costs are working. And Trump telling GOP senators the shutdown is hurting the party could crack the door open for fuller negotiations.
