Democrats Harness Election Wins in Obamacare-Shutdown Standoff

Nov. 5, 2025, 8:05 PM UTC

Senate Democrats, bolstered by big election wins for their party Tuesday, are doubling down on demands for Republicans to negotiate extending Obamacare premium tax credits, or see the government shutdown drag on.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Wednesday that senators could “end the shutdown tomorrow” if President Donald Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) committed to extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits.

Otherwise, the fight should continue, Sanders added.

“I’m not making a deal on anything,” Johnson said when asked if he’d take that deal the day after Democrats swept gubernatorial elections in Virginia, New Jersey, and a mayor’s ...

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