Thune: More Senate Democrats Poised to Break With Schumer as Shutdown Standoff Deepens

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said Tuesday that at least two more Senate Democrats are weighing whether to break ranks with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and side with Republicans in a vote to fund the federal government, as the shutdown enters its second week.

So far, only three members of the Democratic caucus — Senators John Fetterman (PA), Catherine Cortez Masto (NV), and independent Angus King (ME), who caucuses with Democrats — have joined Republicans in supporting a temporary spending measure to reopen the government. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) remains the only Republican holdout, citing concerns over federal debt and spending priorities.

Speaking with Fox News host Harris Faulkner, Thune suggested that momentum is building behind efforts to end the impasse, with growing frustration among rank-and-file Democrats who want to avoid further economic fallout from the partial shutdown.

“We’re only stuck because a handful of Democrats have decided to follow their leader instead of doing what’s right for the American people,” Thune said. “We’re ready to open the government — it’s time for them to join us.”

Growing Bipartisan Pressure

The House has already passed a short-term “continuing resolution” (CR) that would fund the government through late November, but Schumer has thus far refused to allow a similar measure to move forward in the Senate. Because Senate rules require 60 votes to advance most legislation, at least eight Democrats would need to join Republicans for the plan to succeed — assuming Paul continues to vote no.

According to Thune, support is slowly coalescing. “We now have 55 senators ready to vote to reopen the government,” he said. “That means we only need five more Democrats to do the right thing. It’s a simple math problem — but their leadership is intent on appeasing the far-left instead of helping hardworking Americans.”

The South Dakota senator said Republicans plan to bring the same clean funding bill to the floor again later this week for the ninth time since the shutdown began. “It’s 24 pages long, it’s straightforward, it has no policy riders, no tricks — just a clean extension of government funding,” Thune emphasized. “There’s no reason anyone should oppose this.”

Schumer Faces Backlash for Remarks

Schumer has faced growing criticism from both sides of the aisle after reportedly describing the ongoing shutdown as “getting better for us every day.” The comment, first reported by Punchbowl News, was quickly seized upon by Republicans as evidence that Democrats are prioritizing political advantage over public service.

“Chuck Schumer just said the quiet part out loud,” said White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson. “Democrats are gleefully inflicting pain on the American people in order to push through free health care for illegal immigrants.”

Schumer, meanwhile, has defended his strategy, arguing that the Republican proposal fails to address what Democrats view as urgent needs in health care and social programs. “Republicans are refusing to negotiate on core priorities that protect vulnerable Americans,” a spokesperson for Schumer said in a statement. “Democrats are standing up for the people who would be hurt the most by reckless spending cuts.”

The Health Care Flashpoint

At the center of the stalemate is a dispute over funding for health care programs that Democrats say would expand access for low-income and undocumented residents. Republicans, however, have accused Democrats of trying to slip controversial immigration-related provisions into the bill under the guise of public health funding.

“The idea of using taxpayer money to fund health benefits for people who broke the law to come here is absurd,” Thune said. “That’s why the American people are behind us. They see through this.”

Republicans have framed their proposal as a “clean” bill that merely keeps the government running while broader budget talks continue. Democrats counter that the measure strips away critical programs and fails to address the needs of struggling families.

Protests and Political Pressure

Adding another layer of tension, Thune and other GOP leaders allege that Schumer is deliberately prolonging the shutdown until after a large protest scheduled for October 18. The rally, dubbed the “No Kings” movement, is being organized by progressive activist networks, including groups linked to billionaire George Soros. Democrats and liberal media outlets have promoted the event as a display of grassroots unity against what they describe as Republican obstructionism.

Republicans, however, see it as a coordinated effort to apply public pressure while stalling legislative progress. “They’re waiting for the cameras and the headlines,” Thune said. “Meanwhile, TSA agents, Border Patrol officers, and members of our military are going without pay.”

What Comes Next

The Senate is expected to vote again Thursday on the continuing resolution. If it fails once more, the stalemate could stretch into mid-November — with mounting pressure on both parties to compromise as federal workers, contractors, and essential agencies feel the squeeze.

Political analysts say the longer the shutdown drags on, the more volatile the political fallout becomes. “Voters tend to punish whoever they perceive as playing politics with their livelihoods,” said Dr. Laura Benson, a political science professor at the University of Minnesota. “Schumer’s comment was a mistake because it feeds the Republican narrative that Democrats are enjoying this.”

For now, Thune insists that Republicans remain united and optimistic. “We’re going to keep coming back to the floor until common sense wins out,” he said. “The American people deserve a government that works — not one that’s held hostage by partisan games.”