Senate Republicans Say More Democrats May Break Ranks in Shutdown Showdown

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R‑South Dakota) announced Tuesday that at least two more Senate Democrats are considering bucking Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D‑New York) guidance to support a clean funding measure and reopen the government.

The partial shutdown is now in its second week, and only three senators aligned with Democrats—John Fetterman (PA), Catherine Cortez Masto (NV), and Angus King (ME, who caucuses with Democrats)—have joined Republicans in favor of restoring spending. Among Republicans, Senator Rand Paul (R‑Kentucky) remains the sole holdout. Thune’s comments suggest that number may rise.

Thune told Fox News host Harris Faulkner that Republicans already have 55 votes lined up for a clean continuing resolution (CR) that would restore funding. If two more Democrats join, they’d be halfway to the 60 votes needed for the measure to clear the Senate—assuming Paul continues to oppose it.

“We are only blocked as long as a handful of Democrats choose to follow party politics rather than what’s right and open up the government,” Thune said. He accused Democratic leadership of catering to a progressive base instead of doing a basic job of governance.

Thune underscored that their proposal is a straightforward, no‑strings CR: 24 pages, no policy riders, and no ideological add-ons. “This is about reopening the country, not settling grand disputes,” he added.

When pressed, Thune declined to name the Democrats who might cross over. But Republicans see margins narrowing—and opportunity growing.

Political Pressure on All Sides

Thune and other GOP leaders have publicly accused Schumer of intentionally prolonging the shutdown in alignment with the upcoming “No Kings” protest rally scheduled for October 18. The critics argue the timing and messaging suggest the Democratic leadership is more interested in political theater than reopening the government.

House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Republicans have warned that Democratic support for protests aligned with the shutdown is evidence that the party is using the crisis to energize its base, rather than solve it.

At the same time, Senate Democrats are under internal pressure from their progressive wing not to yield without securing priorities such as healthcare expansions and support for undocumented immigrants. That balancing act makes telling defections politically risky.

The Schumer Gamble and Public Response

Schumer stoked controversy this week when he claimed in public statements that the ongoing shutdown was “getting better for us every day”—intimating that Democrats benefit from government closures prolonging. That remark drew sharp criticism from the White House and Republican leaders, who accused him of callously punishing ordinary Americans to advance partisan objectives.

In response, White House officials condemned Schumer’s statement, accusing Democrats of inflicting pain on Americans over a political agenda. Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson criticized the Democratic position as “reckless and unfair to taxpayers.”

Public polling suggests frustration with both parties is growing. While some polls still place more blame on Republicans, others show an uptick in voter anger toward Democrats, particularly as the shutdown drags on and essential services remain disrupted.

What Could Change the Stakes

If just two more Senate Democrats break from leadership and support the GOP CR in the upcoming vote, the dynamics could shift dramatically. With 55 locked votes and a few possible defectors, Republicans would be in striking distance of the 60-vote threshold.

These defections would also allow Republicans to frame the shutdown narrative around obstruction by Democratic leadership—arguing that once key Democrats defect, there is no more reason to oppose reopening.

For Democrats, any crossing of ranks carries risk. Progressive critics may brand defectors traitors to the movement, while moderate and independent voters might see it as a necessary move to end gridlock. Whoever crosses will be under intense scrutiny from both sides.

The Clock Is Ticking

The CR in question would extend government funding into late November, giving Congress additional time to hash out the full budget and negotiate policy priorities. The House has already approved the measure; now the Senate must act.

With votes expected to surface later in the week, both parties are marshaling pressure. Republicans are setting a narrative of obstruction by Democrats, while Democrats argue that reopening without policy protections would be a concession too far.

Thune and GOP strategists express confidence that the measure will eventually pass—so long as more Democrats are willing to act out of principle rather than politics. Their goal: shift blame to Schumer and the Democratic leadership for prolonging the shutdown.

For Minority Leader Schumer, the potential defections test his authority and control over a fractious caucus. His response—whether to punish those who break ranks or accommodate dissenters—will influence how the shutdown narrative is written in coming days.

The question that looms: who among his senators will defect—and will that moment tip the balance, allowing the government to reopen? The next vote may answer that in stark terms: either power breaks loose, or the stalemate continues.