Washington, DC – New Jersey Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim joined most of their Democratic colleagues Tuesday in voting against a Republican-backed measure to reopen the federal government, extending what has now become a 28-day shutdown.
The House-passed bill, which would have temporarily funded the government through November 21, failed in the Senate by a 54–45 vote, falling short of the 60 votes needed to advance.
Only three members of the Democratic caucus — John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, and independent Angus King of Maine — voted in favor of reopening the government without additional conditions.
Key Points
- Senate Democrats, including Cory Booker and Andy Kim, voted to block a GOP bill to reopen the government
- The measure failed 54–45, the 13th failed attempt to end the shutdown
- Democrats are demanding negotiations over expiring health insurance subsidies before agreeing to fund the government
Health care subsidies at the center of dispute
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Republicans must agree to negotiate an extension of health insurance subsidies that are set to expire before Democrats support reopening the government. He warned that Americans face a “health care crisis unlike we have seen in our lifetimes” if subsidies are not renewed ahead of the Affordable Care Act’s open enrollment period beginning November 1.
GOP blames Democrats for prolonging shutdown
Senate Majority Leader John Thune accused Democrats of holding federal workers hostage to force unrelated policy concessions. Thune said Republicans are ready to discuss health insurance tax credits but only after the government is reopened. “We can’t negotiate under shutdown conditions,” Thune said, reiterating that GOP leadership wants to restore federal services immediately.
Workers union urges immediate action
The nation’s largest federal workers union, which represents hundreds of thousands of employees affected by the shutdown, has urged both parties to reach an agreement. Many federal agencies remain shuttered, and tens of thousands of workers are furloughed or working without pay.
Political pressure mounting
The continued impasse has intensified pressure on both sides as public frustration grows. Booker and Kim, who have largely aligned with their party leadership, have not released detailed statements about Tuesday’s vote. Analysts say the shutdown’s political consequences could deepen if services remain halted into November, especially with the 2026 midterm election cycle beginning to take shape.
