Senate Democrats are still not committing to helping Republicans pass a seven-month funding stopgap, edging the country closer to a government shutdown as they attempt to force a vote on a shorter funding patch.
After two days of lengthy closed-door caucus talks (and another planned for Thursday), Democrats emerged with an attempted strategy Wednesday afternoon: Democrats won’t give Republicans the votes to advance the stopgap funding bill, known as a continuing resolution or CR, until they get an amendment vote on a “clean” CR through April 11.
Democrats have some leverage, despite being in the minority. In order to meet the Friday night deadline to avoid a shutdown, Republicans will need all 100 senators to agree to speed up the process. Republicans also need at least eight Democrats to overcome a filibuster and advance the CR.
We’ll see today if Democrats’ strategy holds. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has pushed for the April 11 CR, but hasn’t officially weighed in. Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters he did not believe Senate Democrats had made an offer, though he said “we’re open” to conversations about amendments.
But the Democrats’ gambit will likely do little except stave off the decision they have long dreaded: shut down the government to stand up to President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s spending cuts or stand aside and leave their unilateral government reductions unchecked.
Republicans have one Democratic “yes” vote: Sen. John Fetterman. In the “no” column: Sens. John Hickenlooper, Mark Warner, Jeff Merkley, Chris Coons, Adam Schiff, Tim Kaine and Peter Welch. But keep an eye out for which Democratic senators will vote to proceed to consideration of the bill — where Republicans actually need Democratic support to get the necessary 60 votes — even if they won’t vote for passage — which only requires a simple majority.
Who we’re watching: Swing-state Sens. Mark Kelly, Elissa Slotkin, Ruben Gallego and Gary Peters. Kelly said Wednesday evening he was undecided on the procedural vote to advance the CR. Slotkin referred reporters back to her Sunday show comments, where she said she would “withhold” her vote until she got certain assurances about government cuts.
House Democrats have only added to the pressure on their Senate colleagues, after they voted almost unanimously against the funding bill Tuesday. During their annual issues conference on Wednesday, their message to Senate Democrats was clear: vote “no” on the continuing resolution.
“We’re standing on the side of working families,” Democratic Whip Katherine Clark said. “And that’s why our message to the Senate is: Also stand with us on that side.”
What else we’re watching:
- Trump-senators budget meeting: House and Senate Republicans have yet to reach a deal on a budget plan that would set the framework for Trump’s legislative agenda — a source of tension ahead of a meeting today between GOP senators and Trump at the White House. That will include discussions on taxes and the current policy baseline issue — a budgetary loophole that the GOP is trying to use to argue that extending the Trump 2017 tax cuts costs nothing.
- Senate Dems’ map issues: Democrats’ already difficult 2026 Senate map grew tougher Wednesday when New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she wouldn’t seek reelection, leaving Schumer and his party to defend a third open seat in a blue-leaning swing state. And more departures could come, with Sen. Michael Bennet eyeing a run for governor and Sen. Dick Durbin on retirement watch. Durbin acknowledged to Lisa that the Senate map is “challenging,” but declined to share his own reelection plans.
- Governors speak: Democrats start the second day of their issues conference today. Govs. Gretchen Whitmer, Josh Shapiro and Andy Beshear will speak to House Democrats at a closed-door event at their issues retreat at 7:30 p.m.
Jordain Carney, Meredith Lee Hill, Benjamin Guggenheim, Ally Mutnick and Nicholas Wu contributed to this report.
