In a surprising show of division within the Democratic ranks, three members of the Senate Democratic caucus broke with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday, voting in favor of a Republican-backed stopgap measure to fund the federal government through November 21.
The move, which came as lawmakers scramble to avoid another costly government shutdown, underscores growing disagreement among Democrats over how to handle negotiations with the Trump administration on fiscal policy and federal spending priorities.
The Vote and the Political Stakes
The House Republican-drafted continuing resolution, which aimed to temporarily fund the government and avert a shutdown, fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance in the Senate. The measure failed by a 55-45 vote but drew unexpected support from several key Democrats and one independent.
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.), and Senator Angus King (I-Maine)—who caucuses with Democrats—each voted in favor of the GOP proposal, defying Schumer’s call to oppose it.
While the measure ultimately failed, the cross-party support signaled potential cracks in Democratic unity and raised questions about whether more members might follow suit in upcoming votes.
Republican leaders have already announced plans to reintroduce the bill on Wednesday, hoping that mounting public pressure to keep the government open might persuade additional Democrats to join them.
If that happens, it would mark a significant embarrassment for Schumer and a rare bipartisan rebuke of the Democratic leadership’s strategy.
Cortez Masto: “I’m Standing Up for Nevada Families”
Senator Cortez Masto, who serves in the Senate Democratic leadership team, was the most senior Democrat to cross party lines. In a written statement, she said her decision was guided by concern for her constituents, who are already struggling under economic pressure.
“This administration doesn’t care about Nevadans, but I do,” she said. “That’s why I cannot support a costly shutdown that would hurt Nevada families and hand even more power to this reckless administration.”
Cortez Masto emphasized that a government shutdown would have severe consequences for thousands of workers across Nevada, including military personnel, law enforcement agents, union members, and civilian contractors.
She warned that a lapse in government funding would “force tens of thousands of Nevada military personnel, union members, law enforcement agents, and military nurses to work without pay” and could “throw hundreds of union contractors at the Nevada National Security Site and across the state out of work.”
Her remarks reflected growing anxiety among Democrats from swing states who face re-election in 2026 and cannot afford to be blamed for another government funding crisis.
Fetterman and King Cite Pragmatism Over Politics
Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who has often positioned himself as an independent-minded Democrat, echoed Cortez Masto’s concerns. He told reporters after the vote that the prospect of a shutdown “weighed heavily” on his decision.
“I’ve always believed we have to fight for working people,” Fetterman said. “But shutting down the government doesn’t punish politicians—it punishes regular Americans. I can’t in good conscience make their lives harder just to make a point.”
Senator Angus King, the independent from Maine who caucuses with Democrats, described the vote as one of the most difficult choices of his Senate career.
In a short video message posted on social media, King explained that while many of his colleagues saw the vote as a chance to push back against former President Donald Trump and his influence on GOP policy, he believed rejecting the funding bill would ultimately give Trump and his allies more leverage, not less.
“I just came from the Senate floor where I took one of the most difficult votes I’ve taken since I’ve been in the Senate,” King said. “Many felt this was an opportunity to stand up to Donald Trump, to vote no and fight back. The irony—the paradox—is that by shutting the government down, we’d actually be giving Trump more power.”
King added that a shutdown would “damage the credibility of the federal government and erode public trust,” at a time when both parties need to demonstrate competence in governing.
Schumer Faces a Balancing Act
The defections place Majority Leader Schumer in a difficult position as he tries to balance the progressive wing of his party—which has urged a tougher stance against Trump’s policies—with moderates who fear that brinkmanship could backfire politically.
Schumer had urged his caucus to vote against the Republican proposal, calling it a “political stunt” that failed to address essential funding priorities and sought to impose cuts to key domestic programs.
“This bill does nothing to help working families—it’s a messaging document, not a real solution,” Schumer said in a floor speech. “Democrats will not be bullied into accepting cuts that harm American communities while giving handouts to the wealthy.”
Despite his strong warning, the fact that members of his own leadership team—like Cortez Masto—broke ranks highlights the growing unease among Democrats facing voter frustration over inflation, rising costs of living, and government dysfunction.
Republicans Sensing Opportunity
Republicans quickly seized on the Democratic defections as evidence of waning confidence in Schumer’s leadership.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) praised the trio for what he called “a vote for stability and sanity.”
“These senators deserve credit for putting their constituents ahead of partisan games,” McConnell said. “Every day the government remains open is a win for American families, service members, and federal workers.”
Republican aides suggested that additional Democrats—particularly those from politically competitive states—might be considering supporting the bill when it returns to the Senate floor.
One senior GOP staffer noted that several Democrats privately expressed frustration with what they view as Schumer’s “all-or-nothing” approach to negotiations.
The Broader Debate Over Shutdowns
The disagreement comes amid a larger national debate about the use of government shutdowns as a political tactic. Economists warn that even short shutdowns can cause significant economic damage, from delayed federal paychecks to disrupted services and reduced consumer confidence.
In Nevada alone, analysts estimate that a prolonged shutdown could cost the state’s economy tens of millions of dollars in lost productivity and tourism revenue.
The White House has not publicly commented on the Senate vote, but officials have signaled that President Trump supports the Republican funding bill and sees it as a temporary measure to keep the government functioning while broader budget talks continue.
What Happens Next
The Senate is expected to revisit the issue on Wednesday when Republicans bring the funding bill back for another vote.
Although the measure still faces an uphill climb to reach 60 votes, the momentum from Tuesday’s defections could shift the political landscape.
If even a handful of additional Democrats decide to cross the aisle, it could force Schumer and the party leadership to negotiate directly with Republicans to avoid a shutdown—a scenario that could weaken Democratic leverage heading into next year’s spending negotiations.
For now, the spotlight remains on the three senators who broke with their party, signaling that even within a closely divided Senate, bipartisan pragmatism can still carry political weight—especially when the alternative is a government shutdown.