Some Democrats are calling for the removal of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., after eight Democratic caucus members broke with the party to pass an agreement that would end the government shutdown despite Schumer’s opposition. Congressional Democrats were at odds on Sunday night following the Senate’s approval of a spending agreement by a 60-40 vote.
Eight Democrats joined GOP lawmakers with votes in favor of a resolution that would fund the majority of the federal government through January.
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Previous pledge didn’t appear to hold
Schumer and Democrats had previously held steady to a pledge to only fund a measure that would protect an extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, to prevent a rise in health insurance premiums for millions of Americans, but some within the party warned such a demand would make a bill with the guarantee unlikely to pass in the GOP-led Congress.
The latest agreement instead means that the issue of extending health care subsidies another year will be held as part of a separate vote next month, which some Democrats believe is doomed.
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Connecticut, expressed anger with the compromise and said “my fear is that Trump gets stronger, not weaker, because of this acquiescence,” while vowing to “keep fighting.”
Schumer’s opposition to deal doesn’t quell criticism
The minority leader spoke about why he would vote “no” on the latest spending resolution prior to the vote on the Senate floor, saying he would oppose the resolution because the “health care crisis is so severe.”
Some Democrats, including Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., argued that, despite coming out against the resolutions, Schumer should step down because he failed to maintain unity on the issue of health care subsidies, arguing that makes him unfit to lead Senate Democrats.
“Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced,” Khanna wrote on X. “If you can’t lead the fight to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?”
Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced. If you can’t lead the fight to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) November 10, 2025
Other prominent politicians respond to vote
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., did not call for Schumer to step down, but called it “a very bad night” for Democrats.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., commented on the vote on social media, using one word to express his thoughts: “Pathetic.”
Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker wrote on X, “This is not a deal — it’s an empty promise. Trump and his Republican Congress are making healthcare more expensive for the middle class and ending it for working families.”
Other left-wing commentators, such as Keith Olbermann, called on Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., one of eight Democrats who voted for the Senate measure alongside Republicans, to “resign.” The demand came after Kaine defended his vote in favor of the resolution in a statement online.
Kaine and others defend ‘yes’ votes
“This vote guarantees a vote to extend Affordable Care Act premium tax credits,” Kaine’s statement read.
“This legislation will protect federal workers from baseless firings, reinstate those who have been wrongfully terminated during the shutdown, and ensure federal workers receive back pay, as required by a law passed in 2019,” Kaine added.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., also defended her vote, saying to reporters regarding “Obamacare” subsidies, “We have a guaranteed vote by a guaranteed date.”
When a reporter pointed out that there was no guarantee it would become law, Shaheen responded, “There was never a guarantee that it would become law.”
The White House expressed support Monday for the Senate plan to reopen the government, calling the vote a “positive development” toward ending the record-breaking government shutdown.
