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Eight Democrats broke ranks with their party on Sunday night to push forward a bipartisan deal aimed at ending the US government shutdown, marking a rare moment of defiance within the Senate Democratic Caucus. It came months after 10 Democrats supporting a similar GOP-led stopgap measure in March, triggering internal backlash against Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. This time, eight Democrats and Democratic-aligned senators crosse over, helping push the latest funding bill as the economic toll worsens as shutdown enters Day 40. Many of these are former governors, with at least two who are retiring at the end of their terms. None of them face reelection in 2026. Here's who they are - and why they voted yes: Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada) Senator Cortez Masto has consistently voted to end the shutdown. She cast her 15th such vote on Sunday. She said that she refused to "inflict sweeping pain on some Americans in order to extract a solution to the impending health care crisis" over expiring ACA tax credits. Senator Dick Durbin (Illinois) Senator Durbin, the Democratic whip, was the only member of Schumer's leadership team to vote with the Republicans. "This bill is not perfect, but it takes important steps to reduce their shutdown's hurt," he said. He added, "Now that Democrats secured these wins, it's time for Leader Thune to keep his promise to schedule a vote on the ACA tax credits in December." Durbin is set to retire next year after three decades in office. Senator John Fetterman (Pennsylvania) Senator Fetterman has voted in favour of every effort to end the shutdown. He has openly criticised his party for allowing the shutdown to continue, blaming the Democrats for the missed paychecks of federal workers and for the loss of food aid to low-income families. Senator Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire) Senator Hassan was a key negotiator in the ACA tax credit talks. A former governor, she faced pressure from both sides. "I've heard from Granite Staters who can't afford a doubling of their health insurance costs. I've also heard from families about the deep pain that the government shutdown has caused," she told reporters. Senator Tim Kaine (Virginia) Senator Kaine said his vote was driven by concern for government workers. "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," he said. He admitted he joined the group late, saying, "I joined it 48 hours ago, not for lack of interest." Senator Angus King (Maine) Senator King is an independent who caucuses with Democrats. He played a central role in working out the compromise, leading negotiations in his Capitol office. "We are closer to the possibility of work on the ACA tax credits for the people of this country than we were yesterday, than we were a week ago, two weeks ago, or a month ago," he said. Senator Jacky Rosen (Nevada) Senator Rosen said she backed the deal to protect the 95,000 residents in her state who rely on ACA tax credits. Criticising US President Donald Trump and "his Republican cronies on Capitol Hill" for "hurting working people", she said the ACA vote was "the concession we've been able to extract". Senator Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire) Senator Shaheen has been a longtime supporter of enhanced Obamacare tax credits. She was part of the negotiation team that secured a separate vote to extend them. "This was the only deal on the table. It was our best chance to reopen the government and immediately begin negotiations to extend the ACA tax credits," she said. Shaheen, who also is retiring next year, helped form the stopgap bill that paired with the ACA vote promise to end the shutdown. The vote remains open as of late Sunday. It marks a turning point in the long continuing stalemate. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World.
