WASHINGTON (Gray DC) – The government shutdown has now stretched to 36 days, officially becoming the longest shutdown of any kind in U.S. history.
The landmark closure passed that historic threshold just hours after Democrats swept the polls in key elections, winning the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races, the New York City mayoral election, and a California redistricting measure.
Now, congressional Democratic leaders are taking a victory lap and using the momentum to reframe the government shutdown.
“Last night, Republicans felt the political repercussions,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). He sees the “blue wave” as a good indication of how Americans feel about the other party, sharing their frustrations with Republicans and President Trump on the ballot.
“Nothing short of a 5-alarm fire to the Republicans,” Schumer said. “Their high-cost house is burning.”
While speaking to GOP senators at a breakfast Wednesday morning, President Trump seemed to have a similar thought, pinning Republicans’ poor showing squarely on the lingering shutdown.
“I think if you read the pollsters, the shutdown was a big factor, negative, for the Republicans,” Trump said.
But as the blame continues to get passed around as to who is keeping Washington shuttered, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) says Tuesday night’s results prove more than anything that Democrats like Schumer are scared.
“We saw that in the elections last night,” said Johnson, “the Old Guard is desperately trying to use this shutdown to show the radical, Marxist wing of their party that they can look tough to President Trump.”
While both parties recover from election night, leaders still appear a long way from reopening the government. Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) Wednesday morning demanded Trump hold another meeting between legislative leaders, while the President continues to push Senators on ending the filibuster.
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