The federal government was dark for 43 days. It was the longest shutdown in American history, and for a while there, it didn't look like anyone was going to budge. But then, in mid-November 2025, the stalemate finally cracked. People have been asking about what dems voted for the cr because, let’s be honest, the party line was "no" for over a month.
Negotiations were basically a mess. On one side, you had a Republican-led House and a Trump administration demanding a "clean" extension. On the other, the vast majority of Democrats were digging in their heels, trying to leverage the funding deadline to save the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits. It was high-stakes poker where the chips were federal paychecks.
The Senate Breakout: Eight Democrats Who Flipped
If you want to know who actually moved the needle, you have to look at the Senate. For weeks, the GOP couldn't get the 60 votes needed to bypass a filibuster. That changed on November 9, 2025. Eight specific Democratic (and Independent) senators decided they’d had enough of the shutdown and crossed the aisle.
These eight were the "bridge" that ended the record-breaking 43-day shutdown. Here is who they were:
- John Fetterman (D-PA): Fetterman has been making a habit of bucking party trends lately. He was one of the first to signal he was ready to vote for a clean CR to get federal workers back on the job.
- Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV): Coming from a state with a massive federal land presence and plenty of government employees, the pressure to reopen was intense.
- Jacky Rosen (D-NV): Like her Nevada colleague, Rosen faced the reality of a state economy that can’t afford a long-term federal freeze.
- Tim Kaine (D-VA): Virginia is the heart of the "fed" world. With thousands of constituents working without pay, Kaine’s "yea" vote was basically a survival move for his home state’s economy.
- Dick Durbin (D-IL): This was a big one. As the Democratic Whip, Durbin’s move to join the GOP on this vote signaled that the caucus's unified front was officially over.
- Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH): New Hampshire’s delegation was under fire to get things moving, and Shaheen pulled the trigger.
- Maggie Hassan (D-NH): Following suit with Shaheen, Hassan joined the bipartisan coalition.
- Angus King (I-ME): While technically an Independent, King caucuses with the Democrats. He worked closely with Senator Susan Collins to hammer out the final details.
By joining the Republicans, these eight senators brought the total "yea" count to 60. That was the magic number. It broke the filibuster and allowed the Continuing Resolution (CR) to move to a final vote, where it passed 60-40.
What Exactly Were They Voting For?
It wasn't just a simple "keep the lights on" bill. To get those eight Democrats on board, the bill—H.R. 5371—had to be sweetened. It was sort of a hybrid.
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It wasn't a "clean" CR in the purest sense because it actually included three full-year appropriations bills. We’re talking about the final 2026 funding for Agriculture, Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, and the Legislative Branch. For the rest of the government, it was a temporary fix that extended funding until January 30, 2026.
Think about that for a second. The shutdown ended, but the "cliff" only moved. We are currently staring down that January 30 deadline right now.
The House Vote: A Lonelier Story
If the Senate was a "bipartisan breakthrough," the House was... well, it was different. When the bill came back to the House on November 12, 2025, it passed 222-209.
Most House Democrats stayed united in their opposition. They felt the Senate "eight" had surrendered their best leverage for the ACA subsidies. In the end, only one House Democrat broke ranks to vote for the CR.
The House Democratic leadership, led by Hakeem Jeffries, argued that the bill didn't do enough to protect social programs. Meanwhile, Republicans like Tom Cole and Mike Johnson called it a victory for "regular order." It’s a classic D.C. split. You've got one group calling it a compromise and the other calling it a sellout.
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Why the ACA Credits Mattered So Much
You can't understand what dems voted for the cr without talking about the "poison pill" that wasn't. The whole reason the shutdown lasted 43 days was the battle over the enhanced ACA premium tax credits. These credits were set to expire at the end of 2025.
Democrats wanted them extended in the CR. Republicans said no, arguing that policy changes shouldn't be hitched to a funding bill.
The eight Senate Democrats who broke ranks did so because they got a "promise." Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) committed to holding a separate vote on the ACA credits in December. Did that happen? Well, the vote happened, but it didn't pass the House, which has left things in a weird limbo as we enter early 2026.
Breaking Down the Components of the CR
The legislation that ended the shutdown was technically the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026.
- Agriculture/FDA: Full-year funding. This ensured that SNAP (food stamps) and WIC wouldn't be interrupted if another shutdown happens this month.
- MilCon/VA: Full-year funding. This was a massive priority for both parties to ensure veterans' healthcare wasn't a political football.
- The CR Portion: This is the part that covered "everything else"—Homeland Security, Education, Transportation, and the State Department. This is what expires on January 30.
- Back Pay: The bill guaranteed retroactive pay for the federal workers who were furloughed or forced to work without a paycheck for six weeks.
The Fallout: 2026 Elections and Internal Friction
Interestingly, none of the eight Senate Democrats who voted for the CR are up for reelection in 2026. That’s probably not a coincidence. It gave them the "political cover" to take a vote that their more progressive colleagues hated.
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The tension within the party is still there. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, hasn't been shy about her frustration. She’s been pushing for a much larger "omnibus" bill that includes more domestic spending. But with a Republican trifecta (House, Senate, and White House), the leverage just isn't what it used to be.
What Happens Now?
We are currently in a "mini-minibus" phase. Just last week, the House passed a package for Energy-Water, Commerce-Justice-Science, and Interior-Environment with a massive bipartisan vote of 397-28. It shows that when the bills are separated, Democrats are much more willing to vote "yea."
But the big stuff—Defense, Labor-HHS, and Homeland Security—is still hanging by a thread.
If you are a federal employee or someone who relies on government services, the date to circle on your calendar is January 30, 2026. That is when the current "patch" expires.
Actionable Insights for Following the Next Vote
If you want to keep track of how your representative or senator is handling the upcoming deadline, don't just look at the final "yea" or "nay." Watch the procedural votes.
- Look for Cloture Votes: In the Senate, the real battle is the "Motion to Invoke Cloture." If a Democrat votes for cloture, they are essentially voting to allow the bill to pass, even if they vote "no" on the final bill for optics.
- Watch the "Blue Dogs": The remaining moderate Democrats in the House are the ones most likely to flip if a shutdown looks imminent.
- Check the "Anomalies": Often, a CR will include "anomalies"—special funding for things like the U.S. Marshals or disaster relief. Sometimes these are added specifically to win over specific Democratic votes.
The drama over what dems voted for the cr taught us that the Democratic party isn't a monolith. When a shutdown goes on long enough, the pressure from back-home constituents usually outweighs the instructions from party leadership. We’ll see if that same pattern holds true as the January 30 deadline approaches. Keep an eye on the "Senate Eight"—they’ve shown they’re willing to jump first.
Next Steps for Staying Informed:
- Monitor the Senate Periodical Press Gallery for live updates on floor schedules as the Jan 30 deadline nears.
- Use Congress.gov to search for "H.R. 5371" to see the full list of co-sponsors and the official roll call from the November vote.
- Follow the House Appropriations Committee (both majority and minority feeds) to see the text of the "minibus" packages currently being negotiated.