Eight senators in the Democratic caucus broke with the party late Sunday to vote with Republicans and advance legislation to end the government shutdown.

The compromise measure that passed by a 60-40 vote came with a pledge from Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the majority leader, to allow a vote in December on the Democrats’ key demand: extending health care subsidies that are due to expire at the end of the year.

But many Democrats have said for weeks that such a measure would be unacceptable, because it was unlikely to pass in the Republican-led Congress. If the subsidies expire, it would significantly increase insurance premiums for millions of Americans.

Three of the eight senators — Angus King of Maine, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada — have supported a continuing resolution to fund the government since the shutdown began. After five others joined with Republicans, several Democrats decried their colleagues’ decision, which paved the way for the spending measure to advance toward a full vote in the Senate.

It would need to win approval in the Senate, pass the GOP-controlled House and be signed by President Donald Trump to bring the shutdown to an end.

The Senators Who Broke Ranks

Here are the eight senators — none of whom face reelection in 2026, and two of whom are retiring at the end of their terms — who broke ranks:

— Sen. Angus King of Maine: An independent who caucuses with Democrats, King was one of the lead negotiators of the deal. He said many “people are being hurt” by the shutdown, and that pain had pushed his colleagues to support a deal that would reopen the government without extending Affordable Care Act subsidies.

— Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia: Kaine said on Sunday evening that he was backing the deal after securing a provision in the temporary spending bill to reverse layoffs made during the shutdown and ensure that furloughed workers would receive back pay.

— Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois: The No. 2 Senate Democrat, who is retiring at the end of his term, Durbin underlined that the legislation advanced Sunday night was different from the one voted down by Democrats 14 times over the course of the shutdown because it included the provision to reverse layoffs. “This bill is not perfect, but it takes important steps to reduce their shutdown’s hurt,” Durbin said in a statement.

— Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania: For the 15th time, Fetterman voted with Republicans to end the shutdown. In a post on social media, he called himself “a consistent voice against shutting our government down,” and apologized to members of the military, food stamp recipients, government workers and Capitol Police officers “who haven’t been paid in weeks.”

— Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire: Hassan said in a statement that now was the time for Republicans to engage in “serious, bipartisan negotiations” to extend the expiring health insurance subsidies.

— Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire: Shaheen, who is retiring at the end of her term, said at a news conference that the legislation “is our best path” toward reopening the government and extending the health care tax credits.

— Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada: Cortez Masto said in a statement that while the government must extend the expiring health insurance subsidies, “that can’t come at the expense of the millions of Americans across our country impacted by a shutdown.”

— Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada: Rosen defended her vote in a statement, while accusing Republicans of “weaponizing their power in alarming ways” during the shutdown. She cited the withholding of food stamp benefits and reductions in air travel.

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This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

By Enjoli Liston/Tierney L. Cross
c. 2025 The New York Times Company