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The 2025 authorities shutdown is about to enter its second week, with Democrats and Republicans nonetheless unable to agree on a federal funding deal.
It is the primary authorities shutdown since 2019, when federal companies had been shuttered for 35 days.
Each side have been blaming the opposite for the dysfunction in Washington; Democrats are accusing Republicans of letting healthcare premiums go up for hundreds of thousands of Individuals, whereas the GOP is blaming the left for placing susceptible Individuals in danger whereas holding the federal government hostage for partisan calls for.
Political strategists who spoke with Fox Information Digital, nevertheless, have downplayed the shutdown’s results on the approaching 2026 elections.
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The federal government entered a partial shutdown after Congress failed to achieve an settlement on federal funding. (Getty Pictures)
“Each time there was a shutdown, there have been myriad of tales on winners and losers, who will get the blame, what does it imply for the elections, and so on. And but, each time the end result is identical — voters aren’t serious about the final shutdown after they vote,” GOP strategist Doug Heye informed Fox Information Digital.
“Republicans ‘misplaced’ the 2013 shutdown. Impacts on the 2014 election? Zero. May this be completely different? Possibly. However there’s nothing to counsel that but.”
Others have steered Republicans may see some public blame, however equally argued that different points — particularly, the economic system and value of dwelling — would take priority in voters’ minds subsequent 12 months.
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN SPARKS GOP PLAN TO PENALIZE LAWMAKERS WITH NEW SALARY TAX
“In the end, what is going on to resolve the midterms subsequent 12 months goes to be the economic system. Persons are very upset concerning the economic system. They’re very upset about inflation. They had been promised that every thing was going to get inexpensive. Now every thing’s dearer,” stated Mike Nellis, a Democratic strategist and founding father of fundraising and campaigns agency Genuine.
“So I feel that is going to be a a lot larger decider than the federal government shutdown.”
Within the brief time period, nevertheless, Nellis stated he noticed Republicans bearing the brunt of the blame — noting they management the Home, Senate and White Home.
“Sometimes, neither celebration seems to be good throughout a shutdown, simply broadly. However the celebration in energy will get blamed for what’s occurring,” he stated.
Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks to reporters on the White Home with Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., and Vice President JD Vance behind him throughout negotiations with President Trump and congressional leaders on Sept. 29, 2025. (Annabelle Gordon/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures)
In the meantime, John Feehery of EFB Advocacy, who served as press secretary to former Republican Home Speaker Dennis J. Hastert, stated blame would fall largely alongside celebration strains.
He added that Independents, nevertheless, would possible blame the GOP, “as a result of they’re those who sometimes like shutdowns.”
“I’d say that despite the fact that the Democrats clearly are guilty for this, as a result of that is their technique, I feel Republicans are going to get blamed barely greater than the Democrats,” Feehery stated.
On the 2026 electoral impacts, nevertheless, he stated, “There’s winners and losers within the parlor video games in Washington, however amongst the American folks…they blame either side, and so they do not appear to actually take it out on whoever the celebration in energy is.”
Brad Bannon of polling agency Bannon Communications Analysis, a Democratic strategist, stated inflation would possible matter greater than the shutdown in 2026.
“If costs begin taking place, you already know, the entire challenge wouldn’t be an issue for Republicans, and it will not have any impression,” Bannon stated. “I feel the important thing query isn’t how lengthy the shutdown lasts, however how a lot, in 13 months, inflation continues to be an issue.”
He pointed to a current ballot within the Washington Put up that confirmed Republicans seeing barely extra blame for the present shutdown than Democrats when it comes to short-term impression.
That ballot confirmed 47% of Individuals blaming Republicans, in comparison with 30% blaming Democrats. Twenty-three % of individuals had been undecided.
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., left, speaks to the media subsequent to Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on the day President Trump met with prime congressional leaders on the White Home in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 29, 2025. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
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The shutdown is poised to enter its second week after Senate Democrats rejected the GOP’s plan for a fourth time on Friday.
The measure, referred to as a seamless decision (CR), is a largely flat seven-week extension of present federal funding ranges. It additionally would come with $88 million in safety funding for lawmakers, the White Home and the judicial department — which has bipartisan help.
However Democrats within the Home and Senate had been infuriated by being sidelined in federal funding talks.
They’ve been pushing for an extension of Obamacare subsidies enhanced in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. These enhancements would expire by the top of 2025 with out congressional motion.
Republican leaders have signaled openness to discussions about reforming and enhancing these healthcare credit however are rejecting Democrats’ demand to incorporate them within the seven-week invoice.
