As the partial government shutdown stretches into its third day, Democrats in Congress are making healthcare their rallying point, hoping it will resonate with voters ahead of
the 2026 midterms.
Republicans, who hold a slim majority in the House, have pushed a stopgap bill that would fund government operations only through November 21. Democrats, meanwhile, are backing a plan to continue and expand Affordable Care Act subsidies for the 24 million Americans who rely on them.
The strategy is clear: Democrats hope that focusing on access to affordable healthcare—a concern that hits home for millions—could give them an edge in next year’s elections, when control of both the House and Senate will be up for grabs.
“The American people understand clearly that Republicans forced a government shutdown because they are hell-bent on defunding Americans’ health care,” said Katarina Flicker, a spokesperson for House Majority PAC. “It will cost them at the ballot box in 2026.”
Historically, Democrats have tended to oppose shutdowns. In past standoffs, shutdowns were often driven by Republicans seeking cuts to government spending or, during Trump’s first term, by his push for border wall funding.
Now, with Republicans holding a narrow 219-213 House majority and facing the usual midterm headwinds for the president’s party, Democrats see an opportunity. Some Republican-led states are also working to redraw congressional maps ahead of 2026, hoping to make it harder for Democrats to gain seats.
In the Senate, Republicans hold a 53-47 majority and are widely expected to defend it. For Democrats to flip the chamber, they would need to hold on to seats in Georgia and Michigan—states Trump carried—and win competitive races in Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, Iowa, or Texas.
Who Gets the Blame?
Polls show Americans are placing slightly more blame on Republicans for the shutdown. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer seized on that, warning that prolonging the shutdown could increase public frustration with Trump’s party.
Not all Democrats are fully confident, though. Mark Penn, a former adviser to President Bill Clinton, cautioned on X that a shutdown could backfire, even if it energizes the Democratic base.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson echoed concerns about the human impact of the shutdown. “It's very important for us to say who's being hurt in this,” he told Fox Business. “This is real pain to real people, and Chuck Schumer and the Democrats in the Senate seem not to care.” Photo by Scrumshus, Wikimedia commons.