6 House Democrats explain why they broke ranks to vote to end the government shutdown
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The six House Democrats who broke with party leadership by voting for legislation ending the government shutdown are now speaking out about their actions, with one saying, “The last few weeks have been a case study in why most Americans can’t stand Congress.”
Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, Jared Golden of Maine, Adam Gray of California, Don Davis of North Carolina, Henry Cuellar of Texas and Tom Suozzi of New York were the six who voted with all but two Republicans to pass the bill by a margin of 222 to 209. President Donald Trump then signed the law Wednesday evening, ending the longest lockdown in U.S. history.
“Americans cannot afford for their representatives to be so busy achieving a partisan victory that they abandon their obligation to come together to solve the pressing issues facing our nation,” Gluesenkamp Perez said. wrote on X. “The past few weeks have been a case study in why most Americans can’t stand Congress. None of my friends who rely on SNAP would want to trade their dinner for an ambiguous ‘victory message’ on the DC beltway, and I’m glad that ugly scene is in the rearview mirror.”
The bill continues to fund the government at the same levels in FY 2025 through January 30 to provide more time to develop a longer appropriations measure for FY 2026. The measure also funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on which more than 42 million Americans rely through September. The program offers low-income or low-income individuals or families the opportunity to shop with a debit card.
JOHN FETTERMAN BREAKING WITH DEMOCRATS IN SHUTDOWN VOTE, SAYS IT’S AN “EASY CHOICE” TO PUT AMERICA FIRST
The six Democrats who broke ranks in the House by voting to end the government shutdown. Clockwise from top left: Jared Golden of Maine, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, Don Davis of North Carolina, Tom Suozzi of New York and Adam Gray of California. (Getty Images)
“I just voted to reopen the government, pay federal workers and restart food assistance and other essential programs,” he said. » Golden said Wednesday.
“Now that the shutdown is over, Congress should take immediate action to extend the expiring Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that keep health insurance plans affordable for millions of Americans. We still have a window to pass bipartisan legislation to extend these credits,” he also said.
Gray said in his own statement “No parent should have to choose between feeding their children and keeping the lights on because someone in Washington thinks chaos is a negotiating tactic.”
“That’s why I voted for a bipartisan deal that withdraws food aid for an entire year. So when the next lockdown comes (and in this divided Washington, there will always be the next lockdown), the president will no longer be able to use starving children as bargaining chips. This deal also protects veterans, small business owners and federal workers from being turned into political weapons,” he said.
Trump signs bill ending longest government shutdown in US history
President Donald Trump signs the funding bill aimed at ending the government shutdown at the White House in Washington, DC, Wednesday, November 12, 2025. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
Suozzi noted in his statement that “the situation at airports is becoming untenable and civil servants have gone without pay for too long.”
“If my colleagues across the aisle are willing to work together to solve this health insurance affordability crisis by extending premium tax credits, then we will have accomplished something significant.” he continued. “If we fail to succeed, it will be another blow to the already eroding trust in Washington, D.C., and it will be clear who has failed to deliver on their promises.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks to reporters as the House debates a continuing resolution to restore government funding in Washington, DC, Wednesday, November 12, 2025. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Cuellar said he voted to reopen the government “so we can get critical programs back on track,” adding that “this stability is especially important for our border communities, where so many families depend on federal agencies to maintain commerce, travel and public safety.”
Diana Stancy and Elizabeth Elkind of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
