By Mark Swanson | Monday, 10 November 2025 06:01 PM EST
California Gov. Gavin Newsom joined the chorus of Democrats criticizing Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., over the agreement to end the federal shutdown, calling it a “betrayal” and “capitulation.”
Newsom reacted to the late Sunday night deal accepting a Republican proposal that included a promise of a vote on Obamacare subsidies. Eight moderate Senate Democrats defected and agreed to end the weeks-long government shutdown without securing guarantees to preserve enhanced tax credits.
“Tonight’s Senate vote on the federal government shutdown should have been a time for strength. Instead we saw capitulation and a betrayal of working Americans. The American people need more from their leaders,” Newsom stated in a post to X. In an earlier message, he labeled the outcome a “surrender.”
Schumer opposed the bipartisan stopgap deal but faced backlash from liberals in both chambers, who accused him of being weak and ineffective. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., urged Schumer to step down, arguing that if he could not prevent premium hikes, he should no longer lead Senate Democrats.
Two weeks into the shutdown, Schumer convinced moderates to delay reopening the government until Nov. 1, the start of open enrollment, according to Axios. During a recent caucus meeting, a moderate reportedly admitted they would not have initiated the shutdown independently but followed Schumer’s guidance.
The rebellion highlights growing divisions within the Democratic Party, with progressives pushing for a shutdown-level fight to secure Obamacare subsidies while moderates prioritized reopening the government.
After 40 days of stalemate, Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.; Jacky Rosen, D-Nev.; Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H.; Maggie Hassan, D-N.H.; and Tim Kaine, D-Va., along with John Fetterman, D-Pa., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and Angus King, I-Maine, advanced the legislation. Fetterman, Masto, and King, who caucus with Democrats, had consistently supported the House Republicans’ continuing resolution.
Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky remained the sole GOP holdout on the CR.
