Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., accused Senate Democrats of deliberately prolonging the government shutdown to gain political leverage ahead of upcoming elections in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York City, stating that the party aims to create a narrative blaming President Donald Trump for the crisis. Tenney argued that Democrats are using the situation to advance their agenda, claiming they “know their base will go bananas and be discouraged if they cave right now to this artificial shutdown.” She criticized Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s continued resolution, which relies on “Biden COVID-era funding,” calling it a “stunt” and highlighting statements from Democratic figures such as House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, who reportedly suggested that “the people have to suffer and feel some pain. It’s the only leverage we have.”
Tenney also condemned New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, labeling him a “Marxist” and accusing him of seeking to “take over the means of production” and promoting “authoritarianism.” She described Mamdani as a “snake-oil salesman” who conceals his radical record and warned that his potential victory would have “dangerous consequences” for the state. Tenney claimed she lived in a communist country, the former Yugoslavia, and asserted that “socialism always fails. It always hurts people.” She further criticized the Democratic Party’s embrace of far-left politics, calling it a sign of its “total collapse” and accusing leaders of prioritizing “power, manipulation, and lies.”
