Senate Democrats Defy Pelosi, Left-wing Base To Advance GOP Spending Bill

10 Senate Democrats Defy Pelosi, Left-Wing Base To Advance GOP Spending Bill

The Senate voted 62 to 38 Friday evening to advance a GOP spending bill to avert a partial government shutdown set to occur Saturday at 12:01 a.m.

Nine Senate Democrats joined Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to vote “yes” on the cloture vote to advance the stopgap government funding bill that will fund government operations through the end of September. Schumer’s decision to join Republicans in preventing a government shutdown has been met with scathing criticism from the party’s left-wing base, dozens of congressional Democrats, including House Democratic leadership and even former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. (RELATED: Democrats’ 2028 Field Is Already Turning Into A Circular Firing Squad)

At least seven Democrats had to join Schumer to advance the GOP spending bill, given the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster. Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul was the lone GOP lawmaker to vote “no” during the cloture vote.

Democrats’ public meltdown at Schumer for committing to advance the GOP spending bill reflects a party deeply divided over whether to give Republicans a “win” by voting for their government funding measure or letting the government shut down. High-profile members of the Senate Democratic conference, including Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, a member of the Democratic leadership, bucked Schumer to oppose the spending bill.

Senate Democrats were heard screaming while in a fierce debate with their colleagues over how to proceed on the House-passed CR Thursday, according to one report.