Which Democrats Voted for the Budget Bill in the Senate in 2025?

On March 15, 2025, the U.S. Senate passed a six-month funding bill to avert a government shutdown, a move that exposed deep rifts within the Democratic Party. While the bill passed with a final vote of 54-46, the procedural vote to advance it (62-38) saw ten Democrats break ranks and join Republicans, defying the majority of their party. This Democrats budget bill Senate 2025 decision sparked intense debate and backlash, raising questions about party unity and strategy under a Republican-controlled Congress and President Donald Trump’s second term. As of June 6, 2025, the fallout from this vote continues to reverberate. Let’s dive into which Democrats supported the bill, why they did so, and what it means for the future of Democratic politics.

The Budget Bill Vote That Shook the Senate

The Senate faced a critical decision in mid-March 2025: pass a Republican-led six-month funding bill (a continuing resolution, or CR) to keep the government running through September 30, 2025, or risk a shutdown. The House had narrowly passed the bill on March 12 (217-213), with only one Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden (ME), voting yes. The bill cut non-defense spending by $13 billion, increased military funding by $6 billion, and gave Trump significant discretion over federal spending, a point of contention for Democrats who saw it as a “blank check” for the administration.

In the Senate, Republicans needed at least eight Democratic votes to overcome a 60-vote filibuster threshold. Initially, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY) opposed the bill, advocating for a 30-day extension to negotiate a bipartisan deal. However, on March 14, Schumer reversed course, announcing he would support the CR to avoid a shutdown that could empower Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to make unilateral cuts. The procedural vote to advance the bill passed 62-38, with ten Democrats joining Republicans, followed by the final passage at 54-46, though fewer Democrats supported the latter.

Which Democrats Broke Ranks to Support the Bill?

The Senate Democrats funding bill vote revealed a surprising coalition of Democrats who prioritized avoiding a shutdown over party opposition. Here’s the list of those who voted yes on the procedural vote to advance the bill:

• Chuck Schumer (NY): The Senate Minority Leader led the charge, arguing a shutdown would hurt Americans more than the bill’s flaws.
• John Fetterman (PA): Known for his pragmatic streak, Fetterman supported Schumer’s stance early on.
• Catherine Cortez Masto (NV): A key swing-state senator, she joined the effort to keep the government open.
• Dick Durbin (IL): The Senate Majority Whip, Durbin’s vote signaled senior leadership’s alignment with Schumer.
• Brian Schatz (HI): Schatz cited the impact of a shutdown on federal workers in Hawaii as his reason for voting yes.
• Gary Peters (MI): Peters emphasized Congress’s basic duty to “keep the lights on.”
• Maggie Hassan (NH): Representing a purple state, Hassan opted for stability over a shutdown.
• Kirsten Gillibrand (NY): Gillibrand’s vote aligned with her state colleague Schumer’s leadership.
• Jeanne Shaheen (NH): Shaheen was one of only two Democrats to vote yes on final passage, alongside Angus King.
• Angus King (ME): An independent who caucuses with Democrats, King also supported final passage, citing the risks of a shutdown.

Notably, only Shaheen and King voted yes on the final passage, indicating that most Democrats who advanced the bill did so strategically to avoid a filibuster but opposed the bill’s content in the end.

Why Did These Democrats Vote Yes?

The Chuck Schumer budget vote and the decisions of the other nine Democrats were driven by a mix of pragmatism and political calculus:

• Avoiding a Shutdown’s Fallout: A shutdown would have furloughed federal workers, halted services, and disrupted veterans’ healthcare—issues that could hurt Democrats politically. Schumer argued that a shutdown would give Trump and Musk unchecked power to decide which programs were “essential,” potentially slashing SNAP benefits or firing federal workers.
• Protecting Vulnerable Constituents: Senators like Schatz (HI) and Peters (MI) highlighted the impact on their states’ federal employees and services. Hawaii, for instance, has a significant federal workforce, and a shutdown would have caused “deep pain,” Schatz noted.
• Strategic Compromise: With Republicans controlling both chambers and the White House, some Democrats saw supporting the bill as a way to maintain influence in future negotiations. Fetterman and Cortez Masto, from battleground states, likely weighed the political cost of a shutdown against a “yes” vote.
• Leadership Pressure: Schumer’s reversal provided cover for others to vote yes. As a party leader, his decision signaled that avoiding a shutdown was the lesser evil, despite the bill’s flaws.

However, this pragmatic approach came at a cost, as many Democrats felt the bill surrendered too much power to Trump, especially with its lack of oversight on spending reallocation.

The Fallout Within the Democratic Party

The Democrats funding bill backlash was swift and fierce. House Democrats, who had nearly unanimously opposed the bill (except for Golden), felt betrayed. Leaders like Hakeem Jeffries, Nancy Pelosi, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez publicly criticized Schumer’s decision. Jeffries, along with Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar, issued a joint statement from a party retreat, declaring, “House Democrats will not be complicit.” Ocasio-Cortez called the vote a “betrayal” across the party, not just among progressives.

In the Senate, opposition was equally vocal. Sen. Patty Murray (WA), the top Democratic appropriator, warned the bill could allow Trump to divert funds from programs like fentanyl combat to mass deportations. Sen. Martin Heinrich (NM) argued that supporting the bill meant avoiding confrontation with a “bully” (Trump), a stance he couldn’t back. Posts on X reflected public anger, with users like @franifio calling for primaries against the ten Democrats, labeling their votes as a failure to fight “authoritarian fascism.”

The vote exposed a rift between pragmatic and progressive wings of the party, potentially weakening Democratic unity as they navigate Trump’s second term. Schumer’s leadership was questioned, with some wondering if his short-term focus ignored long-term consequences.

What Does This Mean for Future Legislation?

The Democrats budget bill Senate 2025 vote sets a precedent for how Democrats will operate in a Republican-dominated government. Key implications include:

• Party Unity Challenges: The backlash suggests Democrats may struggle to present a united front against Trump’s agenda, especially on contentious issues like tax cuts or border security. The April 2025 budget resolution (Web:1) passed along party lines, but this earlier vote shows some Democrats may cross the aisle when stakes are high.
• Negotiation Leverage: By avoiding a shutdown, Democrats preserved some leverage for future talks, but critics argue they ceded too much power to Trump. The bill’s passage without Democratic input may embolden Republicans to push more partisan measures.
• Voter Sentiment: Public frustration, as seen on X, could impact these senators’ re-elections. Schumer, Gillibrand, and others may face primary challenges if progressive voters mobilize against them.
• Policy Impacts: The bill’s $13 billion cut to non-defense programs and increased military spending reflect Republican priorities. Democrats will need to strategize how to protect programs like Medicaid and SNAP in future budget battles, especially with the reconciliation process now in play (Web:1).

This vote highlights the delicate balance Democrats face: opposing Trump’s agenda while avoiding outcomes that hurt their constituents more than a flawed bill.

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