Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) alleges that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer privately instructed Democratic senators to keep the government shut down until after key elections. According to Mullin, the strategy was designed to protect voter turnout and avoid political fallout before election day.
“Wait It Out Until After the Election”
Speaking in an interview, Mullin said Democratic leadership encouraged senators to hold off on negotiations with Republicans, suggesting that reopening the government before the election could weaken Democratic momentum.
Mullin said one Democratic senator told him their “neck is in a guillotine” politically and that Schumer privately signaled relief would come only after the election.
Mullin added that Sen. Dick Durbin reportedly wanted to break ranks and reopen the government — but Schumer pushed to delay action.
Alleged Political Motivation Over Policy
Mullin argued that the strategy puts political priorities above public interest, saying Democrats were more concerned about turnout in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York than the economic strain caused by the shutdown.
He claimed Democrats are holding the American public “as leverage,” describing the move as purely political rather than policy-driven.
Shutdown Enters Fifth Week
The government shutdown has now stretched into its fifth week, with both parties locked in a standoff. Democrats continue to advocate for funding priorities including:
- Healthcare programs that include coverage for undocumented immigrants
- Federal support for public broadcasting
- New spending estimated at $1.5 trillion
Republicans, meanwhile, have pushed to reopen the government without these provisions.
Signs of Movement After the Polls Closed
As polls closed, reports suggested Senate Democrats were preparing new steps toward reopening the government — a shift that appears to align with Mullin’s assertions about political timing.
House Speaker Mike Johnson previously accused Democrats of deliberately extending the shutdown through the No Kings protest on October 18, arguing the delay was strategic.
Did Shutdown Politics Drive Strategy?
Mullin claims Schumer believed the shutdown was benefiting Democrats, allegedly saying each day of closure worked in their favor, even as federal workers faced missed paychecks.
The allegations highlight a broader question in Washington:
Was the shutdown a policy battle — or a political calculation?
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