119-HR-5371 Democratic Party Leader Whip Count Analysis
Economics and Public Finance
Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026This act ends the government shutdown that began on October 1, 2025, by...
H.R. 5371 cleared the House 217-212 on 9/19 with one Democrat (Golden) in support and two Republicans (Massie, Spartz) opposed; it twice failed in the Senate, most recently 55-45 on 9/30—five votes short of the 60 needed—with Cortez Masto, Fetterman and King breaking with Democrats and Rand Paul opposing from the GOP. Without policy concessions (notably an ACA subsidy extension), prospects for passage are low; business groups and health stakeholders back action, but Senate rules and leadership positioning keep Democrats unified enough to block the bill. [1]Congress.gov — House Roll Call Vote 281 (9/19/2025): H.R. 5371[2]U.S. Senate — U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 535 (9/30/2025): H.R. 5371[3]U.S. Senate — About Filibusters and Cloture[4]U.S. Chamber of Commerce — U.S. Chamber letter urging passage of H.R. 5371 (9/3…[5]American Medical Association — AMA National Advocacy Update (9/26/2025): telehe…
01 · Section
Breakdown: vote math and caucus posture
Where the votes are for H.R. 5371 (Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026).
House passage (9/19)
217yea (212 nay)
House party split
216R yeas; 2 R nays; 1 R NV / 1 D yea (Golden); 210 D nays; 2 D NV
Senate vote (9/30)
55yea (45 nay) — failed; 60 needed
Senate GOP defectors
1Paul (R-KY) opposed
Senate Dem/Ind crossovers
3Cortez Masto (D-NV), Fetterman (D-PA), King (I-ME) supported
- House: Passed 217-212. Party breakdown: Republicans 216-2-1 NV; Democrats 1-210-2 NV. The lone Democratic “yea” was Rep. Jared Golden (ME‑02). GOP “nays” were Reps. Thomas Massie (KY‑04) and Victoria Spartz (IN‑05). Rep. Jefferson Shreve (R‑IN) did not vote. [1]Congress.gov — House Roll Call Vote 281 (9/19/2025): H.R. 5371
- Senate: Failed 55-45 on 9/30 under a 3/5 threshold. Three Dem/Ind crossover “yeas” (Cortez Masto, Fetterman, King) and one GOP “nay” (Paul). A 60-vote hurdle applies to ending debate on appropriations vehicles absent consent. [2]U.S. Senate — U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 535 (9/30/2025): H.R. 5371[3]U.S. Senate — About Filibusters and Cloture
- Status/tracker: House passage; two Senate failures (9/19 at 44-48 and 9/30 at 55-45). [6]Congress.gov — All Info for H.R. 5371 (status tracker)
02 · Section
Key legislators (pivots and pressure points)
Members whose public votes, roles, or caucus alignment make them pivotal.
- Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D‑NV) — Broke with Democrats to support the bill; paired with Sen. Rosen (D‑NV) voting “nay,” highlighting intra‑state split; remains a key check on whether more moderates join a GOP CR without policy add‑ons. [2]U.S. Senate — U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 535 (9/30/2025): H.R. 5371
- Sen. John Fetterman (D‑PA) — Voted “yea,” positioning as an anti‑shutdown vote; his break did not trigger a broader Democratic defection. [2]U.S. Senate — U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 535 (9/30/2025): H.R. 5371
- Sen. Angus King (I‑ME) — Independent caucusing with Democrats; supported passage, indicating limited but real moderate openness; still shy of the 60‑vote mark. [2]U.S. Senate — U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 535 (9/30/2025): H.R. 5371
- Sen. Rand Paul (R‑KY) — The lone GOP “nay,” signaling the Republican conference cannot deliver 60 without multiple Democratic votes regardless of internal unity. [2]U.S. Senate — U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 535 (9/30/2025): H.R. 5371
- House Democratic outlier: Rep. Jared Golden (ME‑02) — The only Democrat to vote “yea,” consistent with his crossover record; could provide cover for a narrow House bipartisan coalition on a revised CR. [1]Congress.gov — House Roll Call Vote 281 (9/19/2025): H.R. 5371
- House GOP holdouts: Reps. Thomas Massie (KY‑04) and Victoria Spartz (IN‑05) voted “nay”; Rep. Jefferson Shreve (IN‑06) did not vote. Useful to watch if any Senate compromise drifts from a “clean” CR. [1]Congress.gov — House Roll Call Vote 281 (9/19/2025): H.R. 5371
03 · Section
Leadership influence and procedural dynamics
Positions of party leadership and committee chairs, and how Senate rules shape outcomes.
- Senate GOP leadership: Majority Leader John Thune has framed the House CR as the only viable short‑term vehicle and pressed Democrats to supply the remaining votes. [7]Washington Post — John Thune op-ed on funding strategy (9/29/2025)
- Senate Democratic leadership: Leader Chuck Schumer has repeatedly argued for a bipartisan alternative and against the GOP‑drafted CR; Democratic unity (minus three crossovers) has held at the 60‑vote chokepoint. [8]Senate Democratic Caucus — Schumer: need bipartisan action to avoid GOP shutdow…
- House Democratic leadership: Leader Hakeem Jeffries publicly opposed the Republican CR as a partisan measure that fails on health‑care priorities, signaling minimal House Democratic cover for the bill as written. [9]Office of Rep. Hakeem Jeffries — Jeffries: Democrats will not support partisan…
- Appropriations gatekeepers: House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R‑OK) is driving the CR strategy; Senate Appropriations is chaired by Sen. Susan Collins (R‑ME) with Sen. Patty Murray (D‑WA) as Vice Chair—important if any bipartisan manager’s package emerges. [10]House Appropriations Committee (R) — Cole takes oath; continues as House Approp…[11]Senate Appropriations Committee — Collins, Murray announce Senate Appropriation…
- Senate rules: Because debate-limiting votes generally require three‑fifths of all Senators (normally 60), a GOP‑only strategy cannot succeed; at least five to six Democratic votes are needed given one GOP “nay.” [3]U.S. Senate — About Filibusters and Cloture[2]U.S. Senate — U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 535 (9/30/2025): H.R. 5371
04 · Section
Assessment: likelihood of passage
Bottom line for whip operations and coalition management.
- Current votes: The Senate’s best showing (55 “yea”) falls five short of cloture; with one GOP “nay,” practical need is 5–6 Democratic adds. [2]U.S. Senate — U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 535 (9/30/2025): H.R. 5371
- Path to 60: Absent substantive policy concessions (notably an Affordable Care Act premium‑tax‑credit extension that Democrats have prioritized), additional Democratic votes are unlikely. Leadership posture on both sides hardens that dynamic. [8]Senate Democratic Caucus — Schumer: need bipartisan action to avoid GOP shutdow…
- House outlook: If a Senate‑negotiated revision returns with health‑care language, expect a material increase in House Democratic yeas while retaining most GOP support; as written, House Dems remain nearly unified “no.” [1]Congress.gov — House Roll Call Vote 281 (9/19/2025): H.R. 5371
- Mobilization vs. backlash: Business/economic voices and provider groups favor a fast CR; however, a GOP‑only bill risks further cementing Democratic opposition in the Senate without winning the marginal votes needed to clear the 60‑vote bar. [4]U.S. Chamber of Commerce — U.S. Chamber letter urging passage of H.R. 5371 (9/3…[12]Business Roundtable — Business Roundtable urges Congress to avoid shutdown (9/3…[5]American Medical Association — AMA National Advocacy Update (9/26/2025): telehe…
05 · Section
Sourcing (key references)
Primary references for vote counts, leadership positions, rules, and stakeholder pressure.
- House roll call (9/19): vote totals and member‑level positions (Golden yea; Massie/Spartz nay; Shreve NV). [1]Congress.gov — House Roll Call Vote 281 (9/19/2025): H.R. 5371
- Senate roll call (9/30): 55‑45 failure; member‑level list (Cortez Masto, Fetterman, King yeas; Paul nay). [2]U.S. Senate — U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 535 (9/30/2025): H.R. 5371
- Bill tracker/status and House passage record. [6]Congress.gov — All Info for H.R. 5371 (status tracker)
- Senate rules on cloture/filibuster (three‑fifths threshold). [3]U.S. Senate — About Filibusters and Cloture
- Leadership positions: Thune op‑ed; Schumer Senate Democratic Caucus releases; Jeffries press statements. [7]Washington Post — John Thune op-ed on funding strategy (9/29/2025)[8]Senate Democratic Caucus — Schumer: need bipartisan action to avoid GOP shutdow…[9]Office of Rep. Hakeem Jeffries — Jeffries: Democrats will not support partisan…
- Appropriations chairs/rosters (Cole; Collins/Murray). [10]House Appropriations Committee (R) — Cole takes oath; continues as House Approp…[11]Senate Appropriations Committee — Collins, Murray announce Senate Appropriation…
- Stakeholder pressure: U.S. Chamber and Business Roundtable letters/statements; AMA telehealth advocacy. [4]U.S. Chamber of Commerce — U.S. Chamber letter urging passage of H.R. 5371 (9/3…[12]Business Roundtable — Business Roundtable urges Congress to avoid shutdown (9/3…[5]American Medical Association — AMA National Advocacy Update (9/26/2025): telehe…
Sources cited
- [1] House Roll Call Vote 281 (9/19/2025): H.R. 5371 Congress.gov
- [2] U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 535 (9/30/2025): H.R. 5371 U.S. Senate
- [3] About Filibusters and Cloture U.S. Senate
- [4] U.S. Chamber letter urging passage of H.R. 5371 (9/30/2025) U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- [5] AMA National Advocacy Update (9/26/2025): telehealth flexibilities expiring Sept. 30 American Medical Association
- [6] All Info for H.R. 5371 (status tracker) Congress.gov
- [7] John Thune op-ed on funding strategy (9/29/2025) Washington Post
- [8] Schumer: need bipartisan action to avoid GOP shutdown (press release) Senate Democratic Caucus
- [9] Jeffries: Democrats will not support partisan GOP spending bill (9/16/2025) Office of Rep. Hakeem Jeffries
- [10] Cole takes oath; continues as House Appropriations Chair (119th) House Appropriations Committee (R)
- [11] Collins, Murray announce Senate Appropriations leadership/rosters (119th) Senate Appropriations Committee
- [12] Business Roundtable urges Congress to avoid shutdown (9/30/2025) Business Roundtable
Discussion