House Democrats say Republicans in Congress ultimately hold responsibility for failing to keep the federal government open. And they say some GOP members of Florida’s congressional delegation may pay the price for it.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC[1]) blasted Reps. Anna Paulina Luna, a St. Petersburg Republican, and María Elvira Salazar, a Coral Gables Republican, for leaving Washington before a budget deal could be reached ahead of a federal shutdown[2].
“Anna Paulina Luna and María Elvira Salazar helped House Republicans barrel the nation toward a shutdown because they decided that averting skyrocketing health care costs for millions of Americans wasn’t worth their time,” said Madison Andrus, DCCC spokesperson.
“Make no mistake, Luna and Salazar own this shutdown, and they own the harm and higher costs facing working Floridians.”
Notably, both Luna and Salazar voted for a budget resolution that passed in the House[3] but has not been able to get through the Senate.
Both lawmakers also represent districts the DCCC lists as in play[4] this election cycle, and House Democrats hope voters punish the unpopular President Donald Trump and GOP majorities in the House and Senate in the 2026 Midterms.
Both Republican lawmakers also went home in their districts after the budget resolution passed, more than a week before the government finally shut down on Oct. 1 and while congressional leaders were still negotiating a deal.
Of note, Rep. Cory Mills, a New Smyrna Beach Republican also targeted by Democrats this year, stayed in town, thus avoiding this round of wrath from the DCCC.
Republicans have said the only reason a deal could not be reached was because of a recalcitrant Democratic minority. They have their own messaging[5] going out that pressures House Democrats in battleground districts.
“Democrats are solely responsible for this government shutdown. Democrats are holding up critical funding for our veterans, seniors, law enforcement, and working families because they want to pass a far-left wish list costing more than $1 trillion,” said Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters.
“(Minority Leaders) Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, and every Democrat that follows them are fighting for health care for illegal aliens, Medicaid fraud, and taxpayer-funded sex changes.”
However, Democrats held out because the deal affects spending on health care, which also impacts constituents in GOP-held districts. The expiration of an Affordable Care Act tax credit, for example, will double premiums for 231,000 living in Salazar’s South Florida district.
References
- ^ DCCC (dccc.org)
- ^ federal shutdown (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ passed in the House (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ in play (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ their own messaging (wp.me)