Jeanne Shaheen’s Shutdown Vote Put Her On The Outs With Dems — And Her Daughter

WASHINGTON—The Senate’s move towards ending the government shutdown sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party, pitting former allies against each other — including a senator and her daughter.

New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen was one of the Democrats who voted to break the filibuster Sunday night, a necessary first step towards ending the longest-ever government shutdown. Many Democrats opposed the move, claiming the shutdown will all be for naught if lawmakers cannot guarantee an extension of Obamacare subsidies. Shaheen acknowledged this opposition in a statement framing her vote less as a win than a necessity.

“This agreement gives Democrats control of the Senate floor — at a time when Republicans control every level of power — on one of our top legislative priorities: Extending the enhanced premium tax credits to make health care more affordable for millions of Americans,” Shaheen said.

“There is no one in the Senate who wants to see these tax credits extended more than me,” the Senator added. “But weeks of negotiations with Republicans have made clear that they will not address health care as part of shutdown talks — and that waiting longer will only prolong the pain Americans are feeling because of the shutdown.”

Not everyone agrees with Shaheen. That includes the senator’s daughter, Stefany, who’s running in New Hampshire’s First Congressional District.

“Improving health care has been the cause of my life,” the younger Shaheen said. “It’s why I am running for Congress. So I cannot support this deal when Speaker Johnson refuses to even allow a vote to extend health care tax credits.”

“Too many people will see health care costs that are already too high skyrocket even further starting in January,” she added. “This means more people will be uninsured, unable to see a doctor in times of need, and risk bankruptcy because of a diagnosis.”

Lawmakers who favored keeping the government closed say that extending Obamacare subsidies was essential, since premiums would skyrocket if they expire at the end of this year. Republicans say that the need for these subsidies is proof that the Affordable Care Act was unaffordable to begin with, and that the subsidies were not worth holding the government hostage.

Stefany Shaheen has a foot in each camp, saying, “We need to both end this shutdown and extend the ACA tax credits. Otherwise, no deal.”

It’s essential to ensure people have access to health care, and it’s past time to put paychecks back into people’s pockets and food back on families’ tables,” she added.

The Cook Political Report ranks Shaheen’s race as a “Likely Democrat.” The seat is currently held by Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), who is running to succeed the elder Shaheen, who plans to retire upon finishing her term in 2027.

The federal government has not reopened as of Monday early afternoon, as the legislation in the Senate still needs a final vote before it heads to the Republican-majority House, and presumably President Donald Trump’s desk afterward.

Shaheen did not respond to a request for comment on her daughter’s statement.