The government shutdown that began on October 1 has stretched past a month, leaving federal workers without paychecks and raising alarms over programs like SNAP benefits and disruptions in air travel. Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, have blocked Republican efforts to pass a clean continuing resolution more than a dozen times, insisting on adding provisions for healthcare funding for illegal immigrants.
On Sunday’s “Sunday Morning Futures” on Fox News, host Maria Bartiromo pressed Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on whether the impasse might break this week. Cruz laid out his view on the timing.
“I think it’s likely to open Wednesday or Thursday of this week,” Cruz said. “The Democrats will wait until after Election Day because they think a shutdown is good for energizing the crazies in their party. But I think it will either be late this week or early next week.”
With Election Day falling on November 4, Cruz’s prediction points to a resolution shortly after voters head to the polls in key races, including Virginia’s state elections where federal employees make up a significant portion of the population. Democrats may see the standoff as a way to fire up their supporters by framing it as a stand against Republicans, but signs suggest the strategy could flop.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union representing federal workers, broke ranks last week and demanded an immediate end to the shutdown. In a statement on October 27, AFGE National President Everett Kelley declared, “It’s time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown today. No half measures, and no gamesmanship.”
Despite the plea, Democrats have shown no signs of budging, even as their own allies highlight the real harm to working families.
Polling data tells a mixed story, but some indicators show Republicans holding steady or even improving their standing. CNN senior data analyst Harry Enten noted that the GOP’s overall brand approval has climbed by 2 points since the shutdown started, with congressional Republicans up by 5 points. Gains appear strongest among independents (up 8 points) and the party’s base (up 12 points).
Meanwhile, other surveys from outlets like Quinnipiac and CBS paint a broader picture of public frustration, with blame spread across both parties and President Trump, though these often reflect media narratives that downplay Democratic responsibility.
Cruz has been vocal on the issue, refusing his own Senate salary during the shutdown and calling out Democrats on social media for prioritizing politics over people. In a recent post, he stated, “The Schumer Shutdown is not going well for Democrats — they’re panicking. This is going to end with complete and total capitulation from Democrats.”
As the White House labels it the “Democrats’ Government Shutdown,” the prolonged stalemate exposes a willingness to play games with essential services and the economy to chase electoral gains. If Cruz is right, the coming days after the election could force Schumer and his caucus to fold, reopening the government without their demanded extras. But until then, millions feel the pinch from a crisis that never needed to happen.
The Communists, which is really what the Democrat Party has become, don’t give a damn about people, working families, unions or any other group of people. They just want to foment chaos and revolution in America. They hate the American people and they hate America. They are evil and insane.