Follow the Money: The Real Story Behind the Shutdown Hold-Out
If you’re wondering why Senate Democrats continue to block a “clean” continuing resolution (CR) to reopen the government, start with the paper trail. Public records show substantial insurance-industry campaign money flowing to many members — while the same industry spends tens of millions of dollars lobbying Congress on the exact policy pieces at the center of this fight.
Receipts: Who took the most insurance money this cycle (2023–24)
Among Democrats (and Dem-caucusing independents) who did not back the latest CR, these senators rank near the top for Insurance industry contributions this cycle:
| Senator | State | Insurance $ (’24 cycle) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sherrod Brown | OH | $626,325 | OpenSecrets (F09) |
| Jon Tester | MT | $504,473 | OpenSecrets (F09) |
| Bob Casey | PA | $478,438 | OpenSecrets (F09) |
| Tammy Baldwin | WI | $376,972 | OpenSecrets (F09) |
Industry code F09 = Insurance. Totals reflect contributions from insurance-sector PACs and employees to campaign/leadership committees in the 2024 cycle, as published by OpenSecrets.
Who’s not holding out
Three caucus members publicly broke ranks and supported the GOP CR:
- John Fetterman (D-PA) Supported CR
- Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) Supported CR
- Angus King (I-ME) Supported CR
Everyone else in the Democratic caucus: still holding out
Per the Senate’s official roll-call (Vote #535, Sept. 30, 2025), the bill drew 55 Yeas — short of the 60 needed. The names below are Democrats & independents who caucus with Democrats not publicly reported as voting for that CR — i.e., the hold-out bloc.
- Tammy Baldwin (WI)
- Michael Bennet (CO)
- Richard Blumenthal (CT)
- Cory Booker (NJ)
- Sherrod Brown (OH)
- Maria Cantwell (WA)
- Bob Casey (PA)
- Chris Coons (DE)
- Tammy Duckworth (IL)
- Dick Durbin (IL)
- Kirsten Gillibrand (NY)
- Maggie Hassan (NH)
- Martin Heinrich (NM)
- John Hickenlooper (CO)
- Mazie Hirono (HI)
- Tim Kaine (VA)
- Mark Kelly (AZ)
- Amy Klobuchar (MN)
- Ed Markey (MA)
- Jeff Merkley (OR)
- Chris Murphy (CT)
- Patty Murray (WA)
- Jon Ossoff (GA)
- Alex Padilla (CA)
- Gary Peters (MI)
- Jack Reed (RI)
- Jacky Rosen (NV)
- Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
- Brian Schatz (HI)
- Chuck Schumer (NY)
- Jeanne Shaheen (NH)
- Tina Smith (MN)
- Jon Tester (MT)
- Chris Van Hollen (MD)
- Mark Warner (VA)
- Raphael Warnock (GA)
- Elizabeth Warren (MA)
- Peter Welch (VT)
- Sheldon Whitehouse (RI)
- Ron Wyden (OR)
- Adam Schiff (CA)
- Angela Alsobrooks (MD)
- Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE)
- Ruben Gallego (AZ)
- Elissa Slotkin (MI)
- Andy Kim (NJ)
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Association — about $27.1M in federal lobbying
- AHIP (insurers’ trade group) — about $11.8M
- UnitedHealth Group — about $7.5M
Why this matters for readers
When you see a shutdown stretched out for weeks while talks fixate on specific health-policy pieces, compare positions to the money trail. It doesn’t prove illegal behavior — but it does show who’s financially aligned with keeping the current system in place.
Sources
- U.S. Senate Roll Call #535 (Sept. 30, 2025) — “A bill making continuing appropriations …”: Senate.gov
- H.R. 5371 legislative history and repeated failed cloture attempts (Sept–Oct 2025): Congress.gov
- Insurance industry → candidates (cycle 2024), and industry summary (F09): OpenSecrets F09 summary
- Insurance PACs detail (who’s giving): OpenSecrets — Insurance PACs
Note: Campaign-finance figures are updated periodically by OpenSecrets from FEC filings; totals may shift modestly with later updates or amendments.
