Democrats' Strong Stance After Election Wins

Democrats are digging in their heels after recent election wins. They're not backing down from their fight with Republicans over healthcare. Senator Bernie Sanders led the charge, warning Democrats not to give in without a real win on healthcare. He even had polling data to back up his claims. Voters would not be happy if Democrats gave up without getting anything in return. The elections gave Democrats a big boost. They won big in Virginia, a state with many federal workers affected by the shutdown. This victory showed that people support Democrats standing up for what they believe in. Senator Chris Murphy put it bluntly: "It would be very strange if on the heels of the American people rewarding Democrats for standing up and fighting, we surrendered without getting anything. " But not everyone is on the same page. Some centrist Democrats are still talking to Republicans about ending the shutdown. They're trying to find a middle ground, but it's not clear if that will include the healthcare commitments that some Democrats want. Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona was vague when asked about the elections and what it means for the shutdown talks. He just said Democrats are discussing a "reasonable path forward" with the GOP.Meanwhile, Republicans are feeling the heat. President Trump himself admitted that the shutdown is hurting his party. He said publicly that "the shutdown was a big factor, negative for the Republicans. " Senator Jim Justice agreed, telling CNN, "Look, if you didn’t, you’re living in a cave. That’s all there’s to it. Of course, it did. " The pressure is now on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Sanders showed up at Schumer's press conference to make sure the message was clear: Democrats need to keep fighting. Schumer, however, didn't give a clear answer. He just said that Democrats need to address healthcare needs and that Trump should talk to him and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. It's still unclear if Trump will change his strategy. He's been resistant to giving Democrats any more concessions. Instead, he's suggested that Senate Republicans abolish the filibuster, an idea that GOP leaders have dismissed. Some Trump advisers believe that moderate Democrats will eventually want to find a way out of the shutdown, even if progressive Democrats want to keep fighting. Republicans are feeling the pressure to find a resolution. The shutdown is causing real pain for millions of Americans. And Trump is pushing harder for the party to take drastic measures. One Senate GOP aide warned that a "losing Trump" would be more dangerous, especially if it looks like Republicans will lose the midterms.