Democrats tap the brakes on ending government shutdown

Senate Democrats are taking a moment after Tuesday night's resounding off-year wins before making any firm moves to reopen the government.Why it matters: Victory is emboldening the party's hardliners. Centrist Democrats seem stuck.While their negotiations continued Wednesday, they aren't taking concrete steps to end the talking and start the voting.State of play: Thursday's caucus-wide meeting could potentially be decisive, aides told Axios but divisions in the party clearly remain."I think it would be very strange if on the heels of the American people having rewarded Democrats for standing up and fighting, we surrendered without getting anything for the people we've been fighting for," Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) told Axios today.At least nine Senate Democrats, including Murphy, are privately urging their colleagues to hold out on the shutdown even longer, sources told Axios.House Democrats are warning of "hell to pay" if their Senate counterparts compromise too quickly on the government shutdown.Zoom out: The outlines of a deal came into focus on Monday. But the fault lines in the Democratic Party became just as clear Tuesday and Wednesday.In Tuesday's marathon caucus meeting, Murphy beseeched his fellow Democrats not to relent on their terms to reopen the government, sources told us.There was more drama on Wednesday, with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) hijacking a press conference scheduled for Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y). "If it's just a piece of legislation that passes the Senate … then it becomes a meaningless gesture," Sanders said.Between the lines: Democratic skeptics are eager to talk to reporters about why they shouldn't cut a deal.The senators working on a deal aren't nearly as keen to chat."No comment," Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) told Axios after he emerged from a Senate hideaway where he was ensconced with potential dealmakers.The bottom line: Republicans began the week thinking they would have a deal to end the government by Friday.That timeline has now shifted into next week.Senate Democrats are taking a moment to savor – and study – last night's resounding election wins before making any firm and final moves to end the country's longest government shutdown.Why it matters: Victory is emboldening the party's hardliners.It's also giving centrist Democrats some pause.While their negotiations continued today, they aren't taking concrete steps to end the talking – and start the voting.State of play: Tomorrow's caucus-wide meeting could potentially be decisive, aides told us, but divisions in the party clearly remain."I think it would be very strange if on the heels of the American people having rewarded Democrats for standing up and fighting, we surrendered without getting anything for the people we've been fighting for," Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) told Axios today.A group of at least nine Senate Democrats, including Murphy, are privately urging their colleagues to hold out on the shutdown even longer, sources told us.Meanwhile House Democrats are warning of "hell to pay" if their Senate counterparts compromise too quickly.Zoom out: The outlines of a deal came into focus on Monday. But the fault lines in the Democratic party became just as clear yesterday and today.In Tuesday's marathon caucus meeting, Murphy beseeched his fellow Democrats not to relent on their terms to reopen the government, sources told Axios.Today, there was more drama, with Sen. Bernie Sanders hijacking a press conference scheduled for Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, urging Democrats not to fold."If it's just a piece of legislation that passes the Senate … then it becomes a meaningless gesture," Sanders said at the press conference.Between the lines: Democratic skeptics, like Sanders and some House Democrats, are eager to talk to reporters on why they shouldn't cut a deal.The senators working on a deal aren't nearly as keen to chat."No comment," Sen. Angus King (I-Me.), told Axios, after he emerged from a Senate hideaway where he was ensconced with potential deal-makers.The bottom line: Republicans began the week thinking they had a deal to end the government by Friday.That timeline has now shifted into next week.

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