President Donald Trump conceded Wednesday that his party suffered a tough blow in Tuesday’s elections, attributing the outcome to the record-long government shutdown and his own absence from the ballot.
Speaking at a morning meeting with Republican lawmakers at the White House, Trump characterized the results as disappointing but unsurprising. “I think, if you read the pollsters, the shutdown was a big factor,” he said, according to Fox News. “Negative for the Republicans, and that was a big factor.”
Trump agrees: "I thought we'd have a discussion after the press leaves about what last night represented…If you read the pollsters, the shutdown was a big factor, negative for the Republicans" https://t.co/spYOC7okmv pic.twitter.com/liBI1WP1wa
— Andrew Bates (@AndrewBatesNC) November 5, 2025
The 36-day partial shutdown—the longest in U.S. history—was widely blamed for dragging down GOP performance across key races. Trump also noted post-election analyses suggesting that his name not appearing on any ballot may have dampened enthusiasm among Republican voters. “And they say that I wasn’t on the ballot and was the biggest factor. But I don’t know about that. But I was honored that they said that,” he added.
Democrats celebrated a sweeping night, flipping marquee contests including the New York City mayor’s office and governor’s mansions in New Jersey and Virginia—races once considered competitive. In California, voters approved a redistricting ballot measure expected to yield at least five additional House seats for Democrats ahead of the 2026 midterms. Polling showed that economic unease remained a dominant issue for swing voters.
Reflecting on the results, Trump offered a blunt assessment. “I don’t think it was good for Republicans,” he said. “I don’t think it’s good. I’m not sure it was good for anybody.”
Turning to the political fallout, Trump urged GOP senators to act decisively to end the shutdown and revive government operations. “We must get the government open,” he declared, pressing lawmakers to eliminate the Senate filibuster as a means of breaking the impasse. “It’s time for Republicans to do what they have to do,” he said. “Terminate the filibuster.”
The proposal to scrap the 60-vote rule for most legislation marks a dramatic escalation in Trump’s long-running feud with congressional procedure. While it could ease passage of Republican priorities, the move risks alienating moderates and inflaming already tense negotiations as Democrats savor their victories and brace for the next legislative showdown.
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