A leading Democratic super PAC aligned with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is advising allies that it would be a “mistake to take the pressure off Republicans” during the ongoing government shutdown, according to an internal memo obtained by Axios.
The group views the shutdown as a crucial opportunity to shape the narrative for the 2026 midterm elections, believing the contest will focus heavily on health care and rising prices.
The internal message from the group is to “Don’t flinch,” as they believe Democrats are currently winning the public relations battle.
READ: ‘The View’ Joy Behar Baselessly Claims National Guard Will Block Voters, Stop Elections
Senate Majority PAC (SMP), the super PAC supporting Schumer-aligned Democrats, circulated the memo along with polling data on Tuesday.
The data, from a new Hart Research poll conducted for SMP, suggests likely 2026 voters are blaming Republicans for the shutdown and are aligning with Democrats’ emphasis on health care issues.
By the Numbers: Polling Results
| Metric | Percentage |
| Blame for Shutdown (Trump/GOP) | 52% |
| Blame for Shutdown (Democrats) | 40% |
| Preventing Health Insurance Hikes vs. Ending Shutdown Quickly (Prioritize Hikes) | 62% |
| Centrist Voters Prioritizing Hikes | 64% |
The polling suggests that a majority of voters consider stopping “big increases” in health insurance costs an essential priority in resolving the shutdown.
READ: Day 6 Of ‘Schumer Shutdown’: Thune, Johnson Demand Senate Dems ‘Stop The Madness’
SMP, led by JB Poersch, argues that as long as Democrats maintain the focus on protecting affordable healthcare, they are winning both the political and policy aspects of the public messaging campaign. Poersch wrote in the memo that the party’s “fight over health care priorities is a fight worth having,” noting that centrist voters are “breaking hard against Republicans over the shutdown.”
Republicans, meanwhile, contend that the Democratic shutdown strategy will ultimately be unsuccessful. READ: Louisiana Sen. Kennedy Says ‘Schumer Is Boned,’ Will Be Forced To Engineer Off-Ramp To End Shutdown
According to Axios, the memo warns Democrats to remain unified and not accept vague Republican “promises of talks later” or yield on their health care demands.
“By staying unified and holding firm, Democrats are reinforcing a winning contrast: Democrats fighting for affordable health care and economic security as Republicans are pushing policies that defend chaos, increase prices, and take away health care,” Poersch concluded in the memo.
Democratic senators were reportedly briefed on the polling over the weekend, and SMP’s outreach effort to allies is ongoing.
“Voters clearly see who’s responsible for this crisis,” said Lauren French, Senate Majority PAC spokesperson. “Donald Trump and Senate Republicans are holding the government hostage instead of protecting families from skyrocketing health care costs.”
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
