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How Southern California lawmakers voted on ending the government shutdown

November 13, 2025

Members of Congress largely voted along party lines on a budget bill Wednesday night, Nov. 12, to end the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history.

The vote was 222-209, with Republicans providing near-unanimous support, while all but six Democrats opposed it.

Lawmakers from Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, though, strictly voted along party lines. And, after their Wednesday night votes, they were quick to blame the other side of the aisle for the lengthy shutdown.

“Today’s vote means vulnerable children, veterans and seniors will receive vital food assistance,” said Rep. Young Kim, a Republican representing communities in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. “It means TSA agents and air traffic controllers will be paid for their essential work, and families can get home to see their loved ones in time for the holidays. It also means that our nation’s servicemembers and law enforcement, who make tremendous sacrifices for our country, can defend our country with the certainty of a paycheck.”

Democrats, meanwhile, struck a tone of defiance, vowing that the fight to secure affordable health care for Americans is far from over. The majority of Democrats had refused to vote for a budget bill that did not guarantee an extension of health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, which are set to expire after this year.

“House Democrats will continue to raise our voices, amplify your stories, and use every legislative tool at our disposal to combat this Republican health care crisis,” said Rep. Gil Cisneros, D-Covina.

Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Los Angeles, said the budget bill that was passed “might end the shutdown, but it lets health care tax credits expire, which means higher premiums, higher costs and fewer people able to stay insured.”

“After spending the last seven weeks on vacation, House Republicans returned to work by voting to raise health care costs for tens of millions of Americans,” said Rep. Dave Min, D-Irvine, who also accused “MAGA” Republicans — a reference to Trump’s supporters — of making life “unaffordable for hardworking families.”

Ahead of the House vote, Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Indio, offered a similar explanation as many of his Democratic colleagues for why he would vote no.

“From the very start of the shutdown, I have fought to reopen the government, protect health care and lower costs for working people,” Ruiz said, adding that although the funding bill would provide “some relief” for families impacted by the shutdown, it would drive up health care-related costs because of the exclusion of the tax subsidy extension.

Meanwhile, Republicans focused on ways an end to the government shutdown could help people access food assistance programs and pay federal workers.

Rep. Jay Obernolte said he was “disappointed that nearly every Democrat member of Congress voted against the bill,” a move which, he said, “would have prolonged the shutdown even further.”

“Reopening the government will restore stability for our federal workers, return air travel to normal, improve public safety operations and ensure families and businesses can rely on the government services they depend on,” the Republican from San Bernardino County said.

In the Inland Empire, Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, accused Democrats of holding “hostage” Americans who depend on SNAP food benefits and federal workers.

“Ending our government shutdown is vital, but it’s also important for Americans (to) understand that Republicans refused to pay a ransom,” said Calvert. “The Democrats who (waved) the white flag and voted to end the shutdown did so because we called their bluff.”

Although they recognized the consequences of the shutdown that spanned 43 days — it left tens of millions of Americans who rely on SNAP benefits for food assistance struggling to pay for groceries, led to massive flight cancellations or delays nationwide and forced federal workers to wait to be paid —most Democrats were adamant that they would not support a budget bill that excluded an extension of the credits that help people pay for health care.

Yet late Sunday, eight Democrats in the U.S. Senate broke rank and voted alongside Republicans on a budget bill to end the stalemate after a deal was struck for the upper chamber to hold a separate vote in mid-December on whether to extend the ACA tax credits. That led to Wednesday’s vote in the House.

Here are reactions from other Southern California Democrats who voted “no” during the House vote:

Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Thousand Oaks: “This bill is a shameful extension of a crisis of their (Republicans’) own making. It reopens the government only until Jan. 30 while raising health care costs, slashing coverage, and leaving millions of Americans out to dry.”

Rep. Judy Chu, D-Monterey Park: “Instead of working with Democrats, President Trump spent the government shutdown — the longest in U.S. history — demolishing the East Wing of the White House, hosting lavish parties at his private club and golfing. While he and House Republicans vacationed, his administration illegally withheld SNAP food benefits from 42 million Americans — including 75,000 households across California’s 28th Congressional District.”

Rep. Lou Correa, D-Santa Ana: “The president has declared it his win, but let’s talk about who’s losing: everyday Americans. Young Americans and hard-working American taxpayers will soon not be able to afford their health insurance bills, which will leave them no choice but to turn to emergency rooms instead. Remember, this is about health care for Americans, not undocumented immigrants who were never eligible to receive it in the first place.”

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Los Angeles: “Americans now see more clearly than ever that every aspect of their life is more expensive under the Trump administration. If their insurance premiums double on Jan. 1, they will know exactly who to blame. And by repeatedly trying to withhold SNAP benefits, Donald Trump has shown the country exactly who he is: a president who would rather make families suffer than govern in good faith.”

Rep. Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano: “I want the government to open, but I refuse to support legislation that will jeopardize the health care of 660,000 Californians. As I voted against the Senate deal tonight, I thought of the retired 62-year-old teacher in my district who will have to take Social Security early because of the $700 increase in his monthly premiums. I also thought of the working mother worried about bankruptcy because her health insurance premiums will cost $55,000 per year for her family of four. These are only two of the dozens of stories that my constituents have shared with me over the last seven weeks.”

Rep. Luz Rivas, D-Pacoima: “I heard stories from constituents across the San Fernando Valley — and across the country — about how the Republican healthcare crisis will force their premiums to soar and put healthcare out of reach. I voted no on the Republicans’ bill because it does nothing to protect the nearly 60,000 of my constituents who will lose their health care because of Republicans’ repeated attacks on health care.”

Rep. Linda T. Sánchez, D-Whittier: “I voted against the Republican government funding bill because it fails to protect the health care subsidies that prevent premiums in my district from doubling. … While reopening the government is important, this bill gives Republicans exactly what they wanted: higher health care costs and a green light to continue Trump’s tariffs, which are driving up prices on everyday goods.”

Rep. Derek Tran, D-Orange: “I was sent to Washington to challenge a broken system, not rubber-stamp the status quo. I voted against this deal because it fails to meet our community’s urgent needs, especially protecting affordable health care. I cannot trust that President Trump and congressional Republicans will work with us to make health care more affordable when they have broken the trust of the American people time and time again.”

Rep. George Whitesides, D-Agua Dulce: “When the majority in Washington chose to shut down the government, I helped introduce legislation that would have kept our first responders and military personnel paid, protected health care for millions and ensured federal employees weren’t unfairly terminated. … I have tried time and time again to improve the bill we voted on today — by helping introduce amendments that would lower health care costs, extend the ACA tax credits, and protect programs like SNAP. Each one was rejected by the majority.”

Orange County Register

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How Southern California lawmakers voted on ending the government shutdown

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