As the Senate prepares to pick up the fight over government funding next week, Republican lawmakers are looking to pick up five more Democratic votes in favor of their bill to end the dayslong shutdown. 

The upper chamber failed to pass four proposals from both parties this week, as Democrats refuse to budge on preserving Obamacare subsidies set to expire at the end of the year. 

Recommended Stories

• Campaigns forge ahead with swanky fundraisers despite government shutdown
• WATCH LIVE: Schumer and Senate Democrats hold press conference during government shutdown
• Senate leaves for the weekend with no shutdown deal in sight

Republicans have shown little interest in negotiating and including the healthcare provisions in their “clean,” seven-week federal funding extension. Instead, the GOP has sought to secure the eight Democratic votes it needs to reach the 60-vote threshold in order to pass its bill. 

SENATE LEAVES FOR THE WEEKEND WITH NO SHUTDOWN DEAL IN SIGHT

Both parties have shown little interest in meaningful negotiations, with members rejecting both Republican and Democratic proposals four times this week. 

As of the latest vote on Friday, Republicans have secured three Democratic-leaning votes in Sens. John Fetterman (D-PA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Angus King (I-ME). 

While the rest of the Democratic Party has remained steadfast and given no indication that they will budge, here are five likely candidates who will ultimately back the Republican proposal. 

Unlike many members of their party, there are two key Democrats who will not be running for reelection after the end of their term: Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). 

This makes them prime candidates for Republicans to target, as they would not have to answer to primary voters over a vote in favor of the clean continuing resolution. 

While both are among the group of Democrats looking to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, they are viewed as more moderate members of their party. 

Both have indicated willingness to negotiate with their colleagues across the aisle, with Shaheen telling Fox News on Thursday that the Senate has “an opportunity for us to talk to each other.” 

“I think we can address both keeping the government open and the health care needs of so many of our people,” Shaheen said. “There’s urgency about this because we know that if we don’t address the premium tax credits, the subsidies that so many people have been getting to help afford health insurance, that they’re going to see their rates double by November.”

Peters and Shaheen were also among the nine Democrats who voted in favor of the CR passed by Republicans in March. 

Joining them were Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL).

Like her more moderate colleagues, Hassan has expressed interest in reaching a bipartisan agreement to prevent healthcare costs from skyrocketing. 

On the first day of the shutdown, Hassan told CNN, “We need a bipartisan path forward in order to get to a deal that protects people’s health, healthcare, and prevents their premiums from doubling.” 

After more than 40 years in Congress, Durbin is also retiring at the end of his current term. 

While being in this position could result in more political pressure from Republicans, he is not as likely to offer his vote again as Peters and Shaheen might be. 

There is widespread agreement that if Durbin would vote in favor of the Republican package, he would be doing so with the approval of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). 

On Friday, the long-time senator affirmed that he would continue to vote against the clean CR if there are no concessions on the Obamacare subsidies. 

“I hope we don’t accept that as a permanent situation and come up with a bipartisan alternative,” Durbin said. 

The fifth target for Republicans appears to be Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA), who holds a fairly vulnerable seat headed into the midterm elections. 

TRUMP ADVISES THAT ANYONE BURNING AMERICAN FLAG WILL BE IMPRISONED FOR A YEAR 

Ossoff voted against the March CR and has made opposing President Donald Trump key messaging within his reelection campaign.

However, as Ossoff’s seat is viewed as one of the most important in the 2026 midterm elections, he may be less inclined to alienate swing voters upset over a prolonged shutdown.