JUST IN: Progress Made On Shutdown As Two Dems Defect, Thune Says

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) told Fox News on Tuesday that at least two additional Senate Democrats are now in talks to defy Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) by voting to fund the government.As the partial government shutdown enters its second week, just three Senate Democrats in Fetterman (PA), Cortex Masto (NV) and King (ME) have voted with all Republicans with the exception of Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) in voting to free up funds.

The House has passed a temporary measure that will provide necessary funding through late November, though Schumer has thus far kept the rest of his caucus from voting in favor.The measure requires at least 60 votes in order to pass in the Senate, meaning that eight Democrats would need to cross party lines should Senator Paul continue to hold out, which is he expected to do.

Thune announced Tuesday that progress was being made, however, telling Fox News that he is confident an agreement will be reached in the near future due to fresh defections among Democrats.

“Well, we’re only stuck as long as a handful of Democrats decide they want to follow the leader and play politics rather than do the right thing on behalf of the American people and open up the government. That’s where we are,” Thune told Fox News host Harris Faulkner. He went on to reveal that Republicans now have 55 votes to fund the government when the motion heads to the floor for a ninth time, meaning that two additional Democrats are now onboard.

“We have 55 of 100 United States senators voting to reopen the government. We need five more Democrats. It takes 60 to do most things in the United States Senate, and all we need is five Democrats. But their leadership is intent on on pacifying and trying to appease this far -left base,” Thune said.

“They’ve got this big rally coming up next Saturday, which everybody thinks they want to get behind them before they do anything to open up the government. But it’s really straightforward. I mean, this is the legislation right here; it’s 24 pages long, it is clean, it is nonpartisan, it has no policy riders, no partisan gimmicks. This is a straightforward way to open up the government.”

Thune did not disclose the names of the two Democrats who have recently moved away from the party line.

He and other senior Republicans have accused Schumer of intentionally prolonging the government in order to wait for a fresh round of “No Kings” protests, which are scheduled for October 18. The highly coordinated demonstrations, which are largely funded and organized by Soros-linked organizations like Indivisible, have been touted by Democrats and aligned media outlets as evidence of popular support.

The Senate is expected to vote on the continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government for a ninth time later today.