While campaigning in New Hampshire for U.S. Senate candidate John Sununu, Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said he expects another federal government shutdown in September, in order to give Democrats an advantage in the November midterm elections.
Kennedy told reporters that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., could use the approaching expiration of the Consolidated Appropriations Act on Sept. 30 as an opportunity to “create more chaos” ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
“I think he is going to shut the government down in September because that would create more chaos,” Kennedy said of Schumer. “I wish I didn’t have to say that, but I think it’s a reality.”
If Kennedy’s prediction proves accurate, it would mark the third federal government shutdown this year.
In October, the federal government shut down for 43 days. In February, the Department of Homeland Security experienced a 76-day shutdown after Congress failed to reach an agreement on funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, amid disputes tied to President Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda.
Kennedy did not offer specific details about why he believes Schumer would pursue a shutdown or which funding provisions could be targeted.
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Recent election trends have raised questions about whether shutdown-related political dynamics could benefit Democrats, particularly as Republicans control all three branches of the federal government. However, a direct correlation between shutdowns and electoral outcomes remains speculative.
In 2026, Democrat primary turnout has outpaced Republican turnout in several states. In North Carolina, more voters participated in the Democrat statewide primary than in the Republican contest. Mississippi saw nearly an 80% increase in Democrat primary turnout compared to its last Senate primary in 2018.
In Texas, a record 2.3 million votes were cast in the Democrat primary last month. According to The Downballot, Democrats have also improved on their 2024 presidential election margins by an average of 11% in special elections in 2026 and roughly 13% since the start of 2025.
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