Democrats Highlight August Organizing, Say They Want Bipartisan Deal to Avert Shutdown

Ahead of a Sept. 30 shutdown deadline, the party is pressing messages on cost-of-living and health care access.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol, on July 21, 2025. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

As Democrats returned to Washington this week after an August recess, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats used the time to organize across the country and will seek a bipartisan spending bill as Congress returns with a Sept. 30 deadline.

“House Democrats had a very active August District Work Period. We held more than 1,000 different events all across the country, interacting with everyday Americans who we are privileged to represent,” Jeffries said at a Sept. 2 press conference.