House Democrats in districts carried by President Trump are confronting a potentially risky vote next week when GOP leaders are expected to put their partisan government funding bill on the floor.

If the vulnerable Democrats support the bill, they’ll defy the position of their own leadership and undermine the party’s argument that the legislation is a threat to basic public services across the country.

If they oppose it, they’re sure to face Republican attacks accusing them of endorsing a government shutdown — especially if the bill fails and a shutdown does occur.

To be sure, the Republicans would be in the tougher political predicament if the government is forced to shutter, since they control all levers of power in Washington and their spending bill is a go-it-alone effort that excluded Democrats from the drafting. Democrats have long portrayed Republicans as incompetent stewards of government, and a shutdown on the GOP’s watch would provide them more ammunition to make that case.

Still, those details might carry less sway with voters in the 13 Trump-won districts currently represented by Democrats, who face heavier pressure to cross the aisle in the promotion of bipartisanship. It’s those regions where GOP campaign operatives are eying every opportunity to highlight controversial votes in the effort to pick off vulnerable Democratic incumbents in the 2026 midterms.

Next week’s vote on government spending might be one such vote.

A number of those lawmakers are already defying the GOP threats with vows to oppose the continuing resolution (CR) when it comes up for a vote. Those voices are siding with House Minority Leader........

© The Hill