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The decision by some Senate Democrats to break ranks and end the federal government shutdown has become an issue in a primary in the North Country, pitting progressives against moderates.

Congressional candidate Blake Gendebien, a dairy farmer with the support of local leaders in the 15-county 21st District, said Democrats should have ended the shutdown weeks ago. He supports the party’s push to extend health care subsidies, but told reporters on Monday that tying a renewal to funding the government “leverage[s] one problem for another problem.”

“I do not think government shutdowns are a healthy way to negotiate policy. Let's go to the ballot box next November and let's make a change at the ballot box,” Gendebien said.

He blames incumbent U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Republican, for both the impasse and the pending health care cliff. Stefanik, who is running for governor next year, voted to keep the government open and said she would support the current bill.

Candidate Dylan Hewitt, 33, said Gendebien was wrong to support the bid to reopen the government. He said he would “fight like hell” if elected, and said Democrats shouldn’t waste a moment of leverage.

“It is an abandonment of thousands of families in New York-21 – and millions across the country — who will see their health care costs double, and in many cases, lose their coverage entirely,” Hewitt said.

Hewitt has quoted progressive U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on social media and is calling for a new generation of leadership in his party. Gendebien said he was focused on rural residents of his district who rely on federal programs and want to see an end to fighting. Their dueling positions mirror the larger divide within the national Democratic Party between centrists and progressives.

Eight members of the U.S. Senate Democratic caucus bucked Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Sunday to support a funding bill. The measure also included language to reverse the firings of federal employees let go since the start of the shutdown. The eight senators also secured a promise from Republicans for a Senate floor vote in December on extending the subsidies.

Schumer – who faced protests outside his Brooklyn home for agreeing to a funding deal in March – remained opposed to the deal. He said the bill “fails to do anything of substance to fix America’s health care crisis.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul agreed.

“This deal paves the way for devastating premium hikes that will drive up costs for New Yorkers,” she said. “Count me out.”

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who also represents Brooklyn, urged members of his party to vote no. He called the pending measure “a partisan Republican spending bill.” Six House Democrats joined Republicans in approving the measure, including U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi of Long Island.

Suozzi said on social media that he trusts GOP lawmakers who say they want to work out a solution on health care subsidies.

“Everyone knows that I have been preaching bipartisanship for years,” he said. “I am relying on the representations of some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, that they want to get something done.”

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