As the government shutdown hits Day 38, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Democrats offered a plan that would reopen the government. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) earlier Friday encouraged Democrats to come to the negotiating table after it looked like a shutdown-ending vote might be forthcoming.

Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Monday that he was “optimistic” the Senate could vote to reopen the government by the end of the week if lawmakers make progress over the next couple days.

The North Dakota Republican spoke on the Senate floor about the shutdown’s impacts and called for reopening the government.

The federal government remains closed Friday, Oct. 24. Does the Senate return today for a 13th vote? What to know.

The shutdown, now in its 34th day, will become the longest in U.S. history on Tuesday, Nov. 4, surpassing the record set in 2018 under Trump.

Despite their party’s lopsided victories in Tuesday’s elections, Senate Democrats remain torn over an exit strategy for what has become the longest partial government shutdown in history. As the shutdown reached its 36th day Wednesday,