By Nolan D. McCaskill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Democrats in the U.S. Congress have rallied around healthcare as their top policy issue in a government shutdown standoff with President Donald Trump’s Republicans, hoping a focus on Americans’ concerns over access and affordability could help them in next year’s midterm elections.

The shutdown enters its third day on Friday, with the majority Republicans saying they will only back a stopgap bill to keep agencies funded through November 21. Democrats back a measure to continue and expand healthcare subsidies for the 24 million Americans who get their coverage through the Affordable Care Act.

Democrats are betting that their stance will improve their chances in the November 2026 elections, when control of both chambers of Congress will be up fo

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