Lawmakers in both parties are hopeful that Tuesday’s elections will be the jolt needed for either Democrats or Republicans to shift their shutdown strategy.

The elections arrive as the pain of the shutdown intensifies across the country, but lawmakers in both parties acknowledge that no deal can be finalized until the contests are no longer hanging over their heads.

Some Democrats say a wide margin of victory could push Republicans to negotiate on their health care demands. Republicans, meanwhile, are largely blaming Democrats for looking to the elections as an inflection point, while also hoping a closer-than-expected results could convince Democrats that voters aren’t behind them and push them to vote “yes” on a stopgap spending bill.

"Nothing's going to happen until after Tuesday. Ev

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