At 35 days, the government shutdown has now tied the record for longest in history

The standoff between President Donald Trump and congressional Democratic leaders is poised to become the longest government shutdown in U.S. history this week.

WASHINGTON — The lengthy standoff between President Donald Trump and congressional Democratic leaders is poised to become the longest government shutdown in American history this week.

Election Day on Tuesday, when voters will head to the polls in Virginia, New Jersey and New York, will tie the record for the longest shutdown.

If the shutdown continues into Wednesday, which lawmakers believe is almost certain, it will shatter that record, set during Trump's first term. That 35-day federal closure in late 2018 and early 2019 resulted from a fight over Trump’s demand for a border wall, which Democrats refused to fund.

It's a testament to the current political environment that some senators aren't even shocked.

"I wouldn't use the word surprised," Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said. "It disappoints me."