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Medicare for All

Who in Washington and on the November ballot has actually gone on record for or against replacing private health insurance with a single government-run plan — not just who says they support “universal healthcare” in the abstract. This list is almost certainly incomplete; treat it as a starting point, not a final tally.

Last updated September 29, 2026

This page is being updated regularly as candidates, cosponsors, and their reelection status change. Some names are likely missing — if you know of someone on the record who isn't listed here, let us know.

Terms

Medicare for All
The name of both a specific bill (S.1506/H.R.3069) and a broader idea: a single federal insurance plan covering everyone, replacing most private and employer-based coverage rather than competing alongside it.
Single-payer
A system where one entity — usually the government — pays for care instead of many competing private insurers. Medicare for All is a single-payer proposal; not every single-payer proposal is called Medicare for All.
Public option
A government-run plan sold alongside private insurance on ACA marketplaces, which people could choose or not. It's the mainstream Democratic Party's current alternative to Medicare for All — expanding coverage without eliminating private plans.

The federal bill

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) introduced the Medicare for All Act in both chambers on April 29, 2025 — S.1506 in the Senate, H.R.3069 in the House. Sanders: "Health care is a human right, not a privilege, and we must end the international embarrassment of the United States being the only major country on earth that does not guarantee health care to all of its citizens." Jayapal: "It is a travesty when 85 million people are uninsured or underinsured and millions more are drowning in medical debt in the richest nation on Earth." Dingell: "Every American has the right to health care, period. If you're sick, you should be able to go to the doctor without being worried about the cost of treatment or prescription medicine."

Sanders introduced S.1506 with 14 original Senate cosponsors; by mid-2026 that had grown to 17 (we could confirm the names of the original 14 but not the two added since):

Sen. Tammy BaldwinD-WI
Sen. Richard BlumenthalD-CT
Sen. Cory BookerD-NJ
Sen. Kirsten GillibrandD-NY
Sen. Martin HeinrichD-NM
Sen. Mazie HironoD-HI
Sen. Ben Ray LujánD-NM
Sen. Ed MarkeyD-MA
Sen. Jeff MerkleyD-OR
Sen. Alex PadillaD-CA
Sen. Brian SchatzD-HI
Sen. Elizabeth WarrenD-MA
Sen. Sheldon WhitehouseD-RI

Jayapal and Dingell introduced H.R.3069 with 102 additional original cosponsors — 105 lawmakers in all — and that list had grown to 116 by mid-2026, every one a Democrat. Not all of them are still running for reelection this November — see the full breakdown below.

Where House Democratic leadership actually stands

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) does not support the bill: "I haven't co-sponsored the Medicare for All legislation that has been introduced over the last several years." That's a shift — Jeffries cosponsored earlier versions of Medicare for All in 2019 and 2021. Instead he points to fixing "a broken healthcare system" and strengthening the Affordable Care Act. The center-left Searchlight Institute is pushing Democrats further in that direction with a "Health Care Unity" plan — bigger government roles in drug-price negotiation and breaking up medical monopolies, but keeping private insurance intact. Its president, Adam Jentleson: "Every Democrat should be able to say that we want universal healthcare in this country," while cautioning against forcing the choice into "a Medicare for All lane, or for incremental reforms." The Congressional Progressive Caucus has gone the other way, holding a hearing in support of the full Medicare for All bill.

By the numbers

Estimated deaths Medicare for All could prevent annually
114,000
Swing-district voters with a favorable view
62%
Republican cosponsors in Congress
0

Yale School of Public Health estimate, via Newsweek; Cook Political Report swing-district poll, Sept. 2026; Congress.gov.

On the November ballot: Senate races

Four Democratic Senate nominees have made Medicare for All or a closely related plan a core part of their campaign (the one marked with an asterisk differs from the others — see below):

Abdul El-SayedD — U.S. Senate nominee, Michigan
Troy JacksonD — U.S. Senate nominee, Maine
Juliana StrattonD — U.S. Senate nominee, Illinois
James Talarico*D — U.S. Senate nominee, Texas

El-Sayed, a physician, has backed single-payer for over a decade; his Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, opposes government-run health care. Jackson, a former Maine Senate president who became the Democratic nominee after Graham Platner withdrew in July 2026 amid a sexual assault allegation, said in an Aug. 13, 2026 debate: "Healthcare is a human right. No Mainer should avoid the doctor, ration their medicine, or face bankruptcy because they got sick." He faces Republican Sen. Susan Collins, whose campaign called his plan "a slogan" and warned it would raise taxes. Stratton beat two sitting members of Congress in Illinois — including the more moderate Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi — on a platform that included Medicare for All, and faces Republican Don Tracy.

* Not every Democratic nominee above is running on the full version. In Texas, state Rep. James Talarico won his primary against Rep. Jasmine Crockett — who had promoted single-payer — while running on what he calls "Medicare for Y'all" instead: letting people under 65 buy into Medicare, rather than replacing private insurance outright. He faces Republican nominee Ken Paxton in November.

On the November ballot: House races

H.R.3069 had 116 cosponsors as of mid-2026, but 18 of them won't be on the November ballot — retiring, running for a different office, or defeated in their 2026 primary (see the note on the list above). The other 98, including AOC, are confirmed running for reelection:

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezD — U.S. House, NY-14
Rep. Debbie DingellD — U.S. House, MI-06
Rep. Alma AdamsD — U.S. House, NC-12
Rep. Yassamin AnsariD — U.S. House, AZ-03
Rep. Becca BalintD — U.S. House, VT-AL
Rep. Nanette Diaz BarragánD — U.S. House, CA-44
Rep. Wesley BellD — U.S. House, MO-01
Rep. Donald Beyer Jr.D — U.S. House, VA-08
Rep. Suzanne BonamiciD — U.S. House, OR-01
Rep. Brendan BoyleD — U.S. House, PA-02
Rep. Shontel BrownD — U.S. House, OH-11
Rep. Salud CarbajalD — U.S. House, CA-24
Rep. André CarsonD — U.S. House, IN-07
Rep. Troy CarterD — U.S. House, LA-02
Rep. Greg CasarD — U.S. House, TX-35
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormickD — U.S. House, FL-20
Rep. Judy ChuD — U.S. House, CA-28
Rep. Yvette ClarkeD — U.S. House, NY-09
Rep. Emanuel CleaverD — U.S. House, MO-05
Rep. Christopher DeluzioD — U.S. House, PA-17
Rep. Mark DeSaulnierD — U.S. House, CA-10
Rep. Maxine DexterD — U.S. House, OR-03
Rep. Veronica EscobarD — U.S. House, TX-16
Rep. Valerie FousheeD — U.S. House, NC-04
Rep. Lois FrankelD — U.S. House, FL-22
Rep. Laura FriedmanD — U.S. House, CA-30
Rep. Maxwell FrostD — U.S. House, FL-10
Rep. John GaramendiD — U.S. House, CA-08
Rep. Robert GarciaD — U.S. House, CA-42
Rep. Jimmy GomezD — U.S. House, CA-34
Rep. Jahana HayesD — U.S. House, CT-05
Rep. Val HoyleD — U.S. House, OR-04
Rep. Jared HuffmanD — U.S. House, CA-02
Rep. Jonathan JacksonD — U.S. House, IL-01
Rep. Sara JacobsD — U.S. House, CA-51
Rep. Hank JohnsonD — U.S. House, GA-04
Rep. Sydney Kamlager-DoveD — U.S. House, CA-37
Rep. William KeatingD — U.S. House, MA-09
Rep. Timothy KennedyD — U.S. House, NY-26
Rep. Ro KhannaD — U.S. House, CA-17
Rep. Summer LeeD — U.S. House, PA-12
Rep. Teresa Leger FernandezD — U.S. House, NM-03
Rep. Mike LevinD — U.S. House, CA-49
Rep. Ted LieuD — U.S. House, CA-36
Rep. Zoe LofgrenD — U.S. House, CA-18
Rep. Betty McCollumD — U.S. House, MN-04
Rep. Morgan McGarveyD — U.S. House, KY-03
Rep. Jim McGovernD — U.S. House, MA-02
Rep. LaMonica McIverD — U.S. House, NJ-10
Rep. Gregory MeeksD — U.S. House, NY-05
Rep. Grace MengD — U.S. House, NY-06
Rep. Kweisi MfumeD — U.S. House, MD-07
Rep. Dave MinD — U.S. House, CA-47
Rep. Kevin MullinD — U.S. House, CA-15
Rep. Joe NeguseD — U.S. House, CO-02
Del. Eleanor Holmes NortonD — U.S. House, DC-AL
Rep. Ilhan OmarD — U.S. House, MN-05
Rep. Frank Pallone Jr.D — U.S. House, NJ-06
Rep. Jimmy PanettaD — U.S. House, CA-19
Rep. Chellie PingreeD — U.S. House, ME-01
Rep. Mark PocanD — U.S. House, WI-02
Rep. Ayanna PressleyD — U.S. House, MA-07
Rep. Mike QuigleyD — U.S. House, IL-05
Rep. Delia RamirezD — U.S. House, IL-03
Rep. Emily RandallD — U.S. House, WA-06
Rep. Jamie RaskinD — U.S. House, MD-08
Rep. Luz RivasD — U.S. House, CA-29
Rep. Andrea SalinasD — U.S. House, OR-06
Rep. Linda SánchezD — U.S. House, CA-38
Rep. Bobby ScottD — U.S. House, VA-03
Rep. Brad ShermanD — U.S. House, CA-32
Rep. Lateefah SimonD — U.S. House, CA-12
Rep. Adam SmithD — U.S. House, WA-09
Rep. Melanie StansburyD — U.S. House, NM-01
Rep. Mark TakanoD — U.S. House, CA-39
Rep. Bennie ThompsonD — U.S. House, MS-02
Rep. Mike ThompsonD — U.S. House, CA-04
Rep. Dina TitusD — U.S. House, NV-01
Rep. Rashida TlaibD — U.S. House, MI-12
Rep. Jill TokudaD — U.S. House, HI-02
Rep. Paul TonkoD — U.S. House, NY-20
Rep. Lori TrahanD — U.S. House, MA-03
Rep. Juan VargasD — U.S. House, CA-52
Rep. Maxine WatersD — U.S. House, CA-43
Rep. Nikema WilliamsD — U.S. House, GA-05
Rep. Frederica WilsonD — U.S. House, FL-24
Rep. Josh HarderD — U.S. House, CA-09
Rep. Glenn IveyD — U.S. House, MD-04
Rep. Ritchie TorresD — U.S. House, NY-15
Rep. Shomari FiguresD — U.S. House, AL-02
Rep. Adelita GrijalvaD — U.S. House, AZ-07
Rep. April McClain DelaneyD — U.S. House, MD-06
Rep. Jared MoskowitzD — U.S. House, FL-23
Rep. Sarah ElfrethD — U.S. House, MD-03
Rep. Christian MenefeeD — U.S. House, TX-18
Rep. Analilia MejiaD — U.S. House, NJ-11
Rep. Everton BlairD — U.S. House, GA-13
Rep. Janelle BynumD — U.S. House, OR-05

Beyond the bill's own cosponsors, several Democratic House nominees in competitive districts who aren't cosponsors are also campaigning on Medicare for All, each against a Republican incumbent or in an open seat (the one marked with an asterisk differs from the others — see below):

Randy VillegasD — U.S. House nominee, CA-22
Matt DunlapD — U.S. House nominee, ME-02
Sam ForstagD — U.S. House nominee, MT-01
Bob BrooksD — U.S. House nominee, PA-07
Brian PoindexterD — U.S. House nominee, OH-07
Maria Jukic*D — U.S. House nominee, OH-14

Villegas opens health care town halls with "My name is Randy Villegas, and I'm for Medicare for All," running against incumbent Rep. David Valadao. Dunlap, Maine's former secretary of state, faces former Gov. Paul LePage for the open seat Rep. Jared Golden is leaving. Forstag, a union leader and former smokejumper, is running with Sanders' and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's backing for the open seat Rep. Ryan Zinke is leaving. Brooks, a firefighters'-union president, is challenging incumbent Rep. Ryan Mackenzie. Poindexter, a union ironworker and Brook Park city councilmember, is challenging incumbent Rep. Max Miller.

* Jukic, a healthcare administrator at the Cleveland Clinic challenging incumbent Rep. Dave Joyce in OH-14, isn't campaigning on full Medicare for All either. She calls universal healthcare a goal the U.S. must "ultimately" reach but not something that "will happen overnight," and her actual platform is incremental: lowering the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 62 and passing a "Break Up Big Medicine Act."

Nonpartisan, plainly

This one doesn't split evenly the way some issues on this site do. Every current cosponsor of the federal Medicare for All Act, in both chambers, is a Democrat or the independent Sen. Sanders; we found no sitting Republican in Congress and no 2026 Republican nominee who has endorsed single-payer. What isn't uniform is support within the Democratic Party itself: House Minority Leader Jeffries has pointedly declined to back a bill he once cosponsored, a center-left group is pushing the party toward a private-insurance-preserving alternative, and the Democratic Senate nominee in Texas won a competitive primary running on a Medicare buy-in rather than full single-payer — while the Democratic nominees in Maine and Illinois are running on the full version. We're not taking a position on whether Medicare for All is good policy — serious people, including Democrats, disagree. This list reflects what's been reported in national and local coverage through late September 2026, covering 435 House seats and 33 Senate seats; it is certainly missing candidates who've taken a position that hasn't been reported nationally. Check your own district's candidates directly rather than treating this as exhaustive.

Talking points

These are the questions we think you should ask those who are running for office and will represent you.

  1. Do you support replacing private health insurance with a single government-run plan, or would you preserve a role for private insurers?
  2. If you back a public option or a Medicare buy-in instead of full Medicare for All, who specifically could enroll, and what would it cover?
  3. How would you pay for it, and what happens to people currently covered through their employer?
  4. Do you support the current Medicare for All Act (S.1506/H.R.3069) as written, and if not, which parts would you change?

Read more

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