A surprising statistic from a survey of Midwestern voters suggests Americans' views on healthcare may not follow party lines in 2020.
Data from the "Blue Wall Voices Project," a collaboration from the Kaiser Family Foundation and Cook Political Report, shows President Donald Trump would lose just 2 percent of his voter base in 2020 if he supported "Medicare for All," the ACA, or getting rid of private insurance, suggesting Trump voters in these states would support or tolerate a shift left on healthcare policy.
The "Blue Wall Voices Project" is based on a survey conducted between Sept. 23 and Oct. 15 among a representative random sample of 3,222 registered voters in Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. These Upper Midwest states were chosen because they compose what researchers deem the "Democratic Blue Wall," or a former Democratic stronghold where Trump support was underestimated in the 2016 election. Thirty-nine percent of those included in the survey were Republican or leaned right, 45 percent were Democrat or leaned left, and 16 percent said they were purely independent.
A few other key statistics from the survey results:
- 39 percent strongly or somewhat approve of the way President Trump is handling healthcare
- 53 percent say implementing a single-payer Medicare for All plan is a top priority or important for Congress next year
- 90 percent say healthcare will be very or somewhat important in deciding their vote for president in 2020
Other polls have indicated some Republicans favor Democratic healthcare policies. The KFF November Health Tracking Poll found 28 percent of Republicans somewhat or strongly favor a Medicare for All plan, and 41 percent somewhat or strongly favor a public option.
More articles on leadership and management:
Buttigieg proposes social determinants of health plan for first 100 days
Biden: Buttigieg 'stole' my healthcare plan
CEO of Woman's Hospital in Louisiana: Premature births, maternal deaths biggest priorities