Florida Governor-Elect Donalds Pushes Republicans to Own Healthcare for 2028
Byron Donalds argues the GOP must launch its own cost-cutting platform to counter rising premiums and the growing appeal of single-payer models.
By Lucas Navarro ·
Florida Governor-elect Byron Donalds stated on Sunday that the Republican Party needs to campaign on a distinct healthcare agenda for the 2028 election.
Speaking with Fox News host Larry Kudlow, Donalds said party leaders have historically avoided taking on healthcare issues. He noted that lawmakers are currently debating how to address the sector. Donalds argued that the party must present a market-centered policy to stabilize prices and drive down costs. He said that if the status quo continues, hardworking families will be priced out of the system.
Donalds cited recent reporting from The New York Times, which found that ObamaCare premiums are expected to rise by an average of 13 percent in 2027. He characterized the past 15 years as a period of Democrat-led healthcare policy. He described current premiums, deductibles, and costs as out of control. He also noted that Senator Bernie Sanders and other progressives are promoting Medicare for All.
The recent midterm elections provided a strong rebuke to the GOP health agenda. Democrats campaigned on restoring enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies and delaying Medicaid cuts passed under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The election results also challenged the Make America Healthy Again agenda promoted by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Trump administration.
The victories of progressive candidates, including Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan, have intensified discussions about single-payer healthcare. A KFF poll conducted in September showed that two-thirds of Americans favor a single government plan. This shift suggests that Medicare for All is moving from a fringe position to a central political debate.
President Trump entered his current term with a framework for healthcare after his previous plan failed in his first term. El-Sayed told ABC’s Jonathan Karl on This Week that he would work with the president on affordability despite their campaign clashes. El-Sayed said he is willing to collaborate if Trump wants to pass Trump Care for All, a plan that would guarantee healthcare to everyone.
The political dynamics suggest that healthcare costs will remain a primary focus for both parties as the 2028 cycle approaches. The gap between Republican market-based proposals and Democratic single-payer initiatives will likely define the upcoming legislative battles.
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