Kate Wells' KFF Health News article looks at how progressive Democrats who campaigned on some form of Medicare for All won in states such as Texas, Iowa, Maine, and Michigan in the 2026 midterms, making senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed's signature issue a coming fight. A KFF poll finds record support that falters against counterarguments, while critics like Cato's Michael Cannon warn of industry opposition and expert Jonathan Oberlander cautions that a Democratic majority is not necessarily one for Medicare for All — even as expiring ACA subsidies and rising premiums, which pushed nurse Jaime Bardenhagen's family's costs from $700 to $1,300 a month, fuel demands for action.