Mahan, Swalwell, Porter Differ from Steyer and Other Governor Candidates on Single-Payer Health Care

"The idea of a government-run universal health care program that would replace private insurance as the sole payer of health care costs faces as many headwinds as ever. It had fallen onto the backburner after Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic lawmakers failed to get it done, with some balking at the $392 billion estimated annual cost."

"San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, has positioned himself against a state-level, single-payer healthcare system, favoring a focus on reducing waste and bureaucracy in the existing system instead. Mahan has criticized fellow candidates for promising to quickly deliver a single-payer, state-run health care system, arguing that such promises are not realistic."

"Climate activist and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer was opposed to single payer when he briefly ran for president in 2020, but changed his mind in December. The billionaire candidate told party delegates at their convention last month that because he is not beholden to corporate interests, 'I can state the simple fact that we need a single-payer health care system in California.'"

California Democratic candidates for governor are divided on single-payer healthcare despite it being a progressive rallying cry. The proposal for a government-run universal health care system to replace private insurance faces significant obstacles, including the estimated $392 billion annual cost that caused previous efforts to stall. Health advocates have shifted focus toward protecting Medi-Cal from anticipated Trump administration cuts. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan opposes state-level single-payer, advocating instead for reducing waste in existing systems. Tom Steyer reversed his 2020 opposition to embrace single-payer, while Katie Porter, a longtime supporter, previously expressed feasibility concerns before endorsing the policy.

Read at San Jose Inside