by David Shephard, ©2026
(Sep. 7, 2026) — In an ongoing effort to please their increasingly progressive rank-and-file, the Democratic Party has moved rapidly to the left over the last several years. Ever since the days of Barack Obama (a man who once believed that marriage was an institution between a man and a woman), the party has adopted, or at least become more receptive, to radical and fringe policies ranging from abolishing the police, slavery reparations, allowing biological boys who identify as girls to play on girls’ sports teams, abolishing the police, and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement to defunding the Pentagon.
Now, not all Democrats have taken such positions, but an increasingly growing minority have, and the more traditional Democrats have remained silent. The party has rightfully taken heat for these radical positions, which has hurt their brand. But below the radar there is one other crazy position, which is increasingly becoming an acceptable party position, which the Republicans, surprisingly to me, have not seized on. And this is the “Medicare for All” position.
Medicare was created in 1965 for senior citizens, specifically retirees. Because traditionally Americans get their health insurance from their employer, Medicare fills a needed gap. But now Democrats want to make Medicare available to all. They want to put working-aged, healthy and poor people on the program. Why do they want to do this? Well, a few possible reasons. First, it’s in their nature – they love to grow all government programs. And secondly, Democrats reflexively want to discourage work and to foster a sense of dependency on government.
The Medicare for All Act was first introduced by radical House Democrat John Conyers back in 2003. While it didn’t pass, he was able to get 38 Democrats to sign on as co-sponsors. Today, the legislation has 114 co-sponsors, which amounts to just about 53 percent of the Democratic caucus. The issue is no longer just a fringe issue.
A good example of how Medicare for all is now being adopted by mainstream Democrats can be found in New Hampshire. A former Granite State Congressman and now Senate candidate, “moderate” Rep. Chris Pappas (a man who I have officially nicknamed the “gutless wonder boy”), went from being an opponent to Medicare for all, to now apparently and quietly supporting it. While I can’t find him using the words “Medicare for all” anywhere, according to his campaign website: “Chris has worked to strengthen and expand Medicare for those who need it.” Well, “those who need it” includes everyone. We all want free stuff, or at least subsidized stuff. So, Pappas, like most all of the “moderate” Democrats, are now jumping on the bandwagon.
Medicare is on track to go broke by 2036, which is right around the corner. Why would we add people to a program already in trouble? It would be like the captain of a cruise ship discovering that there is a leak and at the next port of call deciding to bring on 100 more passengers. At his trial the prosecution would have a solid case that the captain was trying to sink his own ship. Well, perhaps Democrats are trying to sink Medicare, and in the aftermath of the collapse a new effort to rebuild a European socialist healthcare model might succeed.
This presents Republicans with a golden opportunity to remind voters just how fiscally irresponsible the Democrats still are, and it is a great opportunity to make a direct appeal to the just over 70 million people who depend on Medicare and the millions more who will join the program in the next ten years.
The Medicare for all position, which more and more Democratic candidates are embracing, is fiscally reckless, but it won’t hurt them politically if Republicans don’t challenge them on it.
David Shephard is a native and very proud Virginian. Raised in Fairfax County, David graduated from George Mason University and majored in Government and Politics. He spent decades in politics, campaign consulting, raising money and lobbying. He is also a longtime conservative blogger writing for numerous blogs. He is also the host of “The Virginia Gentleman Podcast.”
David is the author of Elections Have Consequences, A Cautionary Tale, and his latest book, Norton’s Choice: An Inside Politics Exposé.