RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The California gubernatorial election is a year away, and the field of primary candidates is still taking shape. But one persistent issue has already become a major concern: the cost of health care.
IN forum On Nov. 7 in the Inland Empire, four Democratic candidates vying to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom vowed to resist Republican cuts to health care programs and improve people's access to health care, including mental health services. But while some have introduced variable taxes, candidates have not gone into detail about how they would reduce health care costs.
Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has vowed to become California's next “health governor.” Newsom's Commitments to lower costs and expand access when he first took office. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond has promised to create a single-payer health care system that would bring everyone under one program. Former state Comptroller Betty Yee said she will “build back better” with federal cuts and create a health care system that is tailored to California's diverse communities.
And former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has vowed to fight to preserve the health care system under pressure from the Trump administration and congressional Republicans, although he acknowledged that is a challenge given limited government resources.
“I’m not going to sell you snake oil,” he said. “Providing that kind of help will be difficult, but I am absolutely committed to it.”
The candidates' assurances come amid recent state and federal policy changes that, along with various factors, are increasing the cost of health care and making it harder for people to obtain and maintain coverage. In addition to suppliers raising prices, others inflationary pressure This includes an aging population, rising rates of chronic disease, medical advances and new technologies, analysts say. This adds to the sense of financial insecurity for millions of Californians struggling with state budgets. high cost of living And recent surge in inflation.
While the forum could have included up to six candidates, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter and entrepreneur Stephen Klubeck declined to attend, citing scheduling or other factors, according to John Coryel, a spokesman for the event.
Major health problem
A statewide survey commissioned by the California Health Foundation in anticipation of Health matters The forum found that nearly 80% of likely voters worry about the cost of health care, and 72% think the next governor should prioritize limiting out-of-pocket costs. Access to affordable mental health care and ability to care for aging family members or friends were also major concerns. Perhaps the first sign came when voters last week in Santa Clara County passed sales tax to help make up for federal cuts to food and health safety net programs.
California reflects much of the country. Exit polls from the Nov. 4 election show 81% voted for Democrat Abigail Spanberger, who won the Virginia gubernatorial election. mentioned healthcare as the most important task facing the state. In the national Reuters/Ipsos pollhealth care has been named the top everyday expense that Americans want Congress to prioritize. Sixty-five percent of voters said an annual $1,000 increase in health care spending would have some impact on their vote in 2026, according to the poll. recent KFF poll.
Some Californians surveyed on Nov. 4, the day of the state's special election, expressed frustration with Newsom's unfulfilled promises on health care. Newsom, a Democrat who is deliberating presidential race when he completes his second term in January 2027, he was campaigning single payer healthcare.
During his tenure he has managed billions of dollars and created policies to help the neediest Californians afford and access health care. The state also expanded the state-funded Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal, to all eligible residents without legal status. Medicaid provides free or low-cost health insurance to people with low incomes and people with disabilities.
But this year, faced with rising costs and a budget deficit, Newsom and the Democratic-controlled Legislature went back Part of this expansion is due to a freeze on enrollment of adults without legal status starting in 2026 and the introduction of insurance premiums. They also revived the asset test for older people and people with disabilities. Meanwhile, health care costs and homelessness remain a huge problem, and many Californians struggle to get basic medical care. And there is no sign of a single-payer health care system, as Sacramento lawmakers have repeatedly said. failed to advance amid cost concerns, including one estimate in 2017 of $400 billion a year.
“I remember him coming and talking to our members and telling them he was going to fight them for single payer,” said Michael Cusack, a 30-year-old former union health care worker from Oakland, while voting last week. “And I never saw him succeed in this campaign.”
Payment for medical care
Becerra, Thurmond and Yee have said they are willing to raise taxes to pay for health care programs. Villaraigosa dodged the tax question, saying his goal would be to “grow the pie” economically. Yee also suggested offering tax breaks to help struggling families pay for health care and care costs.
During the forum's lightning round, Becerra, Thurmond and Yee also raised their hands when asked if they supported a single-payer health care system. Becerra said after the event that he did not believe the state would receive support from the Trump administration for a single-payer system, but he said he would push for universal access to health care.
Indeed, all the candidates appeared to be mindful of Washington's power over health care resources, even as they vowed to oppose President Donald Trump, who has a particularly adversarial relationship with Newsom.
“Let’s recognize that the federal government is our largest partner,” Becerra said. “We have to work with them. We won't kneel, but we have to work with them.”
Currently, the biggest threat to health care cost and access comes from the federal government. Republicans in Congress have refused to give in to Democrats' demand for an extension of premium tax subsidies for health plans purchased on the Affordable Care Act exchanges, a core issue that led to the government shutdown. Members of Covered California, the state's health insurance exchange, have been notified that their premiums will increase next year. On average, premiums for ACA plans are expected to double all over the country.
Laura Jones, a small business owner in Oakland, currently pays the minimum amount possible on her Covered California plan, but worries she won't be able to afford a major medical emergency. She thinks about one of her friends who recently suffered a stroke.
“The hospital bills were just outrageous,” Jones said. “How would I pay for this?”
Meanwhile the impending $900 billion Cuts in federal spending on Medicaid under the One Big Beautiful Bill and tighter eligibility restrictions are expected to push 3.4 million Californians outside the program. Currently, more than a third of Californians are enrolled in Medi-Cal.
Oseoba Eirewele, 29, of Ventura, a registered Democrat who previously worked as a software engineer, said Medi-Cal became a lifeline for him after he lost insurance through his job and needed mental health and dental care.
“If I lost it, I would be very concerned,” he said. “I'd be in a bad place.”
People with employer-sponsored health insurance are also facing steep price increases. Family premiums for employer-based plans averaged nearly $27,000 this year, up 6% from 2024. new KFF report shows. Workers typically pay nearly $7,000 of that amount, the report said. This does not include other personal expenses.
“Even though I have a job, the copays are still very expensive,” said Rima Calloway, 35, an independent worker in San Francisco.
Initial training in June
Among other Democratic candidates vying for governor in 2026, Porter said she will carry out combative federal reductions Medicaid and Medicare are a top priority, along with expanding and improving health care for all residents. Porter's campaign took a hit after viral videos surfaced of her threatening to walk out of a CBS interview and berating a staffer. Former Assemblyman Ian Calderon said he would defend access to Medi-Cal. And Klubek wants to speed up the process housing construction.
Republican candidates include Riverside County Sheriff. Chad Bianco And Steve Hiltonformer Fox News contributor and political adviser to David Cameron when he was Prime Minister of Great Britain. Both promised to address affordability issues, especially housing costs.
Two other senior Democrats — former Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla — have said they will not run. Rick Caruso, a Republican-turned-Democrat and wealthy Los Angeles businessman, has not yet decided whether to run for office.
The California primary will be held on June 2 and the general election on November 3.
The report is a report from the scene.
