A prominent Democratic-aligned healthcare advocacy organization, Protect Our Care, has initiated a $10 million advertising campaign titled "Hands Off Medicaid." The campaign specifically targets Republican House members, accusing them of prioritizing tax breaks for the wealthy over preserving Medicaid benefits.
The ads, launched with an exclusive reveal to Fox News, will air on cable news in Washington, D.C., focusing on Republican congressional offices. Digital ads will also run in several competitive districts represented by vulnerable Republicans, including David Schweikert (AZ-01), David Valadao (CA-22), Young Kim (CA-40), Ken Calvert (CA-41), Nick LaLota (NY-01), Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), and Dan Newhouse (WA-04). These representatives could face challenging re-election campaigns in 2026 as the GOP strives to maintain its narrow House majority.
The campaign coincides with House Republicans' efforts to finalize a budget resolution, which Protect Our Care contends could result in tax cuts for the affluent and reductions in Medicaid and other essential programs for working-class and low-income individuals. The ads will continue through next week as this budget resolution is being finalized.
Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach criticized Republicans for considering cuts to Medicaid, a program that supports seniors, working individuals, and children. Dach emphasized the broad public support for Medicaid and warned against cutting coverage for vulnerable populations to fund tax cuts for billionaires. One of the campaign's commercials juxtaposes the needs of a child requiring Medicaid with the potential for billionaires to purchase larger yachts, urging viewers to contact their representatives and advocate for Medicaid protection.
While some conservative House Republicans explore potential changes to Medicaid to address the national deficit and implement President Trump's agenda, this approach may conflict with Trump's repeated promises not to cut Medicaid except for instances of fraud and abuse.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has also stated that the goal is not to reduce benefits but to improve the efficiency of Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, ensuring their sustainability and effectiveness for beneficiaries.
