Healthcare on the Ballot: Kansas, Maine, and Michigan - Paging America | Lyssna här

Healthcare is the center of the fight for the Senate. Hosts Miles Baker and Dr. Rob Davidson break down three races where it is shaping the outcome: Kansas, Maine, and Michigan.

Kansas. A state that should have been a layup for Republicans is now competitive. Sen. Roger Marshall, a former OB-GYN, has had a rough stretch. He told cameras there were “no Medicaid cuts” right after Kansas doctors blamed him for cuts that threaten rural hospitals and clinics. Then the New York Times reported that he sued roughly 700 of his own patients over unpaid bills, some as small as $101. Eighty-one were arrested, and he charged an 18% interest rate. Democrat Adam Hamilton won the first debate and we discuss the legal-versus-moral gap in how Marshall collected debts, and the latest polling, including a GBAO survey with Hamilton up four.

Maine. Sen. Susan Collins faces Troy Jackson, who became the Democrats’ late replacement for Graham Platner. The hosts cover Jackson’s attacks on Collins over Trump’s big bill and her Kavanaugh vote, and her defense of both. They argue that Collins has a way to prove her stated views on reproductive rights and vaccines are real: she holds the deciding vote on the HELP Committee and could sink Heidi Overton’s nomination today. With nearly two-thirds of abortions now done by medication and telehealth access vital in a rural state like Maine, they say the stakes are immediate. They also discuss why the race is a toss-up and what each faction of the Democratic Party can learn from how it came together.

Michigan. Polling averages show El-Sayed ahead by about five points, while Rogers’ campaign leans on Islamophobia and race-baiting with few other arguments. The hosts praise how El-Sayed is defining Medicare for All, including simplifying Medicare, adding vision and dental, and possibly lowering the eligibility age, along with his outreach to MAHA-leaning voters on food and public health. They also discuss his planned tour of rural and northern Michigan to talk about affordability, tariffs, and farm costs, the Jocelyn Benson governor’s race and what differences between the two campaigns might reveal, and early signs of Latino voter enthusiasm that could reshape West Michigan. Miles and Rob also note that nearly a thousand Michigan healthcare professionals have signed a letter backing El-Sayed.

LINKS

* The Cook Political Report: A Senate Majority is Squarely in Democrats’ Sights as Kansas Moves to Toss Up; Two Other Races Shift Left

* The Cook Political Report: 2026 CPR Senate Race Ratings

* The Downballot: Morning Digest: Republicans abandon North Carolina—and race to rescue Kansas

* The New York Times: A Doctor Sued 700 Patients for Debts; 81 Were Arrested. Now He’s a Senator.

* KSNT: ‘There are no Medicaid cuts’ : Sen. Marshall responds to criticism about Medicaid changes passed in H.R 1

* The Kansas City Star: Sen. Marshall contends with Hamilton-friendly crowd at Kansas State Fair debate

* The Hill: Democrat leads Marshall in tight Kansas Senate race: Poll

* YouGov: New polls in seven states show tight races for Senate and governor in each, including leads for Talarico, Brown, and Acton

* ABC News: Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democrat Troy Jackson spar over Trump, trade and abortion in Senate Debate

* Collins on why she voted for the Big Bill

* Collins on her vote for Brett Kavanaugh