A group working to put Medicaid expansion on Florida’s 2026 ballot says it’s pushing ahead despite a new state law making it harder to collect the voter petitions needed to do so.
Florida Decides Healthcare, the group behind the constitutional amendment effort, has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the law.
This week, it also released a new public poll showing what it says is strong voter support for Medicaid expansion.
“Floridians are already with us,” said Mitch Emerson, executive director of Florida Decides Healthcare, during an interview on This Week in South Florida with Local 10’s Glenna Milberg. “We released this new poll showing that nearly seven out of 10 Floridians are already supporting the constitutional amendment, and that’s huge.”
Emerson said support cuts across party lines.
“In fact, over 50% of Republicans and even those identifying themselves as ultra conservative Republicans are at 50%,” he said. “This is not a partisan issue.”
He added that when voters learn more, support tends to grow.
“By helping us put expansion on the ballot and voting yes on closing the gap next year, we’ll be bringing our own tax dollars back and getting Floridians covered including older folks, veterans, and working people who shouldn’t have to go bankrupt just to afford healthcare.”
“At the end of the day,” he said, “this is about doing what makes the most sense — making sure no Floridian has to go without healthcare just because of a broken system.”
Local 10 viewers can listen to Emerson and Milberg’s conversation in the video at the top of this page.
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