WASHINGTON — Democrats rode a wave of health care messaging into a majority of the House of Representatives, projections showed Tuesday, propelled by vows to protect Americans with pre-existing health conditions and dramatically lower prescription drug costs. Some of the winning Democrats highlighted their own health struggles. Others lambasted their Republican opponents for taking money from drug companies and health insurers. The GOP’s steadfast effort to roll back the Affordable Care Act dominated congressional campaigns around the country, and on Election Day, exit polls showed health care was the top concern for voters. Unlock this article by subscribing to STAT Plus and enjoy your first 30 days free! STAT Plus is STAT's premium subscription service for in-depth biotech, pharma, policy, and life science coverage and analysis. Our award-winning team covers news on Wall Street, policy developments in Washington, early science breakthroughs and clinical trial results, and health care disruption in Silicon Valley and beyond.
After the midterms produced a Democrat majority in the House of Representatives, questions exist over the power they will have to push the health care focused manifestos many Democrat politicians prioritised. The Democrats are also facing an uphill battle with their own base on issues such as immigration and climate change. The focus on health care was mirrored by voters. This majority means the Democrats will be in a far better position to trial their health care agenda, though such initiatives will surely be hurt by a Republican-held senate. Moreover, the vote has left Nancy Pelosi in prime position to take on the role of House speaker, recently stressing the importance of attacking drug pricing in the US, recently stating that a hostile 2019 is in store for drug makers who fail to keep prices down. Yet this will not be an easy task. A battle awaits her with Mitch McConnell in the Senate. His friendliness with big pharma and keenness to repeal the Affordable Care Act will make Pelosi’s job harder when trying to reinvigorate Medicare, Medicaid and of course, the Affordable Care Act. And then there’s Trump. His tumultuous relationship with the pharma industry might provide an opportunity for Democratic lawmakers to find a common ground with the president, as both would be happy if a bipartisan deal could be reached. Although equally it could prove to be another stumbling block for the Democrats. While the majority is not resounding, this new-found position in the House of Representatives should provide an injection of confidence albeit short-lived if McConnell puts up a fight.