State-by-State Policy & Advocacy Updates: Q2 2026

Please note: The following updates are current as of July 13, 2026, and are subject to change given the fluid nature of the legislative process. For any questions, please email admin@caresourcemission.com.

With the midterm election season underway, critical health care policy decisions are on the horizon.

Learn what our State Government Affairs team is watching, including key races, emerging candidates, and policy issues that could shape the future of managed care.

ARKANSAS
Incumbent Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) is seeking reelection and is expected to remain the clear frontrunner in the race.

Governor Sanders has generally aligned with the Trump administration's approach to Medicaid, emphasizing fiscal sustainability, work requirements, and rooting out fraud.

• Enters the election cycle with significant fundraising advantages and strong statewide support.
• Unafraid to take on difficult fights & hard issues
• Likely to win re-election

State Senator Fred Love (D) is a term-limited state senator from one of the few Democratic districts in Arkansas (Little Rock).

• Lacks significant funding resources.
• Does not have a particularly strong or clear message outside of taking positions opposite the Governor.
• Has not proposed major reforms to Arkansas Medicaid but would likely support spending new General Revenue on more benefits and increased enrollment, likely through a traditional fee-for-service model.

Colt Shelby (L) is a relative political outsider with a following built around opposition to the Governor’s proposed new prison in his home county.

• Has positioned himself as an anti-establishment candidate critical of state government and political insiders.
• No clear political ideology.
• Has expressed concerns about people “profiting” from government programs, which could translate into skepticism of managed care.

GEORGIA

Georgia's general election has attracted significant national attention and record-breaking spending. With the field now set for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, and US Senate, candidates are turning their attention to November. The state is set to look markedly different in its leadership over the next 4-8 years.

Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) most recently served in the Biden White House following one term as Mayor of Atlanta. She secured the nomination outright in May and has used the general election period to outline a policy agenda that would move Georgia in a different direction after multiple decades of Republican leadership. 

• Supports Medicaid expansion in Georgia and has made health care access a central component of her campaign platform.
• Only candidate to release a policy plan document focused on health care challenges.

Rick Jackson (R) is a billionaire healthcare executive and founder of Jackson Healthcare, a provider staffing firm. He has positioned himself as a political outsider, upsetting the longtime favorite for the nomination and President Trump’s endorsed candidate, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. His campaign was fueled by an unprecedented investment of more than $100 million, largely out of his own pocket.

• Platform centers on "kitchen table" issues to help working families through measures like property tax freezes and income tax reductions.
• Despite his background in the health care industry, he has not yet proposed any detailed health care policy proposals.
• While a gubernatorial contest is always high profile, this race will continue to receive outsized attention in Georgia due to the incredible level of resources Jackson is investing in the campaign.

MASSACHUSETTS
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey (D) is seeking reelection and currently faces no primary challenger. Attention has largely shifted to the Republican primary, where two candidates are vying for the GOP nomination.

Governor Maura Healey is seeking a second term after first being elected in 2022, running on a platform focused on affordability and housing.

• Administration has focused on addressing affordability challenges facing Massachusetts families, including rising health care costs.
• Convened a health care affordability workgroup tasked with finding solutions to reduce health care costs across the system.
• While polling is on Healey’s side, her lead has shrunk over the last couple of months as voters grow more frustrated with rising housing prices, increases in prices, and a weaker job market.

The GOP primary comes down to two candidates: Mike Minogue, a former Abiomed executive, and Brian Shortsleeve, a former MBTA executive. Current polling shows Governor Healey with a sizable lead over either Republican candidate.

Mike Minogue (R) is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination. He has positioned himself as a political outsider, campaigning to make Massachusetts more affordable, safer, and better for businesses.

• Faces an uphill battle in a blue state. 
• Has emphasized reducing costs and improving the state's economic competitiveness.
• Significant funding advantage over Healy, contributing a record $13.5 million to his own campaign since October.

MICHIGAN
Michigan's open gubernatorial race has shifted significantly following one of the biggest surprises of the cycle: former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan's decision to end his successful independent campaign. Now, the race will center on which candidate can attract the independent and moderate voters who previously supported Duggan.

Jocelyn Benson (D) serves as Michigan's Secretary of State and is considered the Democratic frontrunner. First elected in 2018, Benson has built her campaign around government accountability, affordability, and consumer protections.

• Health care agenda focuses on reforming what she believes are “broken systems.”
• Calling for transparency, accountability, and affordability, which includes calls for a “crackdown on insurance companies who deny care prescribed by doctors.”
• Benefits from strong statewide name recognition and a favorable political environment for Democrats.

Chris Swanson (D) is the Sheriff of Genesee County and entered the race after gaining national attention for marching with protesters in 2020 and speaking at the Democratic National Convention last August.

U.S. Representative John James (R), who was reelected to Congress in 2024 representing Michigan’s 10^th congressional district, is considered the Republican frontrunner.

• Brings previous statewide campaign experience and enters the race with strong fundraising potential and broad name recognition.
• Campaign centered on his "Freedom Agenda," which calls for rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse. 
• Endorsed by President Trump.

Perry Johnson (R) is a businessman who previously sought the governorship in 2022 and pursued the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.

• Campaign centered on a proposed Michigan Efficiency Government Audit (MEGA Audit).
• Supports a comprehensive forensic audit of all state agencies, departments, boards, commissions, and major government programs.

Mike Cox (R) is a former Michigan Attorney General who has launched his campaign under the theme "Make Michigan Great Again."

• Previously served two terms as Michigan Attorney General in 2002 and 2006.
• Campaign website touts his 2007 work creating the drug cost website MichiganDrugPrices.com.

NEVADA
Nevada's 2026 gubernatorial race is shaping up to be a closely watched contest between incumbent Governor Joe Lombardo and Attorney General Aaron Ford.

Governor Lombardo (R), a former Clark County Sheriff, has governed with an emphasis on limited government, fiscal restraint with an anti-tax orientation, public safety, and economic growth, with investments in housing, education, and health care workforce capacity.

• Tenure has been defined by a strong use of veto power to shape policy outcomes. Issued 162 individual vetoes over two regular legislative sessions.
• Running on a platform focused on protecting taxpayers, strengthening public safety, and growing the economy.
• Prioritized health care system efficiency and proposed creating a Nevada Health Authority.

Attorney General Ford (D) is running on a platform centered on affordability, consumer protection, and economic equity. Ford is currently the Nevada Attorney General (since 2019), previously served as State Senate Majority Leader, and worked as a public school teacher.

• Running on a platform focused on affordability, consumer protection, and economic opportunity.
• Campaign focuses on lowering costs for working families, particularly in health care, housing, and everyday expenses.
• Health care priorities include medical debt relief, lower prescription costs, and consumer protections.
• Record of securing over $1B in opioid settlement funds and pursuing multistate legal actions on behalf of Nevada residents.

NEW YORK
Incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul is heavily favored to win a second full term. health care policy remains a key issue in the race, with candidates offering differing approaches to Medicaid oversight, workforce challenges, and access to care.

Governor Kathy Hochul (D) is seeking reelection after first assuming office in 2021 and winning a full term in 2022. Her health care priorities include:

• Supporting New York's safety net hospitals and stabilizing the workforce.
• Expanding the use of AI safely and equitably.
• Stronger oversight of health care mergers and acquisitions.
• Reforms to prior authorization requirements to improve access to care.

Bruce Blakeman (R) is the former Nassau County Executive and Republican nominee for governor. His campaign focuses on public safety, tax relief, and fewer regulations.

• Aligned with President Trump’s platform on Medicaid.
• Pledges to crack down on fraud, waste, and abuse.
• Specifically called for an investigation into New York's Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP), a Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) program that allows Medicaid members to hire their own caregivers, including family members and friends.

OHIO
Ohio’s open governor’s race is expected to be one of the more closely watched statewide races this November, as Governor Mike DeWine is term-limited and unable to seek re-election.

The general election matchup is Vivek Ramaswamy (R), entrepreneur and former presidential candidate, against Dr. Amy Acton (D), former Director of the Ohio Department of Health in Governor DeWine’s administration.

Early polling has shown a competitive race, though Ohio trends Republican in statewide elections. Both campaigns are expected to focus heavily on affordability, education, health care, workforce, and the overall direction of the state.

WISCONSIN
With Governor Tony Evers (D) decision not to seek reelection, Wisconsin's gubernatorial race is the state's first open gubernatorial race since 2010. Six Democrats and two Republicans are actively competing in the crucial swing state. 

The Democratic primary field remains crowded, with no clear frontrunner emerging ahead of the August 11 primary election.

• Candidates have been waiting to get closer to the primary date before spending any money on advertising.
• All have said they are interested in expanding managed care coverage, with some touting a public option as the path to get there.

Tom Tiffany (R) is a U.S. Representative and has largely secured the Republican nomination.

• Has indicated he will prioritize spending on education and health care if elected.
• Plans to direct a full audit of the Medicare program to root out fraud, waste, and abuse.
  
  

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