FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

January 8, 2026

John Cavanaugh Is Preparing State Level Legislation to Help Nebraskans Who Are Now Paying More For Health Insurance, Meanwhile Washington Republicans Overwhelmingly Vote to Keep Healthcare Costs High

Omaha, NE – Today Congressional Republicans overwhelmingly voted against tax credits that would have lowered healthcare costs for more than 100,000 Nebraskans. This vote is yet another example of Republicans putting the interests of their billionaire donors ahead of the interests of working people, who are being squeezed by high costs in every part of their lives.

Republicans’ failure to pass the ACA credits into law means in practice, Nebraskans who buy their insurance on the marketplace saw their costs double on average on the 1st of this year. 

Meanwhile, at the State Capitol in Lincoln, State Senator John Cavanaugh is preparing to introduce legislation that would provide Nebraskans who saw their health insurance go up because of expired subsidies with a tax credit to cover the difference.

Cavanaugh said: “Nebraskans should have the chance to purchase healthcare at a cost they can afford. Because the federal government failed to get this done last year, thousands of Nebraskans have already paid a higher health insurance bill this month or decided to go without coverage. I am introducing this bill because I’ll always use the power I have to lower healthcare costs and cut taxes for working people.”

Depending on the outcome of the Republican primary, Cavanaugh will face either Brett Lindstrom or Brinker Harding in the general election this November. Both have publicly said they support Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” which gave huge new tax breaks to Republicans’ billionaire donors while effectively forcing an additional 8,000 people in Nebraska’s Second Congressional District to go without health insurance because of cuts to Medicaid.

Cavanaugh has made healthcare costs a central piece of the campaign. The campaign has released two videos highlighting the healthcare story of an Omaha voter named Jennifer. Jennifer is a self-employed musician who buys her health insurance on the exchange and needs a double lung transplant. In 2026, her and her husband’s health insurance premium increased from $690 to $2,000 a month. Watch here and here.

Cavanaugh also authored this op-ed in the Omaha World Herald in December, breaking down the reasons behind rising healthcare costs and pledging to tackle the healthcare affordability crisis:

“Health care costs are rising across the board because pharmaceutical drugs are getting even more expensive, tariffs are driving up the cost of medical equipment and supplies, and now as more people get priced out of health insurance — especially those who are younger and healthier — we are going to see health insurance costs rise even further. The expiring ACA subsidies are just one piece of the crisis. Voters here in Nebraska’s second congressional district have an outsized role to play in the fight for affordable health care. House Republicans have proven that they’ll side with Trump and big corporations over their constituents’ health and wallets. In Congress, I promise to reverse these harmful healthcare cuts and keep fighting for lower costs and better care.”

Polling shows Cavanaugh has a 21 point lead in the Democratic primary. In addition to focusing on healthcare, Cavanaugh is running to tackle the affordability crisis, protect Social Security, and fight corruption. 

Media Contact 

Katie Bartizal

katie@johncavanaugh.org