Graduation Year

2024

Document Type

Honors Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Political Science

Program or Major

Political Science

Faculty Advisor

Jeremy Geddert

Abstract

The provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) were originally designed to be funded through an individual mandate. Thus, after the repeal of the mandate penalty in 2017, most supporters believed the entire ACA would collapse. However, despite a Republican Congressional majority, it has not. How come? While Republicans have generally opposed government involvement in healthcare, today’s Republican party has taken a populist turn. A study of American populism suggests that populism is compatible with government involvement in healthcare. America’s original right populist, the Nebraskan William Jennings Bryan, began a movement that produced electoral success as it moved north, even into Canada. These governments, most notably that of Saskatchewan, introduced single-payer healthcare. Bryan’s populism also spread southwest into Arizona, home of John McCain, who cast the deciding vote to save the ACA. Therefore, the Republican turn to populism helps to explain the modern Republican lack to repeal the benefits of the ACA.

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