House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., dismissed support for Medicare for All and the Democratic Socialists of America’s (DSA) agenda. He stated that Democrats should concentrate on affordability as they aim to regain control of the House in November, following recent progressive primary wins.
During an appearance on “Meet the Press,” host Kristen Welker asked Jeffries if he personally supported Medicare for All. Jeffries responded, “I have not cosponsored the Medicare for All legislation proposed over recent years.” He emphasized the need to address and repair the broken health care system to make health care affordable for every American.
Former records indicate Jeffries co-sponsored the Medicare for All Act of 2019 and later in 2021. However, he was absent from the 102 additional House cosponsors listed when Reps. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., and Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., introduced H.R. 3069 in April 2025. The NYC DSA Healthcare Working Group credited its efforts for Jeffries’ 2019 support, though he also backed the public-option bill, Medicare X.
The DSA’s “Workers Deserve More!” program demands universal health care at no cost to individuals and several other substantial reforms, including abolishing ICE and the Senate. It also proposes changes to the judiciary and police funding. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., diverged from Jeffries and called Medicare for All “arguably the most important priority.” A recent Yale analysis suggests that a single-payer system could lower annual national health expenditures significantly.
When asked whether democratic socialists fit within the Democratic Party, Jeffries rejected the DSA platform but acknowledged that candidates winning Democratic nominations would join the party. “You will find progressives, New Dems, and Blue Dogs in a broad caucus,” Jeffries noted. Recently, Jeffries-backed Reps. Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat lost primaries to DSA-supported candidates in New York.
Former MS NOW host Mehdi Hasan criticized Jeffries for being out of touch, highlighting that most Democrats support Medicare for All. Hasan questioned Jeffries’ leadership in the party, indicating a disconnect between him and the wider Democratic base.
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