Alex Eaton Challenges Johnson to a Healthcare Debate: Medicare for All vs. the Public Option

VASA, MN — DFL congressional candidate Alex Eaton today challenged Jake Johnson to a public debate on healthcare — Medicare for All vs. the public option — to be held anywhere in MN-01 before the Aug 11 primary.

"This is the debate for the soul of the Democratic party. I'll stand up for a system that covers every person with no premiums, no networks, and no medical bankruptcy. It's time to see Jake stand up for the insurance companies. Pick the town, pick the moderator, pick the date — I'll be there."

How we got here

• Jul 6 — At his Jackson town hall, Johnson was asked about universal healthcare and answered: "do I support single-payer or universal health care? And so the answer is yes."
• Jul 7 — The Eaton campaign publicly called on Johnson to clarify his healthcare position.
• Jul 14 — At Johnson's Winona town hall, Johnson states "When I think about the most viable pathway forward, it is a public option system." A young voter, with no affiliation with Eaton's campaign, said she had emailed his campaign 10 questions at the end of April — including on single-payer — and never received the promised response. Johnson committed on the record: "And we'll get your 10 questions answered for sure."
• Jul 16 — Johnson answered in writing: "I do not support Medicare for All because of the number of jobs it would cost us in our district." The full email was posted publicly on Reddit's r/rochestermn on Jul 17.
• Jul 20 — Eaton issues today's debate challenge.

"In Jackson, Jake said yes to single-payer. 10 days later he put in writing that he's against it. Southern Minnesota deserves better than an answer that changes depending on who's asking. A debate settles it."

Eaton also called on Johnson to name the source for his claim that Medicare for All would eliminate "around 10,000 jobs" in the district. "Did Jake take that number from the Lewin Group's Minnesota study? If so, he should say so — and if not, he should tell voters exactly what study he's relying on. I've put my platform's numbers and sources on the table. He should do the same."

A side-by-side comparison of both candidates' written answers to all 11 questions — including the timeline, source screenshots, and the Winona town hall transcript excerpt — is available at alexeaton.org/docs/johnson-eaton-comparison.pdf.

About Alex Eaton

Alex Eaton is a DFL candidate for Congress in Minnesota's 1st District, running on universal single-payer healthcare, no federal income tax on the first $80K of household income, a $500/month universal basic income for every adult, and universal pre-K starting at age 3. Eaton is walking all 277 miles across the district, from Manley to La Crescent.

Contact: Juan Rodriguez, Communications Director — juan@alexeaton.org — (507) 302-3340