Apart from Bernie Sanders, few public figures stump more often and more energetically for single-payer health care than physician-turned-public-servant Dr Abdul El-Sayed. El-Sayed is now campaigning to become Michigan’s next US senator. In his recent endorsement, Sanders cited El-Sayed’s experience as a physician and epidemiologist as to why he is uniquely suited to address the country’s broken health care system. If elected, El-Sayed will be in a stronger position than ever to advance the cause of Medicare for All.

The stakes could not be higher. Each day brings fresh attacks from the Trump administration on an already anemic public health infrastructure, forcing medical professionals and patients on their back feet. Public health agencies charged with disease prevention, environmental regulation, scientific research funding, and the provision of life-saving vaccines are on the chopping block. Measles infections, once eradicated in the US, now risk becoming commonplace. And nearly five million Americans are expected to lose their health insurance due to premium increases as a result of Republicans’ refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced tax credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Medicare for All took center stage in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections but then disappeared after Joe Biden took office. But single-payer may be poised to make a comeback. A large majority of Americans — 65 percent — continue to support the creation of a national health insurance program, according to a recent poll conducted by Data for Progress. Not only does Medicare for All enjoy the support of the majority of Democrats and independents; the transformational reform is also backed by nearly half of Republicans.