Key governor races could affect ACA implementation, Medicaid expansion

With governor races in 36 states this fall, new faces in several governors' chairs could influence those states' stances on Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act implementation and Medicaid expansion.

Races to watch include Pennsylvania and Maine, where a party switch for the office could boost expansion. In Republican-controlled states like Texas, Georgia and Florida however, there's less likelihood for Medicaid expansion, regardless of who wins the governor's race.

In Pennsylvania, Republican Gov. Tom Corbett may face a tough re-election race. All four of the current Democratic candidates have come out vehemently against his Healthy Pennsylvania healthcare proposal. The Democratic primary takes place May 20.

The Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Senate passed Medicaid expansion last year, but the state House, which is more conservative, has not.

In Maine, the Democratic-controlled state Legislature has been battling with Republican Gov. Paul LePage to expand Medicaid. On April 17, the Legislature voted for the third time since March in favor of Medicaid expansion, but the bill is likely to be vetoed by LePage, as he has done twice before. Democratic state Representative Mike Michaud, who is running for governor, has come out in support of Medicaid expansion, and is leading LePage by a few points in recent polls.

In Texas, Republican Gov. Rick Perry has been strongly opposed to the ACA and Medicaid expansion. With Perry leaving office, Republican state Attorney General Greg Abbott and Democratic state Sen. Wendy Davis are vying for the seat, with Abbott in the lead. Abbott has said he is also against Medicaid expansion, while Davis supports it.

James Henson, a lecturer in the department of government at the University of Texas at Austin, contended that there is some bipartisan support bubbling up in Texas for Medicaid expansion, but state Republicans in favor of it are loathe to make a public declaration. Even if Davis wins, he doubted Medicaid expansion would occur. “I think there's still a pretty strong wellspring of fear in the Republican Party that anybody who votes for Medicaid expansion will then have to face opponents accusing them of supporting Obamacare,” he said.