While Democrats and independents are far more likely to have concerns, the Republican concerns illustrate the perils as the Senate weighs Medicaid cuts.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Friday issued a plea to Senate Republicans to reject the House-passed "big beautiful bill" because of concerns that it could severely impact the most vulnerable Americans as a result of changes and cuts to programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),

"Well, we all are going to die," says Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa facing reelection in 2026, responding to voter concerns about potential Medicaid cuts. The response came after an audience member during a town hall in Butler County, Iowa, warned that proposed reductions to Medicaid could result in people losing coverage and dying.