Moderate House Republicans Defy Party Leadership on Health Care Subsidies

Wed Dec 17 2025 23:31:19 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a surprising move, four moderate House Republicans have sided with Democrats to push for a vote on extending health care subsidies tied to the Affordable Care Act, signaling potential shifts in political dynamics ahead of the midterms.

Four Republicans from swing districts, namely Brian Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mackenzie, Robert Bresnahan, and Mike Lawler, have broken ranks with party leadership to support a Democratic petition aimed at extending health care subsidies, highlighting the critical nature of health care issues in the upcoming midterms. Their actions reflect the political pressures faced by lawmakers in tightly contested districts, as they seek to represent their constituents amidst rising health care costs.

Four moderate House Republicans — from swing districts Democrats are already eyeing for next year’s midterms — have broken ranks with Speaker Mike Johnson, signing on to Democrats’ petition to force a vote on extending health care subsidies that expire at the end of this year.

From battleground districts in Pennsylvania and New York, the members on Wednesday sided against their party on the Democratic-led measure to force a vote on subsidy extensions related to the Affordable Care Act — a move that came after House Republican leaders pushed ahead with a GOP health care bill that does not address impending soaring monthly premiums.

Acknowledging “these are not normal times,” Johnson said his party’s razor-thin majority allows a small number of GOP members to have an outsize influence in some of the chamber’s mechanics.

Meet the four Republicans bucking their party’s leadership over health care:

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, Pennsylvania

Fitzpatrick, who has been part of several bipartisan pushes this year, represents a perennial swing district in the presidential battleground state. He has garnered bipartisan support for his discharge petition related to ACA subsidy extension. Earlier this year, he was part of a coalition that rallied support for a bill prohibiting Congress members from trading individual stocks.

“It’s not every day you see this cast of characters up here,” Fitzpatrick remarked. “You’re all smirking out there. That’s a good thing. It speaks to the power of this cause.”

Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, Pennsylvania

Mackenzie drew an opponent merely 48 hours after voting for the House budget bill earlier this year. Part of a bipartisan group pressing for a compromise regarding ACA subsidies, Mackenzie told The Associated Press, “even if you have a broken system, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t provide or offer relief to individuals dealing with those high costs.”

Rep. Robert Bresnahan, Pennsylvania

Bresnahan and Mackenzie, both freshmen, won their seats by narrow margins in the last election and are already targets for Democrats ahead of next year's midterms. Last week, President Donald Trump held an event in Bresnahan’s district resembling a campaign rally.

Rep. Mike Lawler, New York

Lawler represents a crucial swing seat that Democrats are poised to target heavily in the upcoming elections. Despite previously expressing interest in running for governor, he opted to focus on defending his battleground district, engaging with constituents during contentious town halls.