Where healthcare could sway voters, Democratic canvassers ramp up an old tactic: talking to people

In western Wisconsin, Democratic canvassers are intensifying their outreach by engaging in deep canvassing, a method of having lengthy conversations with voters about healthcare policies. Bill Hogseth, the co-executive director of the nonpartisan group GrassRoots Organizing Western Wisconsin (Groww), uses this approach to discuss his personal experience with a seizure and its impact on his life.

Hogseth aims to understand voters' perspectives on healthcare and gauge their potential support for expanding BadgerCare, the state's Medicaid program.

Healthcare has become a critical issue in the region, particularly as Republicans have criticized Democratic candidate Rebecca Cooke for supporting healthcare cuts. Two hospitals have permanently closed in western Wisconsin in 2024, and others are at risk of closure or service reductions. Voters have shared stories of their struggles with the US healthcare system, including the high cost of medical bills, inadequate insurance coverage, and the inability to stay at home with their children due to insurance expenses.

Groww plans to conduct 4,000 deep canvasses on healthcare in the northern part of the third congressional district from May to November. Their efforts are part of a broader effort to unseat Republican representative Derrick Van Orden and expand BadgerCare, which is projected to leave over 276,000 Wisconsinites without healthcare coverage.

Despite the state's decision not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), many voters feel that Washington does not understand their healthcare-related challenges. Deep canvassing has been shown to reduce prejudice and change voting behavior, as seen during a protest in Taylor county where attendees from both sides of the political spectrum demonstrated their opposition to healthcare cuts.