JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Today, US Senate Candidate Katrina Christiansen, called for an expansion of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to increase healthcare access for North Dakotans. Christiansen, who has made healthcare a key issue in her campaign, criticized Senator Kevin Cramer for his long-standing opposition to the ACA, which he has consistently sought to repeal.

Christiansen emphasized that the ACA has already benefited over 50 million Americans, providing healthcare access and protecting those with preexisting conditions. She argued that while the law is a significant step forward, more can be done to expand its reach, especially in North Dakota.

“The majority of North Dakotan workers currently benefit in some way from the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion, and yet my opponent has for years campaigned on scrapping the program without any proposal for what would go in its place,” Christiansen said, according to a media release. “Instead of throwing out a program that helps countless North Dakotans, I propose we expand access so that even more hard-working people can have crucial access to healthcare.”

Christiansen’s plan to build upon the ACA includes capping drug prices and increasing medical resources in rural areas that currently lack adequate healthcare services. She cited the need to protect young adults with serious illnesses, ensuring they retain coverage through the ACA, which was not possible under previous healthcare systems.

“We live in the greatest country in the world,” Christiansen noted. “We have the resources to take care of our people. If Kevin Cramer thinks our health care system was better before the ACA, he should go talk to that young adult with cancer who is now able to sleep at night knowing they won’t be denied coverage.”

Christiansen concluded by criticizing what she described as political inaction, claiming that the current system is being upheld by “career politicians” who benefit from keeping the status quo.

Cramer has consistently supported efforts to repeal the ACA, but Christiansen argues that doing so without a clear alternative would leave millions of Americans vulnerable, particularly those in North Dakota who rely on Medicaid expansion for their healthcare needs.