Congressman Kevin Kiley Stays Loyal to Trump, MAGA in ACA Vote
For Kiley, who has attempted to move to the center in the aftermath of California's Proposition 50, the vote presented a conundrum
Congressman Kevin Kiley (R - CA 3rd District) did not join a handful of his fellow Republicans yesterday who defied Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and President Donald Trump and voted to extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies that expired last year. The moderate Republicans who broke from MAGA said the vote was necessary to prevent sharp increases in health insurance costs for millions of Americans.
The House approved the extension on a 230–196 vote, with all Democrats and 17 Republicans in favor. The enhanced subsidies, first enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic and later renewed, have now expired, a change that raised monthly premiums for middle-income families and older consumers.
Republicans who supported the bill largely represent politically competitive districts and argued that allowing the subsidies to lapse would create immediate financial strain for constituents already facing rising housing, food, and insurance costs. Several cited concerns that ending the aid would increase the number of uninsured Americans and destabilize individual insurance markets.
For Kiley, who has attempted to move to the center in the aftermath of California's Proposition 50, the vote presented a conundrum. Vote for the ACA extension and appear moderate or alienate his loyal base of MAGA voters.
GOP leaders, including Johnson, opposed the measure, arguing it extends what they view as an expansion of the Affordable Care Act without corresponding spending offsets. President Trump has also criticized the law and urged Republicans to oppose efforts he says entrench “Obamacare” rather than pursue broader health care changes.
Despite House passage, the legislation faces an uncertain future in the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate, where GOP leaders have expressed skepticism about extending the subsidies without major policy changes. Failing to act before the deadline resulted in higher premiums for millions who buy coverage through the ACA marketplaces.
Kiley's political fortunes are uncertain, as the new map of California's 3rd Congressional District has been redrawn to favor Democratic voters and Democratic Congressman Ami Bera (CA 6th District) has already said he will run for the seat. Kiley has not said which district he will seek another term in.
