Former Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius endorses Biden ahead of Kansas City visit
Former Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden ahead of his Saturday visit to Kansas City, pointing to him as the only candidate who can be beat President Donald Trump and protect the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Biden will face Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in Tuesday’s Missouri presidential primary.
Sebelius, a two-term Democratic governor in a GOP-leaning state, served as President Barack Obama’s secretary of Health and Human Services from 2009 to 2014. She oversaw the implementation of the ACA, Obama’s signature health care law commonly known as Obamacare.
“I was in the Administration when Joe got the key votes needed to pass Obamacare, covering 20 million uninsured Americans and freeing 100 million from fears they’d be denied coverage or be charged more for a preexisting condition. That healthcare law was the first major reform since Medicare and Medicaid passed in the mid-1960s,” Sebelius said in a statement.
“It’s time to build on that reform, not discard it. Joe has a real plan to lower costs, increase choice and competition, and get every American the health care coverage they deserve — right away.”
Biden was one of four 2020 presidential candidates Sebelius advised on health care policy. He is the only one still in the race.
Biden favors building on the ACA with creation of a public option for health coverage. Sanders wants to enact a Medicare for All program that would effectively replace the current health care insurance industry.
“At this time of an emerging health crisis, it’s more important than ever to have an experienced leader as president who listens to the scientists, believes in health care for all, and can bring the country together to deal with the challenges ahead,” Sebelius said. “That leader is Joe Biden, and I hope you’ll join me in fighting for him.”
Sebelius is the 10th Obama cabinet secretary to endorse Biden.
Former Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, another Midwesterner, was campaigning on Biden’s behalf Thursday in Kirksville and St. Joseph ahead of next week’s Missouri primary. Biden will visit St. Louis and Kansas City on Saturday.
Sebelius’ stature in the Kansas City region could help Biden in Missouri. But it will probably carry more weight when Kansas Democrats hold their primary on May 2.
She has retained considerable influence in the Kansas Democratic Party, as was demonstrated when she recruited longtime ally Laura Kelly to run for governor in 2018. Sebelius was a frequent presence at Kelly’s campaign events on her way to winning the governorship against Republican Kris Kobach.
Sebelius had supported former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016 when Sanders went onto win the state’s caucus by double digits.
But Kansas Democrats changed their format this year to a ranked choice primary, which could be a boost to Biden. He won Minnesota on Super Tuesday after the state also switched from a caucus to a primary.
There are 68 delegates up for grabs in Missouri next week and another 41 to win in Kansas in May.
This story was originally published March 5, 2020 at 12:55 PM with the headline "Former Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius endorses Biden ahead of Kansas City visit."
