Idaho’s Prop 2 passes with 62% voter approval

Nikki Torres by Nikki Torres

Idaho’s Proposition 2, the initiative that calls for Medicaid expansion got a lot of support on election night. As of Wednesday night, it’s got about 62% of the vote. That ‘yes’ vote should mean Medicaid coverage for an extra 62,000 Idaho residents.

Believe it or not, the whole idea for Proposition 2 in Idaho started with a group of friends in a backyard. The idea eventually grew into thousands of supporters. Now, they’re happy for their team… But they’re celebrating even for the tens of thousands of people they say they were fighting for.

“All of those 62,000 people across this state. We won this fight, and we won it for them,” said Emily Strizich, co-founder of Reclaim Idaho.

62,000 people – who fell through the cracks of Idaho’s Medicaid qualifications.

It’s who the founders of Reclaim Idaho, the group spearheading Idaho’s Proposition 2, have been working for since July 2017.

“We couldn’t have even imagined this kind of resounding victory a year and a half later,” said Luke Mayville, co-founder of Reclaim Idaho.

As of Wednesday night, 364,000 Idaho voters – all said yes.

The group took on the campaign grassroots-style. Traveling all around the state in two big green buses with their message, ‘vote yes for medicaid expansion.’

“The people of Idaho, went out, did the work, and then delivered, and then it happened,” said Garrett Strizich, co-founder of Reclaim Idaho.

Working with more than 2,000 volunteers every mile of the way.

“Treated it like the entire statewide campaign depended only on their efforts,” Mayville said.

Talking to thousands of residents, many who touched their hearts in more ways than one.

“At least once a day, I was talking with someone who was choosing between keeping heat on, and getting their blood pressure medication or buying groceries and getting an asthma inhaler,” she said.

While days were long for co-founder Emily Strizich, one woman’s story kept her motivated to keep going.

Emily said she knocked on her door to learn she was choosing between selling her home, or treating a terminal condition.

“She was looking at me – this stranger at her door – saying, is my life worth saving,” she said.

Emily asked the woman how she could help.

“She said, just keep fighting – because the people who were elected to fight for me, aren’t,” she said.

Though the election process is nearly finished, Reclaim Idaho said they are far from done fighting. They said what comes next is holding local representatives accountable to their word to make sure absolutely no one falls through the gap and everyone qualifies for Medicaid.

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