THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN

Maine Voters Approve Medicaid Expansion

80,000 adults would qualify for coverage after an unprecedented referendum.

Maine voters on Tuesday defied Republican Gov. Paul LePage and approved a measure to expand Medicaid coverage to more low-income adults in the state. In the first referendum of its kind, about 59 percent of voters had come out in favor of the expansion with about 90 percent of precincts counted early Wednesday. About 41 percent of voters opposed the measure. The vote was largely seen as a litmus test for support of the Affordable Care Act among voters after numerous attempts by President Trump and Republican lawmakers to repeal and replace the health-care law. LePage vetoed five previous attempts by the state legislature to expand the Medicaid program. Approximately 80,000 adults would qualify for Medicaid coverage under the expansion. If the measure gets approved by the legislature, Maine will now join 31 other states in expanding the program’s coverage.