Arizona GOP Senate Candidate Says She Will Be A Vote To Repeal Obamacare 'After The Elections'

It is an open secret at this point that Republicans plan to take another shot at repealing the Affordable Care Act next year if they retain control of Congress. But few candidates are willing at this point to say it outright.

Rep. Martha McSally, the GOP nominee for Senate in Arizona, is one of those few.

Asked on Fox News during a discussion of the appointment of former Sen. Jon Kyl to serve out the rest of Sen. John McCain's term whether he will be "the vote that Republicans need" to finally pass their repeal of health coverage for millions of poor and sick people, McSally pivoted to her own desire to move forward.

"We do have an opportunity to move forward from the disaster that is Obamacare," McSally said. "Whether that fits on the calendar in the short term, or after the elections, I'm not sure, but we have to get this done."

Arizona GOP Senate nominee Martha McSally just admitted she would be a vote to repeal the ACA "after the elections" pic.twitter.com/Qhbi7tskad

— Steve Morris (@stevemorris__) September 6, 2018

McSally was an enthusiastic vote of support for last year's disastrous "American Health Care Act," that would have slashed Medicaid and insurance subsidies and dismantled essential benefit protections. At the time, she was quoted as saying "Let's get this fucking thing done!" The bill passed the House, but died in the Senate.

Repealing the ACA has been a centerpiece of Republican policy for years, but their efforts have become increasingly toxic as the law has secured coverage for millions of people and grown more popular.

At the moment, many Republicans are at least willing to say that they support retaining coverage for pre-existing conditions — even some who are currently leading a federal lawsuit to eliminate those protections.

McSally is seeking election to departing Sen. Jeff Flake's open seat. Her Democratic opponent is Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, a bisexual former athlete and defense attorney who overcame childhood homelessness. A renowned centrist congresswoman, Sinema voted against repealing Obamacare last year, and is running on a platform of protecting and strengthening coverage.

The most recent polls show Sinema with a narrow but consistent lead over McSally. However, there is a chance McSally could be sent to the Senate even if she loses the election. That's because Kyl has only committed to filling McCain's seat through the end of this year, not through the end of his term in 2021 — and if he leaves early, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey could appoint McSally in his place.