THE US 2020 ELECTION TRAIN IS STEAMING FULL SPEED AHEAD AND WHILE ALL EYES ARE ON THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES, OUR NEXT GUEST IS RUNNING FOR A SEAT IN CONGRESS.

DEMOCRAT ANITA MALIK IS THE DAUG INDIAN IMMIGRANTS WITH A BACKGROUND IN TECH AND SHE WANTS TO UNSEAT THE EXPERIENCED REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT DAVID SCHWE ARIZONA'S SIXTH DISTRICT.

SHE SAID HOW SHE PLANS TO TRANSFORM THE TRADITIONALLYCONS.

>> SO YOU DECIDE TO RUN.

YOU THROW YOUR HAT INTO THE RING, FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING.

YOU, AGAINST SOME PEOPLE'S ODDS, A FIRST TIME CANDIDATE.

YOU WIN YOUR PRIMARY.

RUNNING A VERY COMPETITIVE RACE.

WITHIN A COUPLE OF POINTS OF THE INCUMBENT, WHICH WAS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE KIND OF SHOCKED BY YOUR RACE STARTING TO GET A LOT OF NATIONAL ATTENTION BECAUSE YOU'RE LIKE, WAIT, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

THIS IS PART OF THE BLUE WAVE, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE CURVEBALL.

YOUR HUSBAND GOT SICK.

WHAT HAPPENED?

TELL US THE STORY.

>> WE HAD WON THE PRIMARY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER THAT.

I HAD MY BIG FIRST DEBATE WITH THE INCUMBENT AND HE WAS FEELING WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE FLU.

NOTHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT.

KIND OF ON AND OFF, BUT AFTER THAT DEBATE, THAT FRIDAY, I REMEMBER IT VERY CLEARLY.

YOU KNOW, THAT REST OF THE WEEKEND TOOK A VERY DRASTIC TURN.

AND THERE WAS PERSONALITY CHANGE A LITTLE BIT BUT MOSTLY JUST, HE WASN'T FUNCTIONING IN A NORMAL WAY AND I WAS RUNNING CAMPAIGN.

HERE I WAS THE NOMINEE, SO I KIND OF TRIED TO KEEP GOING AND A FEW DAYS LATER, I REALIZED THERE WAS SOMETHING REALLY WRONG.

STILL THINKING IT WAS THE FLU BECAUSE HIS SYMPTOMS WERE FLU-LIKE, SO I TOOK HIM IN TO THE DOCTOR, YOU KNOW, CANCELLED SOME APPEARANCES AND THEY WERE CONCERNED ENOUGH THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS BUT WE NEED YOU TO GO IN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

IT COULD BE MENINGITIS.

WHAT IT ENDED UP BEING WAS BACTERIA GOT INTO HIS BLOODSTREAM.

THEY STILL DON'T KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED.

AS A FLUKE.SOMETIMES TO PEOPLE THAT BACTERIA WENT INTO HIS BRAIN AND IT CAUSED FIVE ABSCESSES IN HIS BRAIN WHICH IS VERY, VERY UNUSUAL TO HAVE THAT MANY, LET ALONE FOR IT TO HAPPEN IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SO THAT STARTED US OFF ON I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE BEST WORD OR ADJECTIVE FOR THE JOURNEY BUT A JOURNEY THAT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO PROCESS BECAUSE THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF ANSWERS.

EVEN THE TOP SURGEONS DIDN'T ALWAYS KNOW WHAT TO TELL US.

THERE WAS NO ANSWER OF HOW THIS WAS GOING TO TURN OUT.

HE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR THE NEXT SIX WEEKS, ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO ELECTION DAY.

>> I CAN'T THINK OF ANY SCENARIO WHERE THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN FRIGHTENING, EXHAUSTING, TERRIFYING.

'S YOUR HUSBAND.

HE'S THE FATHER OF YOUR KIDS.

BUT ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT, YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO RUN THIS CAMPAIGN.

WHAT WAS THE THOUGHT PROCESS?

I MEAN, WAS THERE EVER A POINT WHERE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WITHDRAWING?

>> THE INFORMATION CAME SO TRICKLING IN, ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH HIM.

WHAT WAS THE NEXT STEP BE?

MOVING TO NEXT.

SO EVERY DAY WAS JUST PUTTING ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER AND FIGURING OUT HOW DO I MANAGE EVERYTHING?

OBVIOUSLY, THE KIDS ARE MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

I HAVE TO PICK THE THREE THINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING, WHERE I WOULD FOCUS THAT ENERGY.

WE HAD FAMILY WITH HIM, SO I COULD BE PLACES WHERE I NEEDED TO BE AND ALSO, MAKE SURE I SAW HIM EVERY DAY AND WAS THERE TO TALK TO HIS DOCTORS AND SAID, WHAT DO WE DO HERE?

ON THE BALLOT BUT I WANT TO DO THIS BUT IN HIS MOMENTS OF BEING AWARE, BECAUSE I WILL TELL YOU IN SIX WEEKS, IT WENT UP AND DOWN WITH DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT HAPPENED WITH THE BRAIN, THAT IS NORMAL.

HE DOESN'T REMEMBER A LOT OF IT, BUT IN MOMENTS I KNEW HE WAS WITH US, HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS, WE TALKED ABOUT IT.

AND HE WANTED ME TO SEE IT THROUGH.WE ARE THE TYPE OF FAMIT BELIEVES, WE'RE THAT RISK TAKER FAMILY BUT ALSO THE ONES WHERE IT'S JUST PRINCIPLE.

THERE IS SO MUCH WRONG IN THIS WORLD AND I WANTED TO OBVIOUSLY HAVE ALL THE WINS.

I WANTED HIM TO BE OKAY AND WE WANTED TO WIN THIS RACE.

BUT IT WAS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHERE I JUST HAD TO KEEP GOING AND I FELT COMPELLED THAT THAT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR EVERYONE.

I WILL SAY, THE COMMUNITY, MY TEAM WERE AMAZING.

I HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT AND KNOWING I HAD THAT SUPPORT ONCE WE WERE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE IT A LITTLE BIT, WHAT GAVE ME THE ABILITY TO HAVE THE STRENGTH TO DO IT.

>> ELECTION DAY COMES, YOU FALL YOU FALL SHORT.

NOT UNUSUAL, FIRST TIME CANDIDATE.

RUNNING AGAINST INCUMBENT.

NO DISRESPECT TO THE INCUMBENT BUT THERE ARE SOME ADVANTAGES.

YOU FALL SHORT.

AND THEN DEALING WITH THE AFTERMATH.

THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE CAL CALLED YOU.

THE BILLS START ROLLING IN.

WHAT WAS THE SHOCKER?

>> THE SHOCKER WAS, I THOUGHT THAT I HAD 35,000 TO 40,000 NORMAL BILLS AFTER DEDUCTIBLES, YOUR 8020, SOME THINGS THEY TAGGED ON US EVEN THOUGH WE WERE IN NETWORK HOSPITALS BUT OUT OF NETWORK PHYSICIANS, BUT THEN ONE DAY, I OPENED THE MAIL TO ADD TO MY PILE AND I RECEIVED A BILL FOR $142,000.

NOW, I WAS ON INSURANCE AT THE TIME.

>> $142,000?

>> $142,000.

>> THAT'S NOT THE CUMULATIVE.

THAT'S THE ONE BILL.

>> THAT'S ONE BILL.

YES.

YES.

>> WHAT WAS THAT?

>> THAT WAS FOR TEN DAYS OF HOSPITAL CARE.

SO NONE OF THE DOCTORS AT THAT TIME, ALL THAT IS SEPARATE.

HE HAD A SURGERY IN THE TIME FRAME, THAT'S SEPARATE.

THE SURGEON'S COST.

THIS IS JUST FOR HOSPITAL CARE.

HE WAS IN THE ICU.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU GET THAT BILL AND MY FIRST INSTINCT WAS, I NEED TO MAKE A CALL RIGHT NOW.

CHECK THE TIME AND CALLED THE HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY.

TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

WHY DIDN'T INSURANCE PAY FOR I COULDN'T TELL MY HUSBAND.

IT TOOK ME ABOUT TWO DAYS TO TELL HIM BECAUSE HE WAS GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS OF, HOW DID THIS ALL HAPPEN TO ME?

YOU KNOW, REMEMBERING THINGS, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON AND THEN ALSO, DEALING WITH THE BILLS THAT WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO MANAGE $30,000 TO $40,000 AND HE WAS HELPING WITH THAT PROCESS AND FEELING, HOW DID WE GET HERE EVEN TO THAT AMOUNT?I DIDN'T GO OUT AND BUY E FANCY THING I CAN'T AFFORD.

>> WHAT DID HE SAY WHEN YOU TOLD HIM?

>> HE HANDLED IT MUCH BETTER THAN I DID TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

I REALLY MEANT THROUGH PANIC MODE AND HE LISTENED TO ME.

I TOLD HIM ALL OUR OPTIONS.

WE CAN FILE A CLAIM WITH THE INSURANCE, WORK WITH THE HOSPITAL, THIS IS WHAT THE PLAN IS.

THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AND HE LOOKED AT ME.

REMEMBER, IN OUR KITCHEN, I REMEMBER IT DISTINCTLY AND HE SAID, I'M JUST GRATEFUL TO BE AND I MEAN, IT'S HEARTBREAKING.

IT'S HEARTBREAKING TO KNOW THAT PEOPLE, FAMILIES, THE PEOPLE THAT GO THROUGH THE ILLNESSES HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS AT THE END AND TO FEEL THAT SUDDENLY NOW YOU HAVE A NEW BURDEN AND ON YOUR FAMILY AS WELL.

THAT'S NOT OKAY.

THAT'S NOT OKAY.

>> ONE OF THE REASONS THAT YOU RAN FOR CONGRESS IS TO DEFEND AND PRESUMABLY SHORE UP THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING YOU HAVE INSURANCE BECAUSE YOU'RE AN ENTREPRENEUR AND I BELIEVE YOUR HUSBAND IS AS WELL, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT, YEAH.

>> THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

>> RIGHT.

>> SOME PEOPLE WOULD LOOK AT YOUR SITUATION AND SAY, SEE?

THIS IS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM.

THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT MAKES YOU KIND OF A SURF OF THE LAND.

YOU'RE TIED TO ONLY ONE, YOU KNOW, PLACE AND YOU HAVE VERY FEW OPTIONS.

IS IT DOING WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO?

YOU KNOW, AND OTHER PEOPLE LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, SEE, LOOK.

WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE FAMILY HADN'T HAD ACCESS TO THE INSURANCE THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT?

>> RIGHT.

>> WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT THAT?

>> I THINK LIKE ALL POLICY, IT'S EXTREMELY COMPLEX.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IS NOT PERFECT AND WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT BUT TO COMPLETELY GET RID OF IT AND TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO REPEAL IT WITHOUT A REAL SOLUTION TO GET TO UNIVERSAL COVERAGE WAS SOMETHING I BELIEVED IN, NOT GOING TO WORK EITHER.US, IF WE HADN'T HAD THE PREEXISTING CONDITIONS THAT ARE IN PLACE TODAY, HE WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE GOTTEN ANY INSURANCE.

HE HAS A MAJOR CONDITION NOW.

IF WE WERE AT A SITUATION WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A CHOICE BETWEEN, IT REALLY BECAME A CHOICE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEBT, REALLY, AND LIFE AND DEATH.

FOR ME, THE ACA IS NOT PERFECT AND A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE AND HAVE TO REMEMBER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PULLING THINGS OUT OF IT.OS THE SITUATION WE WERE IN, BUT GUESS WHAT?

I HAVE INSURANCE FOR MY KIDS.

WE CAN GO TO ALL THE FOLLOW-UP CARE THAT'S BEEN COVERED.

WE'RE NOT PAYING THE HIGH AMOUNTS.

WE HAVE INSURANCE.

I'M NOT ANGRY AT THE SYSTEM FOR THE BILL FOR THE ACA SPECIFICALLY BUT ANGRY WE DON'T HAVE MORE STANDARDS IN PLACE, MORE PROTECTIONS IN PLACE AND THAT WE HAVEN'T MOVED TO UNIVERSAL COVERAGE SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THIS CAPITALISTIC SENSE OF, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAID FOR.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WROTE ABOUT IN YOUR BLOG POST FOR MEDIUM IS HOW DEVASTATING IT IS TO GO THROUGH A SERIES ILLNESS, TO BE TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF SOMEBODY, AND THESE BILLS ARE COMING AND NOW THE FINANCIAL WORRY TAKES OVER.

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.>> SO WHAT'S THE ANSWER T?

IS IT UNIVERSAL COVERAGE?

IS IT SINGLE PAYER?

>> IT'S A MEDICARE FOR ALL TYPE SYSTEM.IT'S UNIVERSAL COVERAGE.

MY FRUSTRATION IS TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE.

THE REALITY IS THAT FAMILIES ARE FACING THIS EVERY DAY.

EVERY DAY.

AND INSTEAD OF ACTUALLY MAKING PROGRESS, BUILDING THE ACA INTO THAT UNIVERSAL CARE MODEL, INTO MEDICARE FOR ALL, MAKING THOSE STEPS, WE CAN MAKE THOSE LITTLE STEPS.I GUARANTEE YOU, IF WE CAE THAT ACROSS THE AISLE CONVERSATION IF WE REALLY WANTED TO, REALLY FOCUSED ON THIS MICROECONOMIC STORY OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TO FAMILIES.

THAT'S WHY I SHARED MY STORY.

BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE ACTUALLY LOOK AT IT FROM THE FAMILY LEVEL.

>> YOU HAVE THE ASPIRATION TO BE A POLICY MAKER.

IS THIS SINGLE PAYER HEALTH INSURANCE OR IS THERE SOME OTHER MODEL THAT YOU WOULD EMBRACE AND IF SO, WHAT IS THAT?

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

>> SO I BELIEVE IN MEDICARE FOR I WOULD EMBRACE THAT AND SIGN OFF ON THAT.

EVERY AMERICAN DESERVES HEALTH IT'S A RIGHT.

I'M FIRM ON THAT.

I ALSO JUST WANT TO SAY, HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THERE?

WORK ON IT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I'M FRUSTRATED NOT AS A POLICY MAKER BUT A VOTER AND CONSTITUENT AND A PERSON STRUGGLING WITH THAT.

BUT THAT IS THE ANSWER.

WITHOUT THAT, WE CAN'T START TO IMPROVE OUR PROCESS.

WE CAN'T START TO IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIFE SPAN, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A REASON WE DON'T FOCUS ON WELLNESS AND PREVENTION HERE.

IF WE HAVE UNIVERSAL COVERAGE, IF EVERY SINGLE PERSON HAS THAT HEALTH CARE BASELINE AS A FOUNDATION, IT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE OTHER PERHAPS PRIVATE INSURANCE MARKETS ON TOP OF THAT.

UNTIL WE GET TO A FULL SYSTEM.

I THINK THAT WILL TAKE SOME TIME, BUT LET'S FIRST GET EVERYBODY INSURANCE.

LET'S START THERE.

>> THE IDEA OF MEDICARE FOR ALL MEANS WHAT?

THERE IS A POOL, THERE'S AN INSURANCE MECHANISM THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T GET INSURANCE ON THE PRIVATE MARKET OR DON'T WANT TO AND THAT, WHAT, THERE'S A PRIVATE INSURANCE MARKET ON TOP OF THAT?

IS THAT THE IDEA?

>> I DON'T THINK PRIVATE INSURANCE WILL ENTIRELY GO AWAY SO THAT'S WHY I SAY, YES, PRIVATE INSURANCE ON TOP OF THAT.

I THINK THAT'S OKAY.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT INSURANCE MARKET HAVE MORE REGULATION AND STANDARDS SO THINGS LIKE THE IN NETWORK OUT OF NETWORK PROBLEMS DON'T HAPPEN.

THAT HAPPENS ON A VERY REGULAR BASIS.

WE NEED TO REGULATE THAT INDUSTRY A LITTLE TIGHTER BUT I THINK IT'S NOT AN EXCEPTION TO SAY THAT IT'S GOING TO GO AWAY COMPLETELY.

>> AND THE COST QUESTION.

HOW IS MEDICARE FOR ALL PAYING FOR IT IN YOUR VIEW?

>> WHAT I CHALLENGE PEOPLE TO LOOK AT, HOW IS IT PAID FOR, WHAT IS THE COST OF EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW?

YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE COST OF PEOPLE NOT HAVING HEALTH CARE THAT RISES THE COST OF EVERYTHING AND THIS IS AN ECONOMIC ISSUE, HEALTH CARE AS A WHOLE AND SO HOW IT'S GOING TO BE PAID FOR.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN LOOK AT.

WE CAN LOOK AT OUR TAX SYSTEM.

WE CAN LOOK AT THE WAY WE TAX CAPITAL GAINS.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS AND IF WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, MEDICARE FOR ALL DOESN'T MEAN IT'S A COMPLETE STANDOUT.

I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE SUBSIDY BUS A BUY-IN OPTION AS WELL.

THIS ISN'T A COMPLETE, LIKE,G AR FREE AND PEOPLE OFTEN FORGET THAT IN THE RHETORIC AROUND MEDICARE FOR ALL.

>> YOU'VE GONE THROUGH THIS INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE OF, WELL, I THINK THE FIRST A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL ASK IS ARE YOU PREPARED TO RUN AGAIN?

YOU FELL A LITTLE SHORT LAST TIME.E YOU PREPARED TO RUN AGAI?

>> I AM.

I AM PREPARED TO RUN AGAIN.

I AM RUNNING AGAIN.

WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO BE ANNOUNCING THAT AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE FELL SHORT, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A CONSERVATIVE DISTRICT THAT TAKES TIME.

IT TAKES WORK.

AND I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THIS IS THE TIME, THAT THIS IS THE CYCLE, WE'RE GETTING MORE ATTENTION FOR THE FOUNDATION THAT WE BUILT IN THIS DISTRICT AND WE'RE READY TO DO IT.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT FUNDING YOUR CAMPAIGN?E YOU PLEDGING NOT TO Y MONEY FROM HEALTH CARE INTERESTS?

DID NOT TAKE ANY CORE PAC MONEY LAST CYCLE AND I PLEDGED NOT TO TAKE ANY CORPORATE PAC MONEY THIS TIME.

THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

YOU KNOW, I ALSO DON'T BELIEVE THAT MONEY DETERMINES THE WINNER.THAT'S KIND OF AN OLD SCY OF LOOKING AT POLITICS.

WHAT I BELIEVE IS YOU NEED ENOUGH MONEY TO FUND YOUR CAMPAIGN, TO GET YOUR MESSAGE OUT, TO DO IT STRATEGICALLY.

>> FORGIVE ME ASKING.

BUT YOU ALSO HAVE, WHAT?

LIKE $180,000 WORTH OF DEBT TO IF I HAVE THAT RIGHT?

>> FOR ME THIS TIME, IT'S EXTREMELY COSTLY.

I WILL BE A CANDIDATE TO BE QUITE HONEST THIS YEAR I WILL BE WORKING.

I'LL BE BACK CONSULTING FOR DIFFERENT TECH COMPANIES BECAUSE I HAVE THIS LARGE DEBT BUT THAT DOESN'T DIMINISH MY PASSION FOR IT ACTUALLY MAKES ME MORE KEEN ON DOING THIS BECAUSE I WANT TO SEND THE MESSAGE THAT, LOOK, HEALTH CARE IS IMPORTANT.

OBVIOUSLY, WE NEED TO FIX THAT.

WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.

WE NEED TO SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS.

WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT, WHAT IS THE CANDIDATE THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR?

WHAT IS OUR DEMOCRACY ABOUT?

SHOULD IT BE THAT WAY?

ONLY PEOPLE COMPLETELY FINANCIALLY SECURE CAN RUN FOR OFFICE AND REPRESENT US?

AND WITH THE WEALTH DIVIDE, THAT'S GOING TO BE CONTINUED TO BE A PROBLEM.

>> HOW IS YOUR HUSBAND?

HOW IS HE DOING?

>> HE'S DOING AMAZING.

HE HAS CROSSED ALL HIS RECOVERY MILESTONES AND THAT'S WHY I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THIS DECISION.

HE'S BEEN DRIVEN DRIVING PRIVILEGES BACK.

GREAT FOR ME.

AS A CO-PARENT BECAUSE HE CAN TAKE THE KIDS PLACES.

AND SO YEAH, HE'S DOING GREAT.

THERE IS, YOU KNOW, NO REASON TO HAVE ANY CONCERN.

HE'LL HAVE HIS CHECK-UPS AND AGAIN, THIS WAS NOT A CHRONIC CONDITION OR SOMETHING.

THIS WAS A FLUKE.

A VERY, VERY SCARY ONE, AND WE'RE JUST VERY GRATEFUL FOR EVERYONE THAT TREATED HIM AND WORKED ON HIS CASE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I APPRECIATE IT.