RFK Jr., allies rush to rally the MAHA movement for 2026

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is already working to rally his MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) movement as a critical constituency for keeping GOP control of Congress in next year's midterms.Why it matters: The RFK Jr. coalition draws several slices of voters who otherwise might shun MAGA, including some traditionally Democratic- and independent-leaning suburbanites, women and younger voters.Mustering President Trump's MAHA support for House, Senate and governor races in a light-turnout midterm year could be tough. A further impediment to a "MAHA bounce": Some activists who bought into Trump's campaign because of Kennedy's eat-healthy, question-vaccines mantra aren't totally happy with how things are going. Zoom in: Kennedy has been praised by many in the movement for his push against synthetic food dyes and his vaccine stiff-arming, even as the latter has set off alarms throughout the U.S. health community.But many of MAHA's most vocal activists are disappointed the Trump administration isn't following through on its campaign promise to crack down on pesticides — and are warning that could dampen the movement's support for Republicans next year.A group of 241 MAHA activists wrote Trump a letter this month cautioning that the GOP "risk[s] losing both moral ground and political support.""Mr. President, creating broad liability protections for pesticides is a losing issue for your party and your coalition, and may well cost you the House majority in the midterms," the letter said.Anticipating those obstacles, Kennedy's allies are preparing an aggressive, three-part strategy to try to turn out MAHA voters. The blueprint: 1. Put RFK Jr. on the roadKennedy's aides say he's the best symbol for the cause, and are planning on deploying him across the country to sell his agenda. He's visited more than a dozen states since Trump took office — including key 2026 battlegrounds North Carolina, Texas and Arizona.Kennedy's Health and Human Services Department is aggressively promoting his tour, this week launching a "MAHA in Action" website highlighting his schedule.2. Launch an air warPro-Kennedy forces are planning to spend millions on ads highlighting his MAHA-aligned work.HHS is drawing up plans for a "Take Back Your Health" ad campaign. According to a proposal posted online, the commercials will be "bold" and "edgy," appearing on everything from TV to billboards to public transit. MAHA Action, an RFK-aligned advocacy group, recently launched a seven-figure TV ad buy. The one-minute commercial — which describes Kennedy and other administration officials involved in the health campaign as "renegades" — highlights the White House's efforts to phase out food dyes and additives. MAHA Action President Tony Lyons says the group has more ads in the works and will endorse ideologically-aligned candidates for 2026."We will bring out every last MAHA mom, every health-conscious voter, everyone in America who is sick of being lied to by Big Pharma, Big Food and Big Ag," Lyons said.3. Go localRFK allies are pushing state legislatures to pass MAHA-friendly bills, a move they hope will energize voters next year. Nearly three-dozen states have passed such bills this year.The list includes key midterm battlegrounds such as Arizona, which approved a measure prohibiting schools from serving food and beverages that contain certain additives, and Texas, which passed a law expanding nutrition labeling requirements on certain foods. In Ohio, lawmakers are considering legislation to restrict food dyes and additives."We see this as only the beginning," said End Chronic Disease CEO Kelly McKenna, whose organization is backing many of the state-based initiatives.Zoom out: Top Republicans say it's hard to overstate the importance of the MAHA movement to the party's future. They point to polling this year by the GOP firm co/efficient that found MAHA is viewed favorably across racial and ideological lines, including by Hispanic and Black voters.The firm also has found that 4% to 6% of former non-Trump voters cited MAHA in explaining their decision to switch their support to him in 2024."The movement was — and is — overwhelmingly popular among suburban women, parents and young people across the country," said Ryan Munce, co/efficient's president. "All critical voting blocks that swung in President Trump's direction in 2024."Yes, but: GOP strategists warn that transferring Trump's support from MAHA-aligned voters to next year's ballot won't be easy. GOP candidates, they say, will have to forge their own connections to Kennedy's base by speaking their language.MAHA voters are "up for grabs, but ... you can't win them with generic talking points," said Republican pollster Chris Wilson. "But if you show up on vaccine freedom, health choice and fighting the medical establishment, they'll become some of your most loyal supporters."

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