Republicans are eager to see the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement become a lasting part of the GOP’s broader agenda. However, they face uncertainties about its support as they approach the upcoming midterm elections this November.
Recent findings from The POLITICO Poll reveal widespread frustration with the Trump administration’s health policies and present Democrats with opportunities to connect with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s MAHA supporters. While many Americans link MAHA to the Republican Party, a significant portion believes the Trump administration has not sufficiently advanced the movement’s goals, including 41 percent of Trump’s own 2024 voters.
The MAHA movement, credited by many from both parties with aiding President Donald Trump’s 2024 victory, has already begun to shift the GOP’s approach to health policy, influencing changes like the redesign of the food pyramid and reconsideration of vaccine recommendations. Despite this, many respondents see Democrats as better aligned with the movement’s health priorities. They trust the Democratic Party more to improve the nation’s health, while fewer have the same confidence in Republicans. Moreover, the GOP is perceived as more prone to influence from food and pesticide industry lobbyists, considered adversaries of MAHA.
These perceptions could impact Congressional control in a midterm election year where turnout differences may be minimal. Democrats are optimistic about transforming public discontent with Trump’s policies into a significant electoral gain. Abby McCloskey, a GOP policy adviser, notes that the MAHA movement initially energized the GOP on health issues but warns that Republicans risk “squandering their MAHA moment.”
Currently, 47 percent of poll participants express support for the MAHA movement, including about one-third of those who backed Kamala Harris in 2024 and a similar proportion of prospective Democratic voters in November. In contrast, 70 percent of Trump 2024 voters support MAHA. However, health is not considered a top priority by most Americans, ranking equally with “wokeism” and opioid abuse, and below issues like affordability and cost of living.
There is also a significant lack of understanding about MAHA among the public. Only one-third of Americans can explain what MAHA is, while another third has heard of it but cannot explain it, including 31 percent of those identifying with the movement. Meanwhile, one in four Americans has never heard of it.
This represents an opportunity for Democrats if they can effectively address the movement’s key issues, as the GOP’s hold on MAHA supporters is not assured. According to Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), MAHA voters are not staunch partisans and are open to persuasion. She criticizes the GOP for alienating these voters by breaking promises and prioritizing their agenda over MAHA’s core principles to appease Donald Trump.
The Trump administration’s deregulatory stance, despite MAHA supporters’ calls for stricter controls on pesticide companies, food manufacturers, and drugmakers, has caused friction. A recent decision to allow Bayer to increase production of the weed killer Roundup has angered MAHA supporters, complicating GOP efforts to secure their votes in November.
Kennedy’s allies have cautioned Republicans against assuming MAHA voters’ support is guaranteed. Tony Lyons, president of the MAHA Action group, described the GOP’s relationship with MAHA voters as “renting” rather than “owning” their loyalty.
Poll results indicate that issues prioritized by MAHA supporters, such as controlling infectious diseases, regulating “forever chemicals,” and expanding reproductive health care access, align more with Democratic initiatives. This alignment is not surprising, as many MAHA supporters have historically been Democrats, according to Rodney Whitlock, a former GOP congressional aide and health care strategist.
Conversely, certain GOP-endorsed policies, like limiting abortion access and reducing vaccine numbers, are less popular among MAHA supporters. However, the movement does align with some Republican food policies, such as removing artificial dyes and restricting junk food purchases in federal programs, both of which have been addressed by the Trump administration.
Lyons has encouraged Republicans to emphasize Kennedy’s policy goals, like reducing consumption of ultraprocessed food, on the campaign trail. Failure to do so could result in MAHA voters withdrawing support or abstaining from voting, potentially allowing Democrats to gain control of Congress and obstruct Kennedy’s policy efforts.
Polling data from POLITICO and others reveal declining trust in the Trump administration’s health recommendations, highlighting potential vulnerabilities for Republicans. House Majority Forward, allied with House Democratic leadership, found disapproval of Kennedy’s performance as health secretary in key battleground districts.
Carly Cooperman, a Democratic pollster, emphasizes the opportunity for Democrats to focus on health initiatives, such as making food healthier and reducing harmful chemicals. Many House and Senate Democrats are heeding this advice, focusing on pesticide use, a contentious issue within Trump’s GOP coalition.
Democratic lawmakers have criticized the Trump administration’s support for glyphosate production and alignment with Bayer in a Supreme Court case. They have introduced bills to counter these actions, capitalizing on MAHA’s dissatisfaction with the administration’s stance on pesticides.
Progressive advocates urge Democrats to leverage MAHA voters’ frustration, as there is genuine concern about unhealthy food supply. While some MAHA supporters are disillusioned with the GOP and Kennedy, certain aspects of his agenda, like removing artificial dyes and offering whole milk in schools, still enjoy broad support.
Despite skepticism about vaccine requirements among MAHA respondents, significant support for reducing vaccine numbers exists across party lines, especially among Trump voters. Republicans may still capitalize on popular MAHA positions to win voters in November, but health issues, ranking lower on Americans’ priority list, are unlikely to be decisive. Nevertheless, GOP strategist Whitlock advises against complacency, warning that ignoring MAHA priorities could be politically detrimental.
