Democrats Court MAHA Voters but Clash With Kennedy Over Vaccines

Democrats hoping to win over voters in the "Make America Healthy Again" movement face a major obstacle: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Axios reported that the two sides may agree on food and pesticides, but their disputes over Kennedy, especially on vaccines, could overshadow that common ground.

Movement leaders told Axios the line is clear. They are open to working with Democrats, but not if Democrats go after Kennedy, who founded the movement during his 2024 presidential bid.

Where the MAHA movement stands after the midterms

According to Axios, most MAHA-backed candidates lost at the polls last week. Some movement leaders blame low turnout, arguing that supporters stayed home out of disappointment with the Trump administration and what they see as little progress on food and environmental issues.

Zen Honeycutt, founder of Moms Across America, said voters had sent a message about integrity. "Promises were made, and promises were broken," she said. Tony Lyons, president of MAHA Action, rejected the idea that the movement is finished. He said on the group's weekly call last week that it has won the hearts and minds of Americans, and that it will look for allies across the political spectrum.

What Democrats have offered

Axios said some Democrats reached out to MAHA voters on key issues before the midterms. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., has said he is willing to work with Kennedy on cleaning up the food supply, improving school lunches and banning certain pesticides.

Honeycutt said she is open to working with Democrats. Her condition is that they work with Kennedy rather than against him. "That's the red line for almost all of us," she said.

Why the vaccine fight blocks a deal

Axios reported that Democrats have drawn a firm line on vaccines. They have refused to embrace Kennedy's medical freedom agenda or his call for closer scrutiny of vaccine safety. Kennedy, for his part, remains committed to reopening vaccine safety claims that mainstream scientists say have been thoroughly debunked, according to Axios.

Few Democrats appear ready to accommodate him, Axios said, and he is likely to be a top target for oversight and investigations once Democrats take power. Axios judged that this dynamic could end any bridge-building before it starts.

The tension surfaced after Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., called for Kennedy to resign or be fired. MAHA influencer Kelly Ryerson, known as "Glyphosate Girl," said she did not understand the strategy and warned it would cost Democrats many future voters. Vani Hari, known as "Food Babe," replied that the approach wastes time while children continue to get sicker. Honeycutt said removing Kennedy because he is trying to make vaccines safer would be "absolutely insane," according to Axios.

Why it matters for voters and policy

The outcome could affect whether food and pesticide policy moves forward. Axios noted that MAHA has not secured major political wins or a raft of new laws. Even so, large parts of its platform remain popular, with support that crosses party lines and includes many independents.

That gives the new Democratic majority a possible incentive to pursue MAHA-backed goals such as food supply reforms, school lunch changes and pesticide limits. Axios suggested that for Democrats, progress on those issues may matter more than endorsing MAHA's leaders. The movement's leaders, however, have tied their cooperation to how Democrats treat Kennedy.

The standoff leaves two sets of voters in an uncertain position. Health-conscious voters who want action on food and pesticides may see their priorities caught up in the fight over Kennedy. Democrats, meanwhile, must decide whether they can pursue shared goals while also investigating the health secretary.

Read next
Democrats Flip the Senate With at Least 54 Seats in Midterm Sweep
Collins and Jackson End Maine Senate Debates Arguing Over Trump and Party Loyalty
What to Watch as Midterm Polls Close and Why Control of Congress May Take Days

Around Prague, based on reporting by Axios