Activists within the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement contend that Donald Trump's unfulfilled campaign promises contributed to the Democratic Party's success in the recent midterm elections. Disappointment regarding agricultural pesticides and vaccine policies reportedly drove some MAHA voters toward Democratic candidates or caused them to abstain from voting, according to individuals involved with the movement. The extent to which these decisions influenced specific races remains uncertain, though Democrats secured control of both the House and the Senate in the midterms, winning seats in traditionally Republican states.
Zen Honeycutt, founder of Moms Across America, a group closely associated with MAHA, stated that many individuals did not vote, effectively handing victories to the Democrats. "That’s what happens when you don’t fulfill your promises to the American people. They won’t show up for you," she said.
Dr. Peter Lurie, president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, noted that while it is difficult to quantify the exact impact without detailed voting data, the sheer size of the MAHA movement suggests that even a small percentage of dissatisfied supporters could have made a significant difference.
The MAHA movement gained prominence during the 2024 presidential campaign when Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsed Trump, integrating his health-focused coalition with the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. Kennedy, who was tapped by Trump to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has faced criticism from medical professionals for advocating for reduced vaccine recommendations and research funding. Despite this, Kennedy and MAHA retain considerable influence, with a recent poll indicating that American voters viewed Kennedy more favorably than several prominent political figures.
Honeycutt, a close associate of Kennedy, had previously indicated a willingness to support Democratic candidates in the midterms if Republicans did not address MAHA priorities, such as stricter pesticide regulations and nutrition reform. The political advocacy organization she leads endorsed 10 Democratic candidates, nine of whom won their races.
"Trump promised [on the campaign trail] to go after pesticides, autism, childhood chronic illness. He shook Bobby Kennedy’s hand and promised to let him go wild. He did not fulfill that promise," Honeycutt asserted. She specifically cited an executive order signed by Trump that prioritized U.S. production of glyphosate, a weedkiller that some research has linked to cancer, as a cause for her "disgust."
Since Trump took office, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved pesticide ingredients identified by environmental groups as PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Honeycutt also pointed to a minority of Republican House members who voted against removing language from the Farm Bill that would have protected pesticide manufacturers from health-related lawsuits as evidence of the party's ties to chemical companies. Ultimately, these protections were removed from the bill with support from Democrats and MAHA supporters.
David Murphy, founder of United We Eat and a former fundraiser for Kennedy's presidential campaign, suggested that Republicans lost because they prioritized lobbying interests over their base, many of whom are concerned about issues like pesticides. Murphy was part of a group that published a MAHA scorecard, which found that the Trump Administration had kept none of the 42 promises made to "make America healthy again."
The alliance between MAHA and the MAGA movement had been strained from the outset due to the administration's ties to the food and chemical industries. Calley Means, a key aide to Kennedy, resigned from his position in the Trump Administration weeks before the midterms, reportedly due to frustration over the administration neglecting MAHA priorities, including work on ultraprocessed foods.
Lurie of the Center for Science in the Public Interest commented, "I do think we are finally seeing MAHA become a victim of its own contradictions." He questioned the expectation that an administration with an antiregulatory and pro-business stance could deliver on a platform that included restrictions on dangerous chemicals.
Alex Clark Voetberg, a MAHA podcast host, warned Trump administration officials that a significant portion of her audience had vowed not to vote in the midterms if MAHA actions were not taken. Following the midterm results, she posted on social media that "MAHA moms stayed home and it could’ve swayed some of these races that were unbearably close."
Kelly Ryerson, a MAHA supporter, stated she was not surprised by the Democratic victories and that the midterms should serve as a reminder of the MAHA movement's growing influence. "Maybe they didn’t believe we were so powerful," she said.
Honeycutt expressed disappointment in the midterm losses of MAHA-aligned Republican candidates but remains hopeful that Democrats will prioritize some MAHA issues. "Trump said he will work with the Dems. Let’s see. This could be a political paradigm shift, a real opportunity to get things done," she said.
Murphy emphasized that the MAHA movement and its voters are a force that will persist, stating, "MAHA, and MAHA voters, aren’t going to go away."