{"id":2653403,"date":"2026-09-02T05:58:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T09:58:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-embrace-rfk-jr-and-his-baggage-in-bid-for-maha-turnout\/"},"modified":"2026-09-02T06:01:16","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T10:01:16","slug":"republicans-embrace-rfk-jr-and-his-baggage-in-bid-for-maha-turnout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-embrace-rfk-jr-and-his-baggage-in-bid-for-maha-turnout\/","title":{"rendered":"Republicans embrace RFK Jr. \u2014 and his baggage \u2014 in bid for MAHA turnout"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frepublicans-embrace-rfk-jr-and-his-baggage-in-bid-for-maha-turnout%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2653403&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Robert F. Kennedy Jr.&#8217;s controversial tenure as Health and Human Services Secretary has not deterred Republicans,who increasingly view his &#8220;Make America Healthy Again&#8221; (MAHA) agenda as a strategic advantage in upcoming elections. Kennedy has gained a loyal following among certain voters, including those who support his vaccine skepticism, despite facing criticism from Democrats who accuse him of promoting conspiracy theories and undermining public health efforts. <\/p>\n<p>KennedyS active campaigning across the country involves engaging with Republican candidates, especially in districts with vulnerable incumbents, as part of an effort to boost GOP turnout.His involvement aligns with the broader MAHA movement, which, despite not reaching its initial high expectations, continues to influence the political landscape, including in the 2024 presidential race where he helped form President Trump\u2019s coalition.<\/p>\n<p>While Kennedy maintains relatively low approval ratings he enjoys meaningful support among MAHA followers. His approach, frequently enough emphasizing health-related issues like physical fitness and substance abuse treatment, allows him to avoid the more divisive vaccine debates at events. Nonetheless, his presence remains controversial, with Democrats actively criticizing his tactics and policy positions, especially concerning vaccine recommendations and public health decisions.<\/p>\n<p>Kennedy&#8217;s participation in midterm campaigns includes campaigning with GOP politicians and being featured in Democratic attack ads targeting Republican candidates aligned with him. His activities are part of a broader effort by Republicans to leverage his influence in efforts to secure legislative gains and electoral victories, despite the MAHA movement&#8217;s limited financial impact and mixed results. His involvement has also sparked some conflicts, notably with Democratic officials over vaccine policies and election law allegations.<\/p>\n<p>Kennedy continues to serve as a polarizing but impactful figure whose influence is being harnessed by Republicans to energize thier base and challenge Democratic incumbents amid a complex political landscape.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/robert-f-kennedy-jr\/\">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.<\/a>\u2018s polarizing tenure as health and human services secretary is not scaring away Republicans who see his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/maha\/\">Make America Healthy Again<\/a> agenda as an asset in competitive races.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the campaign trail, Kennedy has become a political boogeyman for Democrats highlighting his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/healthcare\/3812323\/california-oregon-washington-hawaii-rfk-vaccine-guidelines\/\">vaccine skepticism<\/a> and agency decisions they say have undermined public health.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4708688\/republicans-ignore-rfk-jr-backlash-2026-maha-turnout\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Republicans embrace RFK Jr. \u2014 and his baggage \u2014 in bid for MAHA turnout<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4706948\/ed-markey-massachusetts-senate-primary-seth-moulton\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Ed Markey survives Massachusetts Senate primary challenge from Seth Moulton<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4708527\/thune-trump-fundraising-paxton-texas-senate-race\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Thune says \u2018we\u2019re going to need\u2019 Trump to help with pricey Texas Senate race<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But many Republicans are embracing Kennedy as he travels the country as part of an unofficial midterm blitz.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kennedy maintains a loyal following that Republicans hope to bring out to the polls this fall as they defend their shaky control of Congress. As a rival-turned-ally, Kennedy was influential to President Donald Trump\u2019s winning coalition in 2024, and Republicans are attempting to replicate that success by deploying him as a surrogate through his \u201cTake Back Your Health Tour.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This past week, Kennedy appeared with Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL) to launch a school nutrition program in Florida and has spent the year hosting events on everything from elder care to dairy farming.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many of his stops have been in the districts of endangered House Republicans, including Reps. Tom Barrett in Michigan, Gabe Evans in Colorado, and Derrick Van Orden in Wisconsin \u2014 each of whom appeared with Kennedy.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe MAHA movement is one of the most important forces in American politics right now,\u201d said Mike Marinella, a spokesman for the National Republican Campaign Committee. \u201cRFK Jr. has been a powerful force on the campaign trail as he helps our Republican candidates get their message across to voters who prioritize making America healthy again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The events underscore the niche role Kennedy is playing despite his low overall approval ratings. A <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/quick-insights\/secretary-kennedy-remains-popular-with-maga-and-maha-supporters-but-few-others\/\">spring survey<\/a> from the Kaiser Family Foundation found his popularity at 39%, but 68% among self-identified MAHA supporters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Trump administration has upset some within the MAHA movement over its <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/4483250\/glyphosate-make-america-healthy-again-robert-f-kennedy-jr\/\">stance on pesticides<\/a> and the impression that Kennedy has, to some extent, been hamstrung as a Cabinet secretary, but the White House has also courted health-conscious voters with steps like its crackdown on processed foods.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">White House spokesman Kush Desai called the emphasis a \u201cwhole-of-government effort\u201d to follow through on his campaign promises.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSecretary Kennedy is rightfully going to tout these victories for the American people and keep delivering more of them in the coming weeks and months,\u201d Desai said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The more controversial of those policy changes, including Kennedy\u2019s push to reduce the number of vaccines recommended for children, have led Democrats to accuse the administration of pursuing an agenda based on conspiracy theories rather than science.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In fact, Kennedy has been one of the more commonly featured Cabinet secretaries in Democrats\u2019 campaign advertising.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earlier this year, an outside group linked to House Democratic leadership <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.housemajorityforward.org\/news\/house-majority-forward-launches-new-seven-figure-rfk-jr-ad-campaign\">ran ads<\/a> blaming vulnerable Republicans for the job cuts Kennedy oversaw at the Food and Drug Administration. He\u2019s also been a foil for Democratic nominees with medical backgrounds. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Richard Pan, who is running for a Sacramento-area House district in California, introduced himself to primary voters as someone who \u201c<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lRr7ksJRXyo\">took on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.<\/a>\u201d as a state legislator.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Annie Andrews, a pediatrician challenging Sen. Darline Graham Nordone (R-SC) in South Carolina, has called Kennedy her \u201c<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/newrepublic.com\/post\/213024\/annie-andrews-south-carolina-senate-lindsey-graham-rfk\">professional nemesis<\/a>\u201d and believes he should be impeached.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The focus on Kennedy is just one small piece of an electoral argument Democrats are staking on healthcare and larger concerns over affordability.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Viet Shelton, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, criticized the Medicaid and food stamp reforms congressional Republicans passed last year when asked about Kennedy as a GOP surrogate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cVoters can see through Republicans\u2019 lip service on healthy foods for what it is \u2014 a hypocritical political ploy,\u201d Shelton said. \u201cRepublicans have literally taken food away from hungry children and families to pay for tax breaks for billionaires.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen Democrats win in November, it\u2019ll be because voters trust us to actually deliver healthier, affordable foods for everyday folks, not just talk about all the food no one can afford,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The sniping comes as Republicans attempt to buck the political headwinds that typically face the party in power. The GOP stands a reasonable chance of keeping the Senate in November, but is widely projected to lose its narrow control of the House.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The MAHA movement has not materialized as the midterm juggernaut that allies had initially hoped. The political action group MAHA PAC has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/policy\/healthcare\/6058532-trump-maha-midterm-impact\/\">fallen woefully short<\/a> of the $100 million it initially pledged it would raise for Kennedy allies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the issues that made Kennedy an insurgent candidate for president continue to make waves for certain candidates, including businessman Zach Lahn, who ran a similarly insurgent primary campaign and defeated a Trump-backed pick for Iowa governor.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In June, he defeated Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) for the Republican nomination by waging a campaign against \u201cbig agriculture\u201d and the pesticides he blames for the state\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/newshour\/show\/as-cancer-rates-fall-nationally-iowa-sees-a-troubling-rise-in-diagnoses\">unusually high<\/a> cancer rates.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kennedy, for his part, largely steers clear of the more divisive parts of his agenda at events, choosing instead to emphasize physical fitness for children or the money being directed to treat substance abuse.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His involvement in the midterm elections has not been without controversy, however. He fanned a feud with Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) last week when he questioned Pennsylvania\u2019s reporting of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/healthcare\/4670727\/josh-shapiro-rfk-jr-measles-fight-2028-speculations\/\">two measles-associated deaths<\/a> and continues to face questions about his stance on vaccines.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4704789\/rubio-stays-off-midterm-campaign-trail\/\"><strong>RUBIO STAYS OFF CAMPAIGN TRAIL AS TRUMP CABINET RALLIES BEHIND REPUBLICANS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Democrats <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ap.org\/news-highlights\/elections\/2026\/wyden-alleges-rfk-jr-broke-the-law-in-calls-urging-libertarians-to-quit-iowa-races\/\">accused<\/a> him of violating election law following reports that he <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.desmoinesregister.com\/story\/news\/politics\/elections\/2026\/06\/25\/rfk-jr-rick-stewart-iowa-libertarian-urged-end-us-house-race\/90694156007\/?gnt-cfr=1&#038;gca-cat=p&#038;gca-uir=false&#038;gca-epti=z111750p118650n00----l001250c00----u114036e111750v002036&#038;gca-ft=152&#038;gca-ds=sophi\">urged<\/a> two Libertarian candidates to drop their House bids in Iowa.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kennedy joins other Cabinet secretaries in criss-crossing the country on behalf of congressional Republicans over the August recess, including War Secretary Pete Hegseth, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>RFK Jr.\u2019s role boosts GOP efforts despite controversy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2651,"featured_media":2653404,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/rfk-jr-maha-midterms.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[34541,5610,84991,3756,32458],"class_list":["post-2653403","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-election-strategy","tag-massachusetts","tag-political-campaigning","tag-republicans","tag-rfk-jr"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/rfk-jr-maha-midterms.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2653403","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2653403"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2653403\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2653407,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2653403\/revisions\/2653407"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2653404"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2653403"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2653403"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2653403"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}