The ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Movement: Transcending Party Lines in State Legislatures
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement is gaining traction at the state level, promoting health-focused legislation and policies that challenge traditional partisan divides. The movement, which aims to combat the "chronic disease epidemic," is finding success as state lawmakers and governors consider measures ranging from vaccine advisories to food safety regulations.
While Kennedy’s views have faced criticism, his supporters are breaking the mold of partisan politics, opposing Republican-backed bills and supporting Democratic-led initiatives based on their health-related merits.
State-Level Action: A Snapshot
Several states have already taken concrete steps aligned with the MAHA agenda:
- Texas: Considering bills to promote exercise initiatives.
- West Virginia: Removing soda from food stamp programs and banning artificial food dyes.
- Utah: Removing fluoride from drinking water.
- Arizona: Banning ultra-processed foods from public school cafeterias.
- Idaho: Banning the use of food stamps to buy soda and candy.
- Florida: Legislators passed a bill to ban supplemental fluoride, awaiting the governor’s signature.
- California: First state to ban some artificial dyes last year.
These actions demonstrate a growing awareness of health issues and a willingness to take action, regardless of party affiliation.
The Rise of the ‘MAHA Mom’
Emily Stembridge, a Republican mother from Utah, exemplifies the movement’s grassroots appeal. Intrigued by Kennedy’s emphasis on "moms and families" during his presidential campaign, Stembridge successfully lobbied her state to ban artificial food dyes from school lunches.
"I’d never seen anyone in his position putting these issues in the forefront," she said. "These are things a lot of us were recognizing in our day-to-day that no one else seemed to want to pay attention to."
Stembridge contacted Utah State Representative Kristen Chevrier, a Republican and mother of three children with autoimmune issues, urging her to introduce the bill. Chevrier, recognizing the need for healthier options, readily agreed.
"The whole mindset of our nation has shifted," Chevrier said of her legislation, which was signed into law.
A Powerful Voting Bloc
Del Bigtree, CEO of the MAHA Alliance Super PAC and MAHA Action, believes that politicians are paying attention because they recognize MAHA Moms as a "powerful voting block."
"Moms are the most vocal voting block," he said.
Kennedy himself has toured states that have passed MAHA-aligned bills, including West Virginia, Utah, and Arizona. He also visited Indiana for the launch of Governor Mike Braun’s "Make Indiana Healthy Again Initiative," where the Republican signed executive orders focused on the health impacts of artificial dyes and increasing access to local foods.
Federal Implications and Potential Unification
Kennedy’s influence extends beyond the state level. During last year’s presidential campaign, former President Trump expressed support for Kennedy’s health initiatives, stating, "I’m going let him go wild on health. I’m going let him go wild on the food. I’m going to let him go wild on medicines." This has led to some speculation that Kennedy could hold a position in a future Trump administration.
Governors in at least five states have signed MAHA-aligned laws, and more than 30 more bills have been introduced around the country.
The MAHA movement is also supporting Democrat-led bills in blue states, such as California’s Farm to School Program and a proposed bill in New Jersey banning the insecticide chlorpyrifos.
Will Cole, a functional medicine practitioner and former Democrat, believes that party lines are blurring when it comes to health.
"I feel like it’s an awakening for the Republicans," he said, adding that the GOP has been "abysmal" when it comes to these topics.
Bigtree echoed this sentiment, stating that "the entire idea of natural health and natural living and getting chemicals out of food used to be completely a liberal perspective. And now, suddenly in one of the most amazing shifts we’ve ever seen, we’re seeing dyes being removed by a Republican administration."
Both Bigtree and Cole suggest that healthcare policy could be the unifying element between the two parties after years of division.
A Focus on Prevention and Transparency
MAHA Action’s policy team primarily focuses on health-oriented bills at the state level because that’s where most U.S. health policy is made.
Bigtree believes that the "incredible success" of the MAHA movement at the state level is applying "immense pressure" on the U.S. Congress to follow suit. The organization is currently working with members of both parties in Congress to co-sponsor future bills.
Calley Means, an advisor to Kennedy, said MAHA is about transparency, ensuring that the incentives of healthcare and food systems are prioritized toward American health.
Cole believes that "freedom of speech and diversity of thought" around health and medicine are the most important things holding together the diverse coalition of people within the MAHA movement.
Criticism and Concerns
The MAHA movement and Kennedy’s views have also faced criticism.
Paul A. Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center and professor of pediatrics at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, agrees with Kennedy’s encouragement of bans on soda and candy from the food stamp program but believes that Kennedy’s views on most other things are "dangerous" to children.
"He’s an anti-vaccine activist. He’s a science denialist, which is why I don’t trust him with the science of food either because he’s so willing to deny the science of vaccines," Offit said.
Offit also believes that taking fluoride out of the drinking water will only increase cavities.
Tennessee State Representative Dr. Brock Martin, a Republican, expressed his excitement about Kennedy’s potential role in the new Trump administration, particularly regarding initiatives to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables in food deserts. However, he also acknowledged being torn on a GOP bill that would limit the liability of pesticide companies.
The Future of the MAHA Movement
The MAHA movement’s success at the state level suggests a growing demand for health-focused policies that transcend party lines. By focusing on prevention, transparency, and grassroots activism, the movement is poised to continue influencing health policy at both the state and federal levels.
Whether it can overcome criticisms and unite diverse perspectives remains to be seen, but the "Make America Healthy Again" movement is undoubtedly making waves in the political landscape.
