Key facts
- MAHA movement leaders have not identified a preferred candidate for the 2028 presidential election.
- Concerns include regenerative farming, pesticide use, and "medical freedom."
- Leaders expressed disappointment with both Democratic and Republican figures.
- The movement is credited with helping Donald Trump win the 2024 election.
- JD Vance and Marco Rubio are seen as potential Republican contenders but have drawn criticism from MAHA.
- Democrats face hurdles due to pandemic-era policies that many MAHA followers opposed.
Leaders within the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, which played a role in Donald Trump's 2024 presidential victory, have yet to identify a strong candidate to champion their causes in the 2028 election cycle. Influencers and leaders within the movement expressed a lack of excitement for potential contenders across both major parties, citing concerns over issues such as regenerative farming, pesticide reduction, and what they term "medical freedom."
Kelly Ryerson, a MAHA influencer, stated, "I haven’t seen anyone that I’m excited about." The movement's reservations extend to prominent Democrats like New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and former Vice President Kamala Harris, due to their pandemic-era public health policies. Republicans are also facing scrutiny. Vice President JD Vance is criticized for missing opportunities to embrace MAHA principles, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio's recent comments about Pop-Tarts were poorly received by a movement at odds with processed foods.
Vani Hari, an ally of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., suggested that the next president might not even be in the current race. The MAHA movement feels disillusioned with the Trump administration, particularly its defense of pesticide giant Bayer and delayed action on defining ultra-processed foods. Alex Clark, another MAHA influencer, described the movement's energy as "flickering" after being "so fierce in 2024."
Movement leaders warn that a failure to prioritize MAHA issues could alienate independent and Democratic voters who supported Trump in 2024, potentially impacting Republican prospects in the midterms and beyond. Vance, considered a GOP frontrunner, has been urged to engage more deeply with MAHA principles, though his office did not comment. While Vance has spoken positively about MAHA in the past and reportedly has a good relationship with Kennedy, his public engagement has been limited. Rubio, also a potential Republican candidate, has drawn criticism for his lighthearted remarks about processed foods and dismissive comments about Kennedy's diet.
On the Democratic side, Ocasio-Cortez has been noted for her outreach to MAHA groups and her focus on harmful chemical exposures. Some believe she could appeal to Trump voters if she navigates the MAHA landscape effectively. Ocasio-Cortez has framed her interest as a fight against corporate power, suggesting that corruption has compromised the political system on issues important to MAHA activists.