Politics 3 min read By Callum Montgomery
Most MAHA-Backed Candidates Lose 2026 US Midterm Elections
More than half of the 24 candidates backed by the MAHA movement lost the 2026 midterm elections, although polls show the movement retains significant support among Americans.
More than half of the 24 candidates backed by the MAHA movement lost the 2026 US midterm elections. Among the losers were Iowa gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn, who was endorsed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and was allocated more than one million dollars by MAHA Action, and Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton. Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (Republican from Florida) won, but by a margin of less than one percent.
The election results contrast with polling data on the movement's popularity. According to a KFF poll conducted in May 2026, 41 percent of American adults support MAHA. At the same time, 75 percent of respondents believe the government is doing too little to regulate food chemicals, and 64 percent hold the same view about agricultural pesticides. Thus, concern over healthy eating and food safety extends far beyond the movement's supporters.
However, the priorities of MAHA supporters themselves during the elections were different. According to a pre-election KFF poll, 42 percent of voters who support the movement ranked lowering the cost of healthcare as their top priority. Only 21 percent prioritized food additives, and 10 percent prioritized vaccine safety. In addition, 55 percent of voters said Trump's policies had increased healthcare costs. Nevertheless, most MAHA supporters still voted for Republicans.
After the elections, Calley Means blamed the White House for the weak results, stating that corporate interests are undermining the MAHA agenda. His comment highlighted the internal tension within the movement between its radical demands and the administration's practical political decisions.
Kennedy himself still heads the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where he influences CDC vaccination recommendations. It was reported that he sought to exclude measles death data from CDC statistics. Kennedy also praised the appointment of Stephen Miller as the future chief of staff. Jay Bhattacharya heads the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Kyle Diamantas is acting FDA commissioner.
The election results are changing the political landscape. Democrats now control Congress, which opens opportunities for parliamentary oversight and spending limits. Under these conditions, the administration will likely rely more on executive orders and regulatory measures. Political scientists, the authors of the analysis, regard the electoral losses as a serious blow, but not as the end of the movement.
The future of MAHA remains uncertain. Kennedy's independent campaign in 2024 polled as high as 15 percent in July 2024, which shows the movement's potential beyond the framework of a single party. Some of its supporters may drift toward Democrats, while others may form an independent political force. For now, the question of whether MAHA can turn public support into lasting political influence remains open.
Source: fortune.com
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