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As early data on the 2026 midterm landscape begins to emerge, a recent KFF poll found that about 41% of U.S. adults express support for the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. Even though MAHA support is concentrated among Republican voters, many of its core concerns, such as food additives, pesticides and corporate influence are broadly shared across party lines.
MAHA is a loosely defined political movement that has gained traction alongside health-focused messaging from figures associated with President Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
According to the poll, majorities of the public say there is not enough regulation of chemical additives in food (75%) or of pesticides used in agriculture (64%) in the U.S. and most adults express distrust in agricultural, food and pharmaceutical companies to act in the public's best interest. At the same time, KFF reports that confidence in the government agencies that are tasked with regulating these industries is low across partisans. Only about a third of the public – across party lines – express confidence in the FDA (36%) and the EPA (36%) to act independently outside of interference.
Despite MAHA's focus on vaccines and food policy, health care costs overwhelmingly rank as voters' top health concern heading into the 2026 midterm elections. Among MAHA supporters specifically, 42% said lowering health care costs was the government's most important health priority – much higher than food additives (21%) or vaccine safety (10%). More than half of voters said health care costs would strongly influence both whether they vote (55%) and which candidates they support in the election (61%).
The survey found that voters overall give the Trump administration low approval ratings on two key health areas elevated by the MAHA movement; less than 50% of voters approve of the administration's handling of vaccine policy (35%) as well as the administration's handling of food policy (46%).
Taken together, the findings suggest MAHA's messaging resonates culturally, but voters are more likely to prioritize economic pressures — especially health care and prescription drug costs — heading into 2026.
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