RFK Jr.-aligned MAHA group spends big on Iowa governor’s race

A political action committee associated with Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement announced Thursday it is investing more than $1 million in the Iowa governor’s race — the group’s largest contribution to date.

MAHA Action PAC, a federal super PAC run by Kennedy ally and book publisher Tony Lyons, said it is donating $1.5 million to Republican Zach Lahn’s gubernatorial campaign.

MAHA PAC, a related federal hybrid super PAC, is also deploying $150,000 in independent expenditures in support of Lahn.

Lahn, who describes himself as a regenerative farmer and business owner, made waves during the state’s GOP primary by defeating Rep. Randy Feenstra, an established politician who was endorsed by President Trump.

The Iowa gubernatorial candidate embraces the MAHA mantle, frequently criticizing “Big Agriculture” and the use of toxic pesticides that can contaminate the food supply. His platform includes breaking up farming monopolies and defending smaller, independent farms.

“MAHA was the first to believe in Zach Lahn, and the Iowa Republicans proved us right,” Lyons said in a statement. “The primary showed this movement can nominate. November is where we prove it can win. Our $1.65 million donation is the down payment on the nation’s first MAHA governorship, and we are asking every American who believes in health freedom to help us finish the job.”

Lahn’s Democratic opponent, Rob Sand, also espouses MAHA messages about improving children’s health, clean water and the state’s high cancer rate. Sand is leading Lahn in the polls, with nonpartisan election forecaster Decision Desk HQ projecting the race will “lean” Democrat as of Thursday morning.

MAHA PAC is also planning a 15-day “get out the vote” door-knocking program for Lahn, running from Oct. 21 through the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

While some MAHA grassroots activists think the movement’s key principles should be nonpartisan, its leaders have aligned themselves with Trump and parts of the Republican Party. There have been months of infighting over the movement’s campaign strategy.

MAHA’s political leaders have been working to show the White House that its outreach will pay dividends. If the MAHA coalition can be counted on as a reliable conservative voting bloc in November and keep Republicans in power, Trump may prioritize more of Kennedy’s agenda.

To that end, MAHA PAC said Thursday it will spend $250,000 to support incumbent GOP Reps. Anna Paulina Luna in Florida and Tom Barrett in Michigan, as well as Rep. Kevin Kiley, a former Republican-turned-Independent in California.

The PAC is also spending to support Republican House candidates Brandon Herrera and Jace Yarbrough in Texas, as well as Joe Mitchell in Iowa.

Among the six candidates, Luna, Barrett, Herrera and Mitchell are in competitive races that could determine control of the lower chamber.