Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. launched a midterm travel push Saturday to shore up support for his "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) agenda. The initiative aims to highlight popular MAHA policies in key battleground states as Republicans seek to maintain congressional majorities in November.

Kennedy's tour will include stops in Arizona, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, California, Virginia, Ohio, Montana, and Texas. These states feature competitive House and Senate races, as well as potential 2028 presidential swing areas. He plans to appear alongside Republican lawmakers and health and agricultural groups, focusing on issues like chronic disease prevention, childhood nutrition, food quality, and affordable healthcare.

The White House views Kennedy as one of its most requested surrogates. Congressional candidates have sought his presence on the campaign trail, drawn by MAHA's appeal to independents, young voters, and mothers. A senior administration official noted that MAHA ties into the broader MAGA coalition that propelled President Donald Trump to victory in 2024. White House spokesperson Kush Desai stated, "RFK and the President’s embrace of MAHA helped build a historic coalition in 2024, and we’re intent to repeat that success two years later with MAHA messaging and policy wins."

Since taking office, Kennedy has advanced several MAHA accomplishments. These include revamped dietary guidelines, nutrition courses in medical schools, agreements with food companies to remove artificial dyes, changes to hormone replacement therapy regulations, reductions in healthcare costs, and crackdowns on health system fraud. Polls show broad support for such measures, with 64 percent of Americans favoring the removal of ultra-processed foods and 75 percent backing increased physical activity.

The tour strategy emphasizes these winning issues while steering clear of divisive topics like vaccines. GOP pollsters have advised caution on vaccines due to potential backlash. A senior White House official described MAHA's constituency as cutting across traditional lines, not confined to Republican orthodoxy.

Kennedy's efforts follow earlier 2026 appearances, including rallies in Pennsylvania and Tennessee, and a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Texas last month. HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon called the ongoing "Take Back Your Health" tour a platform for issues families prioritize.

Despite the enthusiasm, challenges persist. A March poll indicated 52 percent of Americans, including 41 percent of 2024 Trump voters, believe the administration has not done enough on MAHA. Democrats have launched ads criticizing Kennedy's tenure, linking it to Medicaid cuts and rising disease outbreaks. Recent decisions, such as bolstering pesticide production, have frustrated some MAHA advocates, and courts blocked efforts to adjust childhood vaccine recommendations.

GOP strategists see potential in Kennedy's celebrity draw for swing districts. One noted his usefulness if messaging stays on non-controversial ground, like cereal dyes. The tour will test MAHA's role in midterm outcomes and Kennedy's broader political influence.