A political action committee based on the Make America Healthy Again movement is pledging to spend big in the midterm elections, betting that wellness issues will drive Americans to the polls. The MAHA PAC’s ambitions are already figuring prominently in Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy’s bid to retain his seat by backing one of his main opponents, Rep. Julia Letlow, R-La., to the tune of $1 million.
Targeting Cassidy makes sense for the MAHA faithful, who want to reduce the role of vaccines in public health policy. Cassidy has been one of the strongest Republican supporters of vaccines in Congress, voicing concerns about Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s attacks on them despite ultimately supporting Kennedy’s nomination for Health and Human Services secretary.
But the MAHA movement faces the challenge of touting its agenda on nutrition and ultra-processed foods without losing the support of Americans who back access to vaccination by and large. Polling shows less than half of Americans now trust federal agencies to make childhood vaccine recommendations. And Louisiana voters may have other priorities than health issues when at the ballot box.
