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KFF poll shows 41% of US adults back MAHA agenda
News brief
Today at 4:15 p.m.
Stephanie Soucheray, MA
Topics
Public Health
Four in ten US adults polled in a new KFF survey said they support the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, but an even wider swath of the American public is concerned about the regulation of chemical additives in foods and the use of pesticides in agriculture.
The poll showed MAHA fans were largely (two-thirds) Republicans who aligned themselves with President Donald Trump. However, 75% of those polled said there is not enough regulation of chemical additives in food and 64% there’s not enough regulation of pesticides used in agriculture, issues championed by those on both sides of the aisle.
Healthcare costs are the most pressing health-related issue among those surveyed when looking forward to the 2026 midterm elections. Fifty-five percent of those polled said healthcare costs will have a “major impact” on their decision to vote.
Healthcare, not food policy will be midterm issue
Only four in 10 say vaccine or food policy will affect voting decisions. Even among MAHA supporters, healthcare costs were more important than food policy or vaccine safety—issues on which the administration received low marks.
“Voters overall give the Trump administration low approval ratings on two key health areas elevated by the MAHA movement; about four in ten approve of the administration’s handling of vaccine policy (38%), and fewer than half approve of the administration’s handling of food policy (46%),” KFF said.
Voters were also evenly divided on trusting Democrats (31%) or Republicans (27%) to handle the safety of food additives and pesticides, or neither party (31%). Overall, those surveyed said they trust the Democratic party over Republicans to handle vaccine policy (41% vs. 25%).
The survey’s margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points.
KFF poll shows 41% of US adults back MAHA agenda
News brief
Today at 4:15 p.m.
Stephanie Soucheray, MA
Topics
Public Health
Four in ten US adults polled in a new KFF survey said they support the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, but an even wider swath of the American public is concerned about the regulation of chemical additives in foods and the use of pesticides in agriculture.
The poll showed MAHA fans were largely (two-thirds) Republicans who aligned themselves with President Donald Trump. However, 75% of those polled said there is not enough regulation of chemical additives in food and 64% there’s not enough regulation of pesticides used in agriculture, issues championed by those on both sides of the aisle.
Healthcare costs are the most pressing health-related issue among those surveyed when looking forward to the 2026 midterm elections. Fifty-five percent of those polled said healthcare costs will have a “major impact” on their decision to vote.
Healthcare, not food policy will be midterm issue
Only four in 10 say vaccine or food policy will affect voting decisions. Even among MAHA supporters, healthcare costs were more important than food policy or vaccine safety—issues on which the administration received low marks.
“Voters overall give the Trump administration low approval ratings on two key health areas elevated by the MAHA movement; about four in ten approve of the administration’s handling of vaccine policy (38%), and fewer than half approve of the administration’s handling of food policy (46%),” KFF said.
Voters were also evenly divided on trusting Democrats (31%) or Republicans (27%) to handle the safety of food additives and pesticides, or neither party (31%). Overall, those surveyed said they trust the Democratic party over Republicans to handle vaccine policy (41% vs. 25%).
The survey’s margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points.