Democrats see an opening ahead of the midterm elections with increasingly disappointed Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) voters. Many activists in the MAHA base are furious with the Trump administration over its backing of a controversial weed killer and pesticides more broadly, creating what some party strategists view as a potential crossover voting bloc.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s defense of those moves has deepened the sense of disillusionment among followers who helped deliver President Trump to the White House. The administration issued an executive order prioritizing domestic production of glyphosate, a key ingredient in Roundup, which is widely used in commercial farming. The administration also sided with drug company Bayer in a Supreme Court lawsuit over the chemical.
What the Left Is Saying
Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) this week introduced legislation to overturn Trump's glyphostate executive order. During a recent rally with MAHA activists at the Supreme Court, Booker spoke about standing up to major corporations taking over food and farming industries.
"Don't let the false narrative of tribal politics distract you from the truth. This is not a left or right issue. This is a right or wrong issue," said Booker, who has not ruled out a presidential bid in 2028.
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), a leading voice against pro-pesticide language that was ultimately stripped from the farm bill via amendment Thursday, argued Democrats should engage with MAHA voters on their core issues.
"I have told many of my colleagues over the years, 'You're crazy if you don't talk to people about food and toxins,'" Pingree said. "I'm spending a lot of time talking to my colleagues about how this is going to be a really important election year issue."
Longtime Democratic strategist Brad Woodhouse, executive director of Protect Our Care, said Democrats have more affinity for MAHA issues than Republicans do, pointing to Michelle Obama's healthy food initiatives that faced Republican criticism.
What the Right Is Saying
Trump administration officials framed the glyphostate executive order as necessary for agricultural stability and national security. Kennedy, during budget hearings with Congress, defended the president's move while expressing his own reservations about glyphosate.
"I have grave reservations about the president's executive order," Kennedy told Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) during a House Appropriations hearing. "I understand why he did it."
The administration has maintained that increasing domestic production capacity serves national interests. Some Republican lawmakers have defended the administration's position, arguing that restricting agricultural chemicals could harm farmers and food production.
On Capitol Hill, tensions flared over language in the farm bill that would have restricted certain lawsuits against pesticide companies — though the language was ultimately stripped via amendment Thursday after bipartisan opposition.
What the Numbers Show
Glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicides in commercial farming. The Trump administration invoked the Defense Production Act to boost production of glyphosate, a move critics say prioritizes chemical manufacturing over health concerns.
Kennedy previously crusaded against glyphosate before joining the administration and even won a landmark case against pesticide giant Monsanto by representing a groundskeeper who alleged Roundup contributed to his cancer. The company is now owned by Bayer.
MAHA represents a diverse movement with various priorities including food supply changes, tighter chemical regulation, and vaccine policy — not all of which align neatly with traditional party divisions.
The Bottom Line
Democrats are actively courting MAHA voters frustrated with the administration's pesticide stance, introducing legislation and holding rallies alongside movement activists. Whether this outreach translates to electoral shifts remains uncertain, as some Republicans have also pushed back against liability protections for chemical companies.
MAHA leaders say they are putting Republican offices on notice, warning that action on pesticides is needed to retain their votes. Democrats point to their longer track record on food safety and environmental regulation as a potential selling point with this voter bloc.
What happens next: The Booker-Heinrich legislation faces an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled Congress. Kennedy has said he is working with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to transition the country away from glyphosate, though no timeline has been set.