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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will visit Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday night as part of a Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) rally to drum up support for Republican gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn and House candidate Joe Mitchell in the final days before the November 3 midterm elections.
The governor's seat is open this year, with Lahn and Democrat Rob Sand, the state auditor, competing to replace Republican Kim Reynolds, who is not running for reelection. Sand has maintained a lead over Lahn since the primaries, even among Republican pollsters, which is notable considering Iowa voters haven't elected a Democratic governor since Chet Culver in 2006. The rally comes as healthcare is among the top issues for Iowa voters as Democrats argue that Medicaid cuts, rising costs, rural care shortages and Iowa's cancer crisis have left many residents struggling.
U.S. Senate candidate Ashley Hinson, a Republican, is noticeably absent from the rally's lineup, and it's unclear whether or not she was invited to the event.
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Newsweek reached out to event organizer MAHA PAC and Hinson's campaign, as well as the campaigns for Lahn and Sand, on Wednesday afternoon for comment.
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Why Is RFK Jr. Hosting a Rally in Iowa?
Kennedy is rallying in Iowa as Republicans fight to maintain their majority in the House and Senate. Iowa has emerged as a battleground state for the Senate race between Hinson and Turek, and the governor's seat is also open.
The event comes a week after President Donald Trump visited the Hawkeye State to rally for Hinson as polls show her neck-and-neck with Turek. Trump is set to visit Iowa again on November 1.
At the MAHA rally on Wednesday night, speakers will include Lahn, Mitchell, Kennedy, Iowa House District 43 candidate Nicole Hasso, Iowa House District 40 candidate Bill Gustoff and Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joe Ladapo, among others. The event will take place between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
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Healthcare a Top Issue for Iowa Voters
While the economy remains top of mind for most Iowan voters, according to an October survey by Emerson Polling, healthcare takes second place.
The survey of 650 likely Iowa voters conducted October 5-6 found that the economy led issues for voters, at 42 percent. It was followed by healthcare at 18 percent, threats to democracy at 10 percent and education at 8 percent.
“Voters who find healthcare or threats to democracy to be the top issue facing the state break for the Democratic candidates by double digits," Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said in a press release announcing the results.
Josh Turek vs. Ashley Hinson: Latest Poll Results
Recent polls have showed a tight race between Hinson and Turek in the Senate race:
- Echelon Insights: Survey of 403 likely voters October 16-23 gave Turek a 2-point lead, 45 percent to 43 percent. Seven percent said they planned to vote for Thomas Laehn, the Libertarian candidate, with 3 percent undecided.
- InsiderAdvantage: Poll of 1,200 likely voters October 21-22 found that 47 percent of respondents planned to vote for Hinson to 46 percent for Turek. Three percent said Laehn and 4 percent were undecided.
- YouGov: Poll conducted October 6-12 of 2,245 likely voters gave Turek a 1-point lead, 47 percent to 46 percent, with 4 percent undecided.
- Marist University: Poll conducted October 8-11 surveyed 1,100 likely voters, giving Turek a 3-point lead, 48 percent to 45 percent, with 5 percent undecided.
- Emerson College: Poll surveyed 650 likely voters October 5-6. Hinson led by 2 points, 47 percent to 45 percent, with 7 percent undecided.
- CNN/SSRS: Poll conducted September 29-October 5 and surveyed 801 likely voters. Hinson led by 2 points, 45 percent to 43 percent, with 8 percent saying "neither" and 3 percent saying "someone else."
- Suffolk University: Surveyed 500 likely voters October 1-4. Turek held a 4-point lead, 48 percent to 44 percent, while 2 percent said they planned to vote for Laehn and 6 percent said they didn't know who they would vote for.
Rob Sand vs. Zach Lahn: What Latest Polls Show
Polls have consistently favored Sand over Lahn in the gubernatorial race:
- Echelon Insights: Survey of 403 likely voters conducted October 16-23 gave Sand a 4-point lead, 50 percent to 46 percent, with 3 percent undecided.
- YouGov: Poll from October 6-12 of 2,244 likely voters gave Sand a 6-point lead, 50 percent to 44 percent, with 6 percent undecided.
- Marist University: Conducted October 8-11 and surveyed 1,100 likely voters, giving Sand a 7-point lead, 52 percent to 45 percent, with 3 percent undecided.
- Emerson College: Surveyed 650 likely voters October 5-6, giving Sand a 4-point lead, 49 percent to 45 percent, with 6 percent undecided.
- CNN/SSRS: Conducted September 29-October 5 and surveyed 801 likely voters, giving Sand a 9-point lead, 51 percent to 42 percent, with 5 percent saying "neither" and 2 percent saying "someone else."
- Suffolk University: Surveyed 500 likely voters October 1-4 and gave Sand a 12-point lead, 55 percent to 43 percent, with 2 percent undecided.
- New York Times/Siena University: Conducted September 22-October 1 and surveyed 606 likely voters. Sand led, 52 percent to 41 percent, while 7 percent were unsure.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Anna Skinner and Dave Siminoff.
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