STAT+: Can RFK Jr. help GOP win the midterms? Iowa is a test

WASHINGTON — Zach Lahn, a farmer and Republican candidate for Iowa governor, says he won’t forget these moments: visiting a bait-and-tackle shop, bream fishing, and campaigning alongside health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “RFK Jr.’s story is one that I have long admired,” Lahn wrote on his official campaign page in August, following Kennedy’s visit to Iowa. Kennedy, in turn, wrote that Lahn was a “superstar.” Lahn could use the help. He’s trailing the Democratic candidate in recent polls, in a state that voted for President Trump by more than 10 percentage points in 2024. While many GOP candidates are struggling, Lahn’s race is a particularly sharp test of Kennedy’s pull with voters, especially those who are displeased with the president, whose disapproval rating has risen sharply. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus daily intelligence on Capitol Hill and the life sciences industry — by subscribing to STAT+. Already have an account? Log in View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe