RFK Jr.'s polling divide: Food vs. vaccines
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Americans across the political spectrum support efforts to increase food regulation, a major priority for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — but there's a partisan split over his views on childhood vaccines.
Why it matters: Polling shows the broad popularity of some of Kennedy's views, even as he deeply divides the country over vaccines — and throws the federal agencies he oversees into chaos.
By the numbers: Kennedy's push to improve Americans' food supply has significant support from voters across the political spectrum. A whopping 87% of respondents in an Axios-Ipsos survey conducted in June said the government should do more to make sure food is safe.
- 90% said it should be easier for the average American to understand food safety guidelines, something Kennedy has said he's working on.
Zoom in: Independents tend to align with Republican voters on some of Kennedy's key agenda points.
- For example, 72% of independent voters in the Axios-Ipsos poll agreed that American kids take too many prescription medications.
- Among Republicans, 82% agreed with the statement, compared with 54% of Democrats.
Yes, but: There's a widening partisan split over the importance of childhood vaccines, according to a Gallup poll conducted in July.
- 93% of Democratic and Democrat-leaning voters said it's extremely or very important that parents get their kids vaccinated, and another 6% called it somewhat important.
- That's compared to 52% of Republican and Republican-leaning voters who said childhood vaccination is extremely or very important, though another 26% said it was somewhat important.
The intrigue: Overall, more Americans disapprove than approve of Kennedy's work as health secretary so far, according to a survey conducted by Pew this spring.
- 43% of adults surveyed said they strongly or somewhat disapprove of how Kennedy is doing, compared to 36% who strongly or somewhat approve. 21% weren't sure.
- But he's viewed more favorably than other Trump administration officials, including President Trump himself — at least according to Gallup's August poll on public opinion of select newsmakers.
- Republicans and Democrats currently hold similar approval ratings for the Department of Health and Human Services, with roughly half of each group saying they have a favorable opinion of the agency, according to a Pew survey conducted in August.
