This Democrat built a farm-to-politics career. Now she’s working with MAHA moms.

March 9, 2026

Democratic Representative Chellie Pingree, a longtime organic farmer and environmental advocate from Maine, has formed an unexpected alliance with activists from the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement to fight pesticide use and promote sustainable agriculture. Despite being led by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Who is affected

Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine, 1st District)
MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) movement activists, specifically Kelly Ryerson (The Glyphosate Girl) and Zen Honeycutt (founder of Moms Across America)
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
President Donald Trump
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie
Farmers in Maine's 1st District
Pesticide companies like Bayer (producer of Roundup)
Environmental groups and the Center for Biological Diversity
House Agriculture Committee members
GOP leaders facing constituent pressure
Mothers and families concerned about food safety

What action is being taken

Pingree is reaching out to and meeting with MAHA movement members
Pingree and MAHA activists are working together to fight pesticide-related legislation
Pingree is posting more frequently on social media platforms like Instagram to reach potential supporters
MAHA advocates are using their social media platforms to maintain pressure on GOP leaders
MAHA activists are amplifying messages about pesticide regulations and PFAS chemicals to broader audiences
Environmental groups are monitoring and analyzing the bipartisan dialogue on these issues

Why it matters

This alliance represents a rare instance of bipartisan cooperation on environmental and food safety issues that have traditionally been partisan. The MAHA movement's large social media presence is raising awareness about complex regulatory issues like pesticide use and PFAS chemicals among everyday Americans who might not otherwise engage with environmental policy. The coalition creates political pressure on Republican lawmakers who must consider their constituents' concerns ahead of midterm elections, making previously niche environmental issues more politically relevant across party lines. The partnership demonstrates that sustainable agriculture and food safety concerns can unite people across the political spectrum, potentially creating lasting policy changes that neither side could achieve alone.

What's next

Pingree plans to continue fighting against pesticide liability protections when the farm bill goes to a floor vote in the House
Pingree and Rep. Thomas Massie's bipartisan No Immunity for Glyphosate Act will move forward through the legislative process, aiming to reverse Trump's executive order on glyphosate production
Pingree hopes to raise awareness of Democratic work on these issues and explore forming a bipartisan MAHA caucus in Congress

Read full article from source: The 19th