MAHA Institute endorses Jessica Means in state House race

NASHVILLE — The Make America Healthy Institute endorsed Jessica Means for Tennessee House District 1. The seat covers part of Sullivan County, and is currently held by incumbent state Rep. John Crawford, R-Kingsport. The institute announced the news in a social media post last week. "Jessica views medical freedom as the frontline of modern liberty, recognizing that the right to bodily autonomy is a natural right that must be shielded from state-sponsored coercion," reads the post, which also describes Means as "deeply skeptical of the pharmaceutical-educational complex." In a comment responding to the post, Means said she plans to make Sullivan County the "healthiest county in the state." The Make American Healthy Again Institute is a D.C.-based political advocacy organization geared toward advancing policies aligning with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s Make American Healthy Again movement. The institute has endorsed 36 state candidates across 11 states. Means' is the only Tennessee political campaign to receive an endorsement from the organization so far. Tennessee lawmakers have by-and-large been friendly to MAHA policies since the initiative was created early in President Donald Trump's second term. Tennessee Republicans hosted Kennedy at the state capitol in February this year as part of the secretary's "Take Back Your Health" tour, an appearance which was followed by the passage of MAHA-endorsed bills through the Tennessee legislature. One of which, sponsored by State Sen. Rusty Crowe, R-Johnson City, banned petroleum-based artificial dyes from being sold through school nutrition programs. The Republican primary for Tennessee House elections takes place August 6, with early voting beginning July 17. The winner of the District 1 Republican Primary will enjoy a general election uncontested by Democrats.