Democrat Governor Backs RFK Jr. for US Health Secretary

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis speaks in Highlands Ranch, Colo., on May 8, 2019. Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after the latter was announced by President-elect Donald Trump as the nominee for U.S. health secretary, although Polis later backtracked on his praise for Kennedy’s work on vaccines.

Polis, a Democrat, wrote in a Nov. 14 post on social media platform X that he’s excited about the appointment.

Kennedy “helped us defeat vaccine mandates in Colorado in 2019 and will help make America healthy again by shaking up” the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Polis wrote. “I hope he leans into personal choice on vaccines rather than bans (which I think are terrible, just like mandates) but what I’m most optimistic about is taking on big pharma and the corporate ag oligopoly to improve our health.”

Kennedy has said none of the available vaccines are safe or effective and opposed vaccine mandates. He has called for caps on drug prices, improving nutrition, and moving away from an agricultural system that regularly uses pesticides.

“We have tried unsuccessfully to better protect people and pollinators from harmful pesticides here in Colorado and we need all the help we can get to take on big chemical companies and improve human health and the environment!” Polis said.

A spokesperson for Polis told news outlets in a statement after the post that Polis “has not changed his view as a whole on RFK Jr. or on the Governor’s previously stated concerns regarding some of RFK Jr’s positions.”

Polis is “opposed to RFK’s positions on a host of issues, including vaccines and banning fluoridation” but “would appreciate seeing action on pesticides and efforts to lower prescription drug costs and if Trump is going to nominate someone like him then let them also take on soda, processed food, pesticides and heavy metals contamination,” the spokesperson said. “But he definitely does not endorse actions that would lead to measles outbreaks and opposes unscientific propaganda that undermines confidence in the lifesaving impact of vaccines.”

In August, Polis said, “Not sure how bringing back Measles and bringing back Polio makes anyone more healthy” in response to a video of Kennedy speaking to Fox News.

Polis later said in another post on Thursday that “science must remain THE cornerstone of our nation’s health policy and the science-backed decision to get vaccinated improves public health and safety.” He said he had been vaccinated. He did, however, reiterate that he wants “a major shake-up in institutions like the FDA that have been barriers to lowering drug costs and promoting healthy food choices” and supports some of Kennedy’s priorities, including reducing pesticide use.

Kennedy thanked Polis. “I look forward to working with you. Let’s Make America Healthy Again,” he said in a Nov. 14 social media post.

Trump said earlier in the day that he was going to nominate Kennedy to the position of HHS secretary. HHS oversees the FDA and other health agencies.

“HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country,” Trump wrote.

Kennedy vowed to “clean up corruption, stop the revolving door between industry and government, and return our health agencies to their rich tradition of gold-standard, evidence-based science.” He added, “I will provide Americans with transparency and access to all the data so they can make informed choices for themselves and their families.”

In an October social media post, he said, “I’m not going to take anyone’s vaccines away from them. I just want to be sure every American knows the safety profile, the risk profile, and the efficacy of each vaccine.”

While Kennedy has garnered support from some lawmakers, others took to social media to criticize the selection.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) took issue with Kennedy’s positions, including his stance on vaccines. She said that Kennedy becoming HHS secretary “could set America back in terms of public health, reproductive rights, research, & more.”

The Senate confirms presidential nominees to certain roles, and HHS secretary is one of those positions.

Republicans are poised to hold a 53-47 majority when Trump takes office in January 2025. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) was among the Republican senators praising RFK Jr., saying he “has prioritized addressing chronic diseases through consumer choice and healthy lifestyle.”