RFK Jr. – Libertarian candidate Rick Stewart says U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urged him to drop out of Iowa’s 2nd District House race, citing a recorded June 11 call. The push comes amid a closely watched fight for control of the U.S.
When Rick Stewart heard U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. tell him to consider ending his bid for Congress, it wasn’t a vague political suggestion. It was a direct offer—along with a promise of access.
Stewart. the Libertarian running in northeast Iowa’s 2nd District. said Kennedy called him on June 11 and urged him to drop out. according to a recording of the call obtained by the Des Moines Register. Stewart provided a screenshot of the call log. In the recording. Kennedy described himself as a “liaison with the White House” and told Stewart. “if you want to work with us. I will be your advocate.”.
Stewart is not the first Iowa Libertarian candidate to make a similar accusation this month. A second Libertarian congressional candidate said Kennedy called him to suggest he exit the race as well. and Marco Battaglia. a candidate in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District. said he received such a call this month too. Kennedy’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
The political stakes are immediate. The calls are coming in Iowa’s highly competitive 2nd and 3rd congressional districts—races that could help determine whether Democrats can take control of the U.S. House. President Donald Trump has said such a shift would be disastrous.
Election forecasters at the Cook Political Report recently moved the 2nd District from a “likely Republican” category to “lean Republican,” while rating the 3rd District as a “toss-up,” their most competitive designation.
In the 2nd District, the seat is open because Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson decided to run for U.S. Senate. Democrats and Republicans, plus an independent and Stewart, are on the ballot: Democrat Lindsay James, Republican Joe Mitchell, independent Dave Bushaw, and Stewart.
In the 3rd District, Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn faces a challenge from Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott. Battaglia. a Libertarian candidate. was removed from the ballot by a state panel this month after the panel found his nominating papers did not match his legal name. Mark T. Andersen. Battaglia said he is readying a lawsuit seeking to appeal the decision.
On Stewart’s call. Kennedy repeatedly referenced his own presidential path—running as an independent in 2024. dropping out. endorsing Trump. and later getting appointed to the cabinet. Kennedy told Stewart, “Listen, Rick, I admire what you’re doing. I admire your idealism,” before pushing him toward a similar calculation.
“Is it more important for me to run as an independent, make a point, or could I make an agreement that puts me in a position where I can make a real difference in people’s lives? That’s all,” Kennedy said, according to the recording.
Kennedy also suggested a federal-government role might be where Stewart could have more impact than a symbolic candidacy.
Stewart’s own response captures the uncertainty at the heart of the exchange. He said he didn’t know what opportunities might be available in Washington, at one point telling Kennedy, “I assume you’re not talking about a cabinet position.”
Kennedy said he understood the argument and did not commit to specifics, saying, “I can’t go into specifics because, you know, there’s legal prohibitions about that.” Kennedy then added that “if there’s other ways that you think you might be effective,” he would be “your advocate.”
When Stewart asked whether that would mean working together, Kennedy answered, “That could be a possibility.”
The way Stewart described the call also revealed how he interprets the broader political fight. He told the Register that the call was the first time he had ever been encouraged to end his bid for office, but that he wasn’t shocked by the timing.
Stewart said he viewed it as familiar political pressure aimed at tilting close races.
“I’m not surprised the Republicans are trying to get me out, the Democrats are trying to get me in. The same thing for Marco,” he said. “These are potentially decisive races, can be very close. They’re going to play every trick they have that’s legal to try and increase their odds of winning. So I’m not really impressed with the whole thing myself.”.
Stewart’s campaign also survived a separate ballot challenge. He will appear on the ballot in the Nov. 3 general election after the three-member State Objection Panel dismissed a Republican challenge alleging he failed to qualify. The challenge claimed his nominating petitions identified him as Richard Stewart while his affidavit of candidacy listed his name as Rick Stewart.
Stewart characterized both major parties in blunt terms. He described the Democratic and Republican parties as “rotten to the core,” saying, “They stink,” and, “Nobody likes them.”
His argument for staying in the race is straightforward: he says voters should have another choice beyond two parties he views as broadly unpopular.
Stewart said his campaign is about giving voters “another option,” arguing that “The reason to be in the race is to give voters the chance to vote for something that they actually like as opposed to two things that they hate.”
He also pushed back on what he said is a common assumption—that his candidacy will siphon votes primarily from Republicans.
Stewart said he thinks both Republicans and Democrats believe his campaign will pull more votes from the Republican candidate. But he disputed the premise, saying, “I disagree with that assessment,” because “Libertarians dislike both parties.”
“I don’t believe I’ll take votes away from one party instead of the other party,” he said.
For Stewart, the question now is whether a candidate outside the two-party structure can hold its ground in a contest where every vote—and every allegation—can matter.
One pattern shows up in the facts themselves: multiple Iowa Libertarian candidates allege similar pressure from Kennedy. and those allegations arrive as forecasters describe both the 2nd and 3rd districts as battleground territory with the power to shape whether Democrats gain control of the U.S. House. The only thing missing is a direct answer from Kennedy’s office.
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RFK Jr Robert F. Kennedy Jr Rick Stewart Libertarian Party Iowa 2nd District U.S. House race Ashley Hinson Lindsay James Joe Mitchell Dave Bushaw Cook Political Report election 2024 political pressure