A recording shows HHS Secretary Kennedy urged an Iowa Libertarian to drop out of a competitive House race

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called an Iowa Libertarian running for Congress and urged him to drop out of his race, according to a recording the candidate gave to The Gazette of Cedar Rapids. The candidate, Rick Stewart, stayed in the contest in Iowa's 2nd Congressional District and released the audio.

Stewart said the call took place June 11. On the recording, Kennedy told him he was acting "as your liaison with the White House" and said Stewart could "push a libertarian agenda" in a way that "might have a greater impact" outside the race, according to The Gazette. At one point Kennedy said, "I can't go into specifics because there's legal prohibitions," according to Little Village, which also reviewed the audio.

A second Libertarian, Marco Battaglia, who is running in Iowa's 3rd Congressional District, said Kennedy called him with a similar request. Battaglia said Rep. Zach Nunn, the Republican incumbent he is challenging, also urged him to end his campaign.

The Washington Post, which first reported the calls on June 25, said James Blair, a political adviser to President Trump, asked Kennedy to contact Stewart and Battaglia because he had heard the two candidates respected Kennedy. The Post said the White House and HHS did not answer its questions about whether White House officials directed the calls or how many candidates Kennedy had contacted. Gray Media, the Iowa station group that aired the audio, said HHS did not respond to a request for comment. Stewart said the Republican nominee in the 2nd District, Joe Mitchell, had separately asked him to leave the race.

Both candidates are off the November ballot

On June 15, the Iowa State Objections Panel voted to remove Stewart and Battaglia from the November ballot. The panel found Battaglia ineligible because he did not use his legal name, Mark Thomas Andersen, on his nominating petitions. The challenge to Battaglia was filed by Annie Kuhle, a campaign adviser to Nunn, according to the Iowa Capital Dispatch.

State Auditor Rob Sand, the Democratic nominee for governor, recused himself from the panel and was replaced by Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig, leaving a panel of three Republicans. Stewart and Battaglia have asked a court to put them back on the ballot.

Why the seats matter

Iowa's 2nd and 3rd Districts are rated among the most competitive U.S. House races in 2026, the year that will decide control of the chamber. Third-party candidates can pull votes that might otherwise go to a major-party nominee, and both parties track those entries closely in tight races.

Kennedy ran for president as an independent before endorsing Trump in 2024 and taking over HHS. He has not publicly addressed the recording.