Sen. Ron Wyden has asked federal investigators to determine whether Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. violated the Hatch Act after making telephone calls in June urging Libertarian candidates to withdraw from two Iowa congressional races.
Allegation centers on calls in two competitive districts
Wyden, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, filed a complaint Monday with the U.S. Office of the Special Counsel. The complaint highlights calls on June 8 and June 11 with Libertarian candidates in Iowa’s 3rd and 2nd congressional districts, respectively, saying the contacts may have amounted to prohibited political activity by a federal employee.
"Kennedy has spent sixteen months using his official position to undermine the health and well-being of his fellow Americans, and now he is using his official position to undermine the integrity of democratic elections too,"
The complaint notes the timing and purpose of the calls: to persuade third-party candidates to step aside in contests where their presence could affect outcomes. Libertarian candidates in Iowa and elsewhere have historically drawn small but potentially decisive slices of the electorate — often in the range of 2 to 3 percent in recent cycles — that can alter tight races.
- June 8 — Call with Marco Battaglia, Libertarian candidate in Iowa’s 3rd District.
- June 11 — Call with Rick Stewart, Libertarian candidate in Iowa’s 2nd District.
Why the Hatch Act matters here
The Hatch Act of 1939 limits certain political activities by federal employees to prevent the use of official positions to influence elections. Wyden’s complaint asks the Office of the Special Counsel to investigate whether Kennedy’s outreach crossed that legal boundary. Neither Kennedy nor HHS spokespersons had offered an immediate response when the complaint was filed.
For Iowa voters, the dispute highlights how federal officials can become involved in local contests that will help determine control of Congress. The 2nd and 3rd districts are among the state’s most closely watched seats this cycle; even small shifts in voter behavior could matter in the balance of power nationally.
| District | Libertarian Candidate | Call Date |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa 3rd | Marco Battaglia | June 8 |
| Iowa 2nd | Rick Stewart | June 11 |
Wyden framed the alleged contacts as part of a broader pattern of Kennedy acting as a surrogate for the administration in swing areas. The complaint points to Kennedy’s public role promoting health initiatives while also asserting he has been dispatched to bolster Republican chances in competitive districts.
As the Office of the Special Counsel considers the complaint, the case will be watched closely in Iowa. Candidates, campaign operatives and voters in the affected districts may seek clarity about the limits of federal involvement in state-level contests. Any formal finding of Hatch Act violations could prompt administrative consequences and intensify scrutiny of how and when federal officials engage with local campaigns.
For now, the matter awaits the independent agency’s review; the practical effect on the races themselves will depend on that process and on how campaigns and voters respond in the coming weeks.
