Steak 'n Shake scores MAHA win in beef with Trump-backed congressman

The fast-food hamburger chain Steak 'n Shake is celebrating after its cherry-picked candidate for Iowa governor, Zach Lahn, won the state's Republican primary beef June. 2.

Lahn cooked up a win over Trump-backed Rep. Randy Feenstra and three others.

"Voters took a stand and supported a MAHA candidate in a tight primary race," the company wrote June 3 on X. "Steak n Shake remains undefeated in political endorsements."

The primary race fell the day after Steak 'n Shake, a Midwest franchise known for its thin french fries and creamy milkshakes, announced it would start preparing every burger with 100% grass-fed, grass-finished beef from pasture-raised cattle.

Since the outset of President Donald Trump's second term, the company has moved closer to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" agenda. The burger chain established a corporate Chief "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) Officer in April.

In Iowa, Lahn ran an "Iowa First" campaign, endorsed by MAHA Action PAC, which also celebrated Steak 'n Shake's grass-fed switcheroo. Lahn tied Iowa’s rising cancer rates and water quality issues to big agriculture in the state.

He was also vocal about a ban on mRNA vaccines and believes in pulling COVID-19 vaccinations from the market. His wife, Annie Lahn, was previously married to Chase Koch, the son of billionaire Republican donor Charles Koch, one of the famous Koch brothers.

Lahn will face State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, in the November general election to replace outgoing incumbent Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Steak 'n Shake has aligned itself with MAHA

Steak 'n Shake cooked up a response after lefty journalist Lyz Lenz wrote on X that the corporation's support of Lahn was one of the few times a Trump endorsement "hasn't worked," but a "Steak 'n Shake endorsement has."

"100% in political predictions, just like we are serving 100% grass-fed Steakburgers and 100% beef tallow fries," the company said. "We like getting it right." They added "MAHA" with a green heart emoji.

Last March, Steak 'n Shake switched from seed oils to beef tallow for cooking, better aligning itself with RFK Jr.'s priorities as Trump's health czar. The company launched its offering of Coca-Cola with cane sugar in glass bottles in August, and now installs the "tallest and biggest American flag that local governments will allow" at each location.

The company said in February that it would remove all microwaves from franchise locations by April, writing in a social media post that "quality restaurants don't need microwaves."

Contributing: Gabe Hauari, Brianne Pfannenstiel