From Vox · Kenny Torrella · · 3m
Animals win big in the midterm elections
Voters banned foie gras, rejected cruel hunting methods, and elected animal welfare champions while defeating farm industry allies.
In brief
Voters banned foie gras, rejected cruel hunting methods, and elected animal welfare champions while defeating farm industry allies. Voters advanced animal welfare across multiple races and ballot measures, electing pro-animal candidates and defeating politicians who fought farm welfare laws. Originally reported by Vox.
Animals emerged as midterm winners
As Democrats won a landslide in this week's midterm elections, animal welfare also came out ahead across multiple ballot measures and races.
Washington DC and Denver ban foie gras
Voters in Washington, DC, and Denver, Colorado, decisively supported bans on foie gras sales. DC voters backed the ban 73 percent to 27 percent, while Denver voters supported it 66 percent to 34 percent.
What foie gras production involves
Foie gras is made by force-feeding ducks via a metal pipe about 60 times in the final weeks before they are killed.
The foie gras debate
Foie gras farms and fine dining chefs contend the practice is harmless or no worse than other factory farming. But veterinary research has concluded it can be quite painful for the birds.
Pro-Animal DC celebrates the victory
Cady Witt of Pro-Animal DC, which put the measure on the ballot, said: Tonight DC decided that force-feeding a bird has no place here.
“Tonight DC decided that force-feeding a bird has no place here.”
Colorado rejects cruel hunting methods
Colorado voters rejected Amendment 83, which would have enshrined the right to hunt and fish by traditional methods in the state constitution.Traditional methods could have included poisoning, leg hold traps, and other practices currently banned.
Why the hunting amendment mattered
Rebecca Niemiec, co-director of Colorado State University's Animal-Human Policy Center, explained that traditional methods could include practices like poisoning, leg hold traps, gill nets, or baiting and hounding, all banned in Colorado.
Farm industry allies lose their seats
Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas and Rep. Ashley Hinson of Iowa, both strong advocates for overturning state farm animal welfare laws, each lost their races in the midterm elections.
An animal welfare champion wins in Colorado
Manny Rutinel, a pro-animal welfare Democrat and former attorney at Earthjustice, defeated Republican incumbent Rep. Gabe Evans in Colorado's Eighth Congressional District, which is home to major industrial agricultural operations.
An agriculture reformer loses in Iowa
Chris Jones, a former Big Ag insider turned vocal critic, lost his race to become Iowa's next agriculture secretary.
Democratic control shifts the balance
While neither party has made animal welfare a key campaign issue, Democrats are more likely to lead on animal welfare legislation.
Other animal welfare measures passed
Massachusetts voters supported a ballot measure to fund nature conservation. Voters in Brevard County, Florida, supported renewal of a tax funding manatee and dolphin habitat restoration. Conservation measures in Arkansas and Rhode Island also passed.
What comes next for animal welfare
With Democratic majorities in Congress, there may be more opportunities to advance animal welfare in 2027. The election showed that when given the chance, voters want to help animals.
The takeaway
Voters advanced animal welfare across multiple races and ballot measures, electing pro-animal candidates and defeating politicians who fought farm welfare laws.
