# Midterms signal momentum for right-to-repair

> Candidates across party lines ran on repair policies in the 2024 midterms, and voters backed them, pointing to a rare bipartisan opening.
- Title: Midterms signal momentum for right-to-repair · WIRED
- Summary: Candidates across party lines ran on repair policies in the 2024 midterms, and voters backed them, pointing to a rare bipartisan opening.
- Keywords: right-to-repair, midterms, josh turek, jake johnson, minnesota, iowa, dmca, digital millennium copyright act, pirg, fulu, WIRED
- Source: WIRED — https://wired.com/story/the-midterms-were-a-pretty-good-sign-for-right-to-repair
- Author: Boone Ashworth
- Published: 2026-11-09T11:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: right-to-repair, midterms, josh turek, jake johnson, minnesota, iowa, dmca, digital millennium copyright act, pirg, fulu
## Repair candidates win in midterms
Iowa senator-elect Josh Turek and presumptive Minnesota state representative Jake Johnson both centered repair policies in their platforms, focusing on issues affecting farmers and their equipment.
## Minnesota voters back renters' repair rights
In St. Paul, Minnesota, voters passed a measure ensuring renters' right to repair with overwhelming support, signalling public appetite for repair protections.
## Bipartisan moment for repair legislation
Nathan Proctor, senior director of PIRG's right-to-repair campaign, says a political climate where people want policies that stand up for the little guy and work bipartisan is very good for right-to-repair.

> A political climate where people want policies that stand up for the little guy, help reduce unnecessary costs, and work in a bipartisan way, that's a very good environment for right-to-repair.
## DMCA reform seen as legislative priority
Section one thousand two hundred and one of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, a nineteen ninety-eight federal statute, made it illegal to circumvent digital locks.

> If I were a new or returning member of Congress, I would see DMCA reform as a no-brainer.
## Key takeaway

Right-to-repair candidates won or advanced in the midterms, and voters passed a repair measure in Minnesota, suggesting bipartisan appetite for laws limiting manufacturer locks on devices.