As national elections arrive, Animal Wellness Action is actively intervening in key congressional and gubernatorial races to defeat lawmakers with ties to factory farming, animal research, and trophy hunting, while backing candidates committed to animal protection.
The Bottom Line
- Animal Wellness Action is targeting federal and state lawmakers who oppose mainstream anti-cruelty legislation or support industries like factory farming and trophy hunting.
- Reps. Ashley Hinson and Tom Tiffany are facing opposition, while incumbents like U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick in Pennsylvania are being supported.
- Voters are urged to examine candidate records using the organization’s new legislative performance tools to support animal welfare at the ballot box.
Targeting Key Congressional and Gubernatorial Races
The organization stated that it operates independently of political parties, focusing entirely on a candidate’s legislative record regarding animal cruelty. Animal Wellness Action is working to defeat U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, citing her authorship of a bill designed to federally overturn state laws in California and Massachusetts that protect farm animals from being confined in tiny crates. Television ads from the group are currently airing in Iowa to oppose her campaign.
Animal Wellness Action today applauded federal prosecutors and law enforcement after Julius Deane Griffin of Tulsa was found guilty in federal court and sentenced to 210 months—17½ years—in federal prison in a case stemming from an extensive dogfighting operation uncovered last…
Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., in his race for governor. As a state senator, Tiffany wrote a bill to permit gray wolves to be pursued at night using night vision goggles, teams of attack dogs, steel-jawed leghold traps, and neck snares. He has also made it a priority in Congress to strip federal protections for gray wolves, which would automatically legalize those practices.
Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-Penn., in his race to continue representing the commonwealth’s Scranton-based 8th District. Animal Wellness Action pointed out that Bresnahan initially supported a measure penalizing animal fighting rings like dogfighting and cockfighting, only to later vote in favor of weakening it.
Backing Animal Advocates and Protecting Incumbents
Conversely, the organization is endorsing lawmakers with established records on animal welfare. U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Penn., who represents the Philadelphia suburbs of Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional District, has received backing for his decade in Congress, during which he has never cast a vote against animal welfare. Fitzpatrick has authored measures targeting the trade in kangaroo parts, puppy mills, and the practice of intentionally injuring Tennessee Walking Horses’ hooves for shows.
Reps. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., who is battling against overturning Prop 12; Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., noted for leading the fight against horse slaughter; and Nick Langworthy, R-N.Y., who is leading the fight to bar federal funding for experiments on beagles and helping efforts to shut down Marshall BioResources.
Democratic hopefuls Amish Shah in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District and Manny Rutinel in Colorado’s 8th District are additionally receiving backing from the group. Voters can review performance metrics and legislative records for all 535 members of Congress through the organization’s tools before casting their ballots.
| Candidate | State / District | Party / Role | Stance / Action on Animal Welfare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashley Hinson | Iowa (U.S. Senate Race) | Republican (U.S. Rep.) | Targeted for writing a bill to overturn state farm animal protection laws. |
| Tom Tiffany | Wisconsin (Gubernatorial Race) | Republican (U.S. Rep.) | Targeted for supporting wolf trophy hunting and removing federal protections. |
| Brian Fitzpatrick | Pennsylvania’s 1st District | Republican (U.S. Rep.) | Backed for authoring bills against puppy mills, kangaroo trade, and horse cruelty. |
| Rob Bresnahan | Pennsylvania’s 8th District | Republican (U.S. Rep.) | Targeted for voting to gut dogfighting and cockfighting legislation. |
| Nick Langworthy | New York’s District | Republican (U.S. Rep.) | Backed for leading efforts to bar federal funding for beagle experiments. |
National elections are scheduled across the United States.
