Animal advocacy group, Animal Wellness Action, rounds up seven successful congressional candidates and dethrones three incumbents hostile towards animals, while also aiding in the re-election of four passionate supporters for animal welfare.

In the recent 2022 midterm elections, Animal Wellness Action, a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(4) organisation, played a significant role in shaping the outcome of several congressional races. The organisation's mission is to promote laws and regulations at federal, state, and local levels that forbid cruelty to all animals and work to enforce existing anti-cruelty and wildlife protection laws.

Animal Wellness Action conducted television advertising without regard to party affiliation, favouring candidates with a demonstrated commitment to animal welfare and opposing those who would support policies that harm animals. This approach led to some notable victories.

In South Carolina's and Pennsylvania's competitive races, Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., prevailed with Animal Wellness Action's endorsement. Mace, a Republican, won her race comfortably and is the lead Republican on several animal protection bills. Fitzpatrick, a Republican, was re-elected to his fifth term, with Animal Wellness Action touting his work on the Kangaroo Protection Act, the Puppy Protection Act, and several other priority bills.

However, the defeat of U.S. Representative John Duarte, R-Calif., in the 119th Congress, was partially due to an independent expenditure effort by Animal Wellness Action. The organisation ran television advertisements targeting tens of thousands of animal welfare voters in Duarte's district, highlighting his support for the EATS Act and his ties to Smithfield Foods.

In California's 13 congressional district, Adam Gray, a Democrat, is poised to defeat John Duarte, a Republican, in part due to Animal Wellness Action's ad. On the other hand, David Valadao, a Republican, co-led a letter opposing EATS and prevailed in his race, with Animal Wellness Action's support.

Valadao, a Republican, showed broad support for animal welfare and was instrumental in adding language to the Ag-FDA appropriations bill to implement the FDA Modernization Act 2.0. Meanwhile, Derek Tran, a Democrat, declared victory in his race to unseat Michelle Steel, a Republican, in California's 45 congressional district, as Steel did not vote for any animal welfare priority that came to the House floor this term.

Animal Wellness Action declared victory in five other congressional races where it conducted independent expenditure campaigns. The organisation also supported an equal number of Democrats and Republicans in these independent campaigns. Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action, stated that opposing mainstream animal welfare sensibilities is politically treacherous.

In the 2024 congressional campaign for California's 13th district, the name of the candidate supported by Animal Wellness Action remains undisclosed at this time. Don Davis, a Democrat, won re-election in his competitive race, with Animal Wellness Action backing him due to his reliability as an animal welfare advocate on the House Agriculture Committee.

The organisation's efforts in the 2022 midterm elections demonstrate its commitment to promoting animal welfare policies and opposing those that harm animals. With its bipartisan approach, Animal Wellness Action continues to influence the political landscape, advocating for the rights and welfare of animals in the United States.

Animal advocacy group, Animal Wellness Action, rounds up seven successful congressional candidates and dethrones three incumbents hostile towards animals, while also aiding in the re-election of four passionate supporters for animal welfare.