An unexpected winner of the midterm election: Animals

The midterm elections in the United States saw a significant victory for animal welfare, with multiple animals emerging as unexpected winners. In Washington, DC and Denver, Colorado, voters decisively supported a ban on the sale of foie gras, a dish made from force-fed duck liver. In Colorado, voters also opposed a constitutional amendment that would have allowed cruel hunting and fishing methods.

Two members of Congress who had advocated for farm animal welfare, Sen. Roger Marshall and Rep. Ashley Hinson, lost their races. However, a pro-animal welfare candidate, Manny Rutinel, won in Colorado's Eighth Congressional District. In Iowa, a progressive candidate for agriculture secretary, Chris Jones, narrowly lost.

While neither political party has prioritized animal welfare, Democrats are more likely to lead on animal welfare legislation and vote in its favor. The blue wave in the midterm elections could potentially advance animal welfare over the next two years. The fight over foie gras is now settled for now, with bans in DC, Denver, and several other cities, as well as bans in over 20 European countries and Brazil.