Agriculture and Rural Life

Animal welfare laws

14 public statements from 2026 candidates · 6 related bills

§1The range of views

Why this matters: These laws affect how pets, farm animals and animals used in testing are treated, and they can add costs and rules for breeders, farmers and companies.

Drafted by AI, then checked for neutral wording in a separate AI review. It describes the question and the main positions, not any candidate's view. Facts link to their sources.

Federal laws on how animals are treated, such as care standards for animal dealers, including commercial dog breeders, and the ban on animal fighting, and whether to ban slaughtering horses for food or testing cosmetics on animals.1,2,3

  1. No new federal animal welfare rules, and pass a federal law barring states from requiring that meat and eggs sold there come from animals housed a certain way
  2. Keep current federal laws, with states free to add their own protections
  3. Add federal protections, such as bans on horse slaughter and on testing cosmetics on animals

These options describe policies, not people. The order is not a ranking.

§2What candidates have said

Why this matters: Statements candidates made publicly, summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Candidates who haven't spoken publicly on this issue aren't listed.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Add federal protections, such as bans on horse slaughter and on testing cosmetics on animals (6)

  • Gil Cisneros CA-31
    His campaign website says he would strengthen rules on puppy mills and other commercial breeders, protect farm animals from inhumane treatment and end non-therapeutic antibiotic use in farm animals.4
  • Brad Sherman CA-32
    His campaign website says he cosponsors a bill to phase out animal testing for cosmetics, is working to pass a bill to end horse slaughter, and opposes efforts to invalidate California's Proposition 12 or similar state animal protection laws.5
  • Ken Calvert CA-40
    His campaign website says he wrote a 2000 law creating a federal committee to promote alternatives to animal testing and has led the HEARTS Act and other efforts to reduce the use of animals in federally funded testing.6
  • Mike Levin CA-49
    His campaign website says he cosponsored animal protection bills including the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act, the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act and the Big Cat Public Safety Act.7
  • Betty McCollum MN-4
    Her campaign website says she has introduced legislation to expand animal cruelty protections for cold-blooded animals.8
  • Becky Kelly Stille NE-3
    Her campaign website says she supports legislation that protects animals and that strong animal protection laws can prevent harm such as poaching and illegal trafficking.9

Statements that don't match one option (8)

  • Ashley Hinson IA Senate
    Her campaign website says she opposes policies like California's Proposition 12, which it says hurt Iowa family farmers.10
  • Moshe Y. Landman MD-6
    His campaign website says the Humane Slaughter Act is not enforced and that the ethical treatment of animals must be enforced.11
  • Brad Finstad MN-1
    His campaign website lists California’s Proposition 12 among policies it describes as threatening the livelihoods of family farms and agricultural producers.12
  • Michael Dublin NC Senate
    His platform says he supports animal rights and has signed the Green Party Animal Rights Committee's candidate pledge.13
  • Donald Norcross NJ-1
    His campaign website says he is a strong supporter of animal rights and of organizations such as the Humane Society of the United States.14
  • Afzal "Bobby" Khan NV-1
    His campaign website says he would work to end helicopter roundups of wild horses and burros, return horses to their designated lands, and replace costly holding facilities with humane herd management.15,16
  • Amy Acton OH Governor
    Her campaign website supports keeping animal care standards with the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board, where farmers and the agriculture industry set them.17
  • Robert Jones TN Senate
    His campaign website says pets, wildlife and livestock should be protected and treated with respect.18

§3Related bills

Why this matters: Bills from 2023–2026 that bear on this issue, with how Congress handled them.