Congressman praised for leadership on animal welfare, public safety, and states’ rights
Washington, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action, a national policy and political organization dedicated to strengthening and advancing legal protections for animals, today announced its endorsement of Rep. Dan Goldman for re-election in the 2026 Democratic primary in New York’s 10th Congressional District on June 23.
“Congressman Dan Goldman is a strong animal advocate, and he’s demonstrated that commitment during his three years in the U.S. House,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action. “He understands that cruelty to animals is not only morally wrong but often intertwined with broader patterns of violence and lawlessness that harm communities.”
Since taking office in January 2023, Rep. Goldman has supported a wide array of federal policies to combat animal cruelty and promote humane treatment. He is a cosponsor of the Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act to crack down on organized dogfighting and cockfighting, the FDA Modernization Act 3.0 to reduce and replace animal testing in drug development, and the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act to end the slaughter of horses for human consumption.
Goldman has also stood against federal efforts to overturn voter-approved state animal welfare laws. He signed a letter opposing the so-called “Save Our Bacon” (SOB) Act, a rebranded version of previous proposals to nullify California’s Proposition 12 and Massachusetts’ Question 3—laws enacted by voters to ensure humane treatment of farm animals. Animal Wellness Action warns that the proposal would undermine states’ rights, harm American family farmers who invested in humane systems, and benefit foreign agribusiness interests in a race to the bottom.
In addition, Rep. Goldman recently joined a letter urging the National Institutes of Health to redirect funding away from nonhuman primate research centers toward more ethical, effective, and modern scientific alternatives—following the Trump administration’s announcement that it is winding down federally funded animal testing. Animal Wellness Action praised Goldman’s support as a critical step toward ending outdated and inhumane research practices.
Goldman has also been a consistent defender of wildlife protections. For the second consecutive Congress, he opposed legislation to strip Endangered Species Act protections from gray wolves, rejecting congressional interference in science-based wildlife management and efforts that would reopen the door to trophy hunting and commercial trapping. He has likewise opposed legislation designed to block federal agencies from regulating toxic lead ammunition and fishing tackle on public lands and waters.
“Dan Goldman understands that combating cruelty to wild and domesticated animals requires standing up to special interests who harm animals for profit or pleasure,” Pacelle added. “Animal Wellness Action is proud to endorse him and urges Democratic primary voters in New York’s 10th District who care about humane values, public well-being, and the rule of law to support his re-election.” To read the endorsement, go here.