Organization backs candidates in Washington’s August 4 top-two primary based on leadership in animal welfare, wildlife conservation, horse protection, and anti-cruelty enforcement
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action, a national policy and political organization dedicated to strengthening and advancing legal protections for animals, today announced its endorsements of seven candidates seeking election to the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington’s August 4, 2026, top-two primary election.
The organization said the endorsements recognize candidates who have demonstrated leadership on animal welfare, wildlife conservation, horse protection, anti-animal-fighting enforcement, and humane public policy. Washington’s unique top-two primary system makes the August 4 election especially important because the two highest vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the November general election.
The endorsed candidates are Rep. Suzan DelBene in the 1st Congressional District, Rep. Rick Larsen in the 2nd, Rep. Emily Randall in the 6th, Rep. Pramila Jayapal in the 7th, Rep. Adam Smith in the 9th, and Rep. Marilyn Strickland in the 10th Congressional District.
“Preventing cruelty to animals and protecting wildlife are values that transcend politics,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action. “These candidates have supported policies rooted in science, compassion, and public safety. Whether the issue is horse slaughter, organized animal fighting, wildlife conservation, or modernizing animal testing, they have aligned themselves with the millions of Americans who care about animal welfare and related concerns.”
Animal Wellness Action highlighted the candidates’ opposition to H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act, legislation that included provisions designed to overturn voter-approved farm animal welfare laws in California and Massachusetts while omitting several bipartisan animal protection measures, including the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act and the Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act.
The organization also recognized the candidates for opposing the Riley Moore amendment, which sought to weaken the Greyhound Protection Act by allowing commercial greyhound racing to continue in West Virginia, and for voting against legislation to strip federal protections from gray wolves under the Endangered Species Act and to restrict the authority of federal agencies to address the well-documented harms caused by toxic lead ammunition and fishing tackle to wildlife.
Animal Wellness Action further commended DelBene, Randall, Jayapal, Strickland, and Smith for cosponsoring the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act to permanently end the slaughter of American horses for human consumption and prohibit their export to Canada and Mexico for slaughter. The organization noted that while Congressman Rick Larsen has been a consistent supporter of many animal protection priorities, it was disappointed that he opposed the bipartisan Van Drew-Titus amendment approved by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to prohibit horse exports to Mexico for slaughter.
The organization also urged all seven candidates to support several bipartisan measures pending before Congress, including the FIGHT Act to strengthen enforcement against organized dogfighting and cockfighting, the No Flight No Fight Act to prohibit commercial airlines from transporting fighting birds, and the Animal Cruelty Enforcement (ACE) Act to establish a dedicated animal cruelty prosecution unit within the U.S. Department of Justice.
Animal Wellness Action placed special emphasis on an issue of particular importance to the Pacific Northwest: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposal to kill approximately 450,000 native barred owls across Washington, Oregon, and California over the next three decades.
“The federal government’s proposal to kill nearly half a million barred owls while potentially spending $1.35 billion on an unworkable and inhumane program is one of the most troubling wildlife management proposals in American history,” Pacelle said. “Washington’s congressional delegation has an opportunity to reject this misguided strategy and instead pursue conservation solutions that are scientifically sound, fiscally responsible, and humane. We look forward to working with these members to stop this unprecedented mass killing of native wildlife.”
“A profound respect for the humane treatment of animals is a value shared by Americans across the political spectrum,” Pacelle added. “How we treat animals reflects our character as a society. Protecting animals also means protecting public health, combating organized crime, preserving wildlife, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. These candidates recognize that humane policies produce better outcomes for both animals and people.”
Animal Wellness Action urges Washington voters who care about animal welfare, wildlife conservation, horse protection, anti-cruelty enforcement, and responsible stewardship of public resources to support these endorsed candidates in the August 4 top-two primary election.
ENDORSED CANDIDATES
The letter of endorsement for each candidate is linked to his or her name.
- WA-01—Susan DelBene
- WA-02—Rick Larsen
- WA-06—Emily Randall
- WA-07—Pramila Jaypal
- WA-09—Adam Smith
- WA-10—Marilyn Strickland