First-time candidate pledges leadership on major federal animal welfare legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action, a national policy and political organization dedicated to strengthening legal protections for animals, today announced its endorsement of Reed Showalter, a first-time candidate running in the Democratic primary for Illinois’ 7th Congressional District. Showalter is seeking to succeed longtime Representative Danny Davis, who will retire at the conclusion of the 119th Congress after nearly three decades of service.
“Animal Wellness Action is proud to endorse Reed Showalter and looks forward to working with him as he seeks the Democratic nomination and, ultimately, a seat in Congress,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action, and the leading political organization in the field of animal welfare.
Animal Wellness Action praised Showalter’s strong commitments to advancing humane, science-based, and people-centered animal welfare policies at the federal level. As part of the organization’s rigorous endorsement process, Showalter completed the AWA Federal Policy Questionnaire and pledged to support and cosponsor cornerstone animal protection legislation, including the FIGHT Act (to combat dogfighting and cockfighting), the Greyhound Protection Act, the LEAD Act (to halt the use of toxic lead ammunition in sport hunting), the Kangaroo Protection Act (to forbid imports of kangaroos skins, meat, and other body parts into the U.S. market for commercial purposes), and a comprehensive slate of additional pro-animal measures.
“Reed Showalter has pledged to become a leading voice for animal welfare in Congress,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action. “As a first-time candidate, he demonstrated seriousness, preparation, and a willingness to lead — not just vote — on critical animal protection issues. Corporate interests that have exhibited little regard for animal welfare have too much influence in the halls of Congress — at the expense of animal welfare and public well-being — and Reed is the kind of candidate who is ready, willing, and able to challenge that status quo.”
Animal Wellness Action highlighted Showalter’s focus on confronting excessive corporate consolidation in agriculture, protecting family farmers, and curbing inhumane industrial practices that harm animals, consumers, and rural communities alike. Showalter has emphasized that consolidation throughout the food system drives up prices, limits competition, and undermines humane and sustainable farming.
In discussions with Animal Wellness Action leadership, Showalter also stressed the importance of advancing modern, non-animal testing methods in pharmaceutical and chemical research — approaches that are more humane, more predictive of human outcomes, and more cost-effective for patients and taxpayers.
“When we improve outcomes for animals, we very often improve outcomes for people,” Pacelle added. “Reed understands that humane policy, public health, consumer protection, and economic fairness are deeply interconnected.”
Animal Wellness Action further underscored that respect for animals is a key measure of a society’s values, and that animal cruelty is frequently linked to broader patterns of violence and antisocial behavior that undermine public safety and community well-being. To read the endorsement, visit here.