Last night was another exciting moment in the election season, and not just for the historic presidential race. There were several other federal and state races of interest to the Humane Society Legislative Fund and animal advocates around the country, and I’d like to provide a wrap-up of the returns.

• U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg handily won his Democratic primary battle in New Jersey, by a vote of 59% to 35% over his main challenger, U.S. Congressman Rob Andrews. HSLF had endorsed Lautenberg, who has a career-long record of leadership on animal protection issues. Andrews has also been a supporter of animal protection, but Lautenberg has championed measures in the Senate to provide disaster planning for pets, make air travel safer for companion animals, crack down on captive shooting of exotic animals, and stop the mass killing of dolphins in so-called “drive fisheries.”

• In New Jersey’s open congressional seats, state Senator John Adler and state Assemblywoman Linda Stender, both of whom were endorsed by HSLF, won the Democratic nominations in the races to succeed retiring U.S. Representatives Jim Saxton in the 3rd District and Mike Ferguson in the 7th District, respectively. HSLF had also endorsed Kate Whitman for the Republican nod in the 7th District, but she was edged out by state Senator Leonard Lance.

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  In New Mexico, U.S. Congressman Tom Udall (pictured), backed by HSLF, was unopposed for the Democratic nomination for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat, but there was a fierce battle for the Republican nomination between the state’s other two House members. U.S. Congressman Steve Pearce narrowly beat U.S. Congresswoman Heather Wilson, by a vote of about 51% to 49%. Both Pearce and Wilson are enemies of animal welfare, and have supported inhumane practices such as the trophy hunting of threatened polar bears and the slaughter of horses for food exports. Udall is a leader on protecting animals and the environment.

• Because all three of New Mexico’s House members were running for the Senate, it left three open seats in the congressional races. HSLF had endorsed Albuquerque City Councilor Martin Heinrich and Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White for the Democratic and Republican nominations, respectively, in the 1st District, and both won easily. Heinrich and White have been leaders and innovators in protecting animals from cruelty and abuse in the Albuquerque-area district.

• In California’s open congressional seat to succeed retiring U.S. Congressman John Doolittle in the 4th District, Lt. Colonel Charlie Brown, endorsed by HSLF, won the Democratic nomination. In the Republican contest, HSLF had backed former U.S. Congressman Doug Ose over state Senator Tom McClintock, but McClintock was declared the victor. McClintock has been one of the most hostile state legislators to animal protection issues in the entire nation, consistently voting against common-sense reforms such as protecting pets from antifreeze poisoning, upgrading penalties for animal fighting, cracking down on puppy mills, and banning Internet hunting. HSLF will be active in this race in the next five months.

• Democratic U.S. Congressman Leonard Boswell won a competitive primary challenge in Iowa’s 3rd District against activist Ed Fallon. Boswell is chairman of the House Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry, and he was instrumental in securing several animal protection provisions in the final Farm Bill, upgrading the federal law to combat dogfighting and cockfighting, barring imports of puppies from foreign puppy mills, and strengthening the penalties for violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

• In state legislative races of note, California Assemblyman Lloyd Levine lost his bid for a state Senate seat to Assemblywoman Fran Pavley in the heavily Democratic leaning district. Both Levine and Pavley faced term limits and have been supporters of animal welfare in the Assembly, but Levine has been a leading advocate on legislation to promote spaying and neutering of pets, stop the abuse of captive elephants, and other animal issues. We thank Assemblyman Levine for his leadership on animal protection, and wish him the best in his next endeavors.

• In New Mexico’s state legislature, two of the state’s most vocal advocates of cockfighting and longtime legislative fixtures, Senator Shannon Robinson and Senator James Taylor, were soundly defeated last night by two pro-animal candidates. In addition, several pro-cockfighting challengers to animal-friendly candidates did not even make a respectable showing in their voting numbers. It’s been a real turnaround since New Mexico became the 49th state to ban cockfighting last year, and candidates who still support cockfighting have been shown that the backwards view is not a viable political position.