The NY primary election results are in, and they tell a clear story: animal protection is a winning issue at the ballot box. Voters For Animal Rights (VFAR) is proud to announce that the majority of the animal rights candidates we endorsed in the June 23, 2026 New York primary won their race — a historic night for animals and the voters who advocate for them.

This wasn’t luck. It’s proof of what happens when an electorate organizes around animal protection and shows up. Below, we’re breaking down the full NY primary election results for our endorsed candidates, why this election mattered, and why your vote — yes, your individual vote — is one of the most powerful tools we have to stop animal cruelty at its source.

Why Voting for Animal Protection Candidates Matters

Animals can’t vote. They can’t call their representatives, testify at a city council hearing, or knock on doors for get-out-the-vote efforts. That work falls to us — and it starts with electing lawmakers who will actually use their power to pass and enforce stronger animal protection laws. Want to see exactly who’s on your ballot and where they stand for animals? Check out our VFAR Voter Guide to find every animal protection endorsement in your district.

At VFAR, our theory of change is simple: building electoral power is the most effective way to stop animal cruelty at its source. Every bill we’ve helped pass — from the NYC foie gras ban to the guinea pig retail sale ban to New York’s octopus farming ban — exists because animal protection champions held seats in the State Legislature, the City Council, and Congress. Legislation doesn’t happen without legislators. And legislators don’t get elected without votes.

That’s why our endorsement process matters, and why turning out for primary elections — not just general elections — is so critical. Primaries decide who’s even on the ballot in November, and in many New York districts, the primary winner is all but guaranteed to win the seat. If animal advocates sit out the primary, we lose our seat at the table before the general election even begins.

NY Primary Election Results: Every VFAR-Endorsed Winner

VFAR endorsed candidates across New York City and State races this cycle, spanning Congress, the State Senate, and the State Assembly. Here are the official NY primary election results for the animal rights candidates we endorsed:

U.S. Congress

• Claire Valdez – NY’s 7th Congressional District
• Brad Lander – NY’s 10th Congressional District
• Micah Lasher – NY’s 12th Congressional District
• Darializa Avila Chevalier – NY’s 13th Congressional District

New York State Senate

• Grace Lee – State Senate District 27
• Jabari Brisport – State Senate District 25, a longtime ally first elected with VFAR’s endorsement back in 2020

New York State Assembly

• Brian Romero – Assembly District 34
• Diana Moreno – Assembly District 36
• David Orkin – Assembly District 38
• Jo Anne Simon – Assembly District 52
• Christian Celeste Tate – Assembly District 54
• Eon Huntley – Assembly District 56
• Illapa Sairitupac – Assembly District 65
• Diana Ayala – Assembly District 68, a fierce animal advocate who championed VFAR’s bill banning the sale of guinea pigs in New York City
• Eli Northrup – Assembly District 69
• Tony Simone – Assembly District 75, prime sponsor of New York’s landmark octopus farming ban, which passed the Assembly this month
• Jeffrey Dinowitz – Assembly District 81
• Adam Bojak – Assembly District 149

Other Races

• Janice Purvis – Kings County Civil Court Judge
• Carl Wilson – City Council District 3

This is one of the strongest slates of animal protection champions VFAR has ever helped elect — and it’s a direct result of voters showing up. You can verify any of these races yourself through the New York State Board of Elections official results portal.

Every Vote Really Does Matter

It’s easy to assume one vote doesn’t move the needle, especially in a crowded field or a “safe” district. But this primary cycle is full of reminders that margins can be razor-thin, and turnout decides outcomes:

• Several of our endorsed candidates won contested primaries by single-digit margins.
• Multiple races came down to a few hundred or a few thousand votes out of tens of thousands cast.
• Down-ballot races — the ones that don’t make national headlines but directly shape animal protection policy in Albany and City Hall — are often decided by the voters who show up when turnout is lowest.

When animal advocates treat every election, not just presidential years, as a chance to build power for animals, candidates who champion animal protection win. When we sit it out, that power evaporates.

Not sure if your vote will count or where to even start? Visit vfar.org/voterguide for district-by-district information on registration deadlines, polling locations, and animal protection endorsements — because every vote really does matter.

The Work Isn’t Over — Now We Win in November

Winning a primary is the first step, not the finish line. Every one of these candidates now needs to win their general election in November to take office and start fighting for animals. VFAR will be working between now and November to support our endorsed candidates with the resources, volunteers, and voter education they need to finish the job.

Here’s how you can help:

• Follow and support Voters For Animal Rights and our endorsed candidates on social media
• Volunteer for get-out-the-vote efforts as November approaches
• Make sure you’re registered to vote in your district — check your status and find district-specific resources at vfar.org/voterguide, or confirm your registration directly with the New York State Board of Elections
• Donate to VFAR to help fund our electoral and legislative advocacy work
• Spread the word: share this post and help build the political power animals need

Animal protection isn’t a side issue — it’s an electoral force in New York, and the 2026 NY primary election results prove it. Let’s keep this momentum going all the way to November.