The topline election results may have been disheartening, to say the least, but we still have major wins to celebrate. Thanks to the work of an incredible community of supporters and organizers, 28 Food & Water Action endorsed candidates won their races. 

Voters turned out for progressive champions up and down the ballot, across the country. In doing so, they showed their determination to fight the corporate greed threatening all we hold dear, including our food, water, and climate.

Food & Water Action’s biggest get-out-the-votes efforts ever helped drive these victories. Together, we knocked on more than 65,000 doors and made more than a half million calls to drive folks to the polls this election season. By November 5, we had had 20,000 conversations with voters. 

Thanks to these efforts, we narrowed the GOP majority in the House, giving MAGA Republicans less leverage to pass their extreme policies. We also saw the re-election of long-time allies in the House, including Rep. Ro Khanna, a lead sponsor of the Farm System Reform Act and the WATER Act, and Rep. Jan Schakowsky, author of the Future Generations Protection Act.

Now, we are well-positioned to keep fighting for bold policy at the state and local levels, while stopping the worst of the Trump administration. Additionally, we’re already preparing to take back Congress in the 2026 midterms. All of this is only possible because of the community we’ve built together. 

Food & Water Action Sees Victories From Coast to Coast

Fighting for Farmers and Clean Water from New York

In New York, we were proud to endorse several candidates, including Josh Riley in District 19 and Laura Gillen in District 4. We also helped defend Rep. Pat Ryan’s seat in District 18.

Statewide, Food & Water Action knocked on more than 25,000 doors. Notably, our team played a decisive role in turning out votes for Laura Gillen. Gillen unseated the Republican incumbent, who consistently voted in support of fossil fuels and, more recently, to slash clean water funding.

Now, in Congress, Gillen will be a champion for clean, public water. She has pledged to support the WATER Act and PFAS Action Act in Congress, two bills we need to address urgent problems in our country’s public water systems.

Meanwhile, Josh Riley ousted the Republican incumbent in his district by about 3,000 votes. In his district alone, we called more than 90,000 voters. Riley took zero PAC dollars — but his opponent raked in corporate cash. In this race, we showed that people can outpower big corporate spending. Now, as a representative, Riley will fight for a fair, affordable food system that will put families and farmers first.

Taking Urgent Climate Action from California

In Orange County, our endorsee Dave Min kept battleground District 47 blue. Once a solidly Republican district, CA-47 has become increasingly competitive — it’s now one of the most competitive in the country. So this election season, we made it one of our key targets. Together, we called almost 25,000 voters to boost turnout for Min.

As a state senator, Dave Min made climate action one of his top priorities, including by fighting to end offshore drilling. He worked with other climate champions to pass groundbreaking bills that will shed light on corporations’ environmental impacts and hold them accountable.

This is exactly the kind of leadership we need in Congress right now — lawmakers who will treat the climate emergency with the gravity and urgency it demands. 

Not only is climate important, it’s popular. About 60% of Californians voted for Prop 4 this year, establishing a $10 billion fund for climate and water programs. Heading into 2025, we’re looking forward to building our movement and winning more victories to protect our planet.

Defending Families Against Corporate Greed from Pennsylvania

In battleground Pennsylvania, we knocked on an incredible 31,000 doors. In the last days of the election, Food & Water Action staff from around the country came together for a final push in key districts. 

Now, we’re celebrating the re-election of endorsees Rep. Summer Lee and Rep. Chris Deluzio.

As a representative, Chris Deluzio has fought tirelessly for those harmed by the East Palestine train derailment, which led to a toxic chemical spill. He sponsored the Railway Safety Act to stop cost-cutting practices that endanger rail workers and families near rail lines.

Pennsylvania is the second-most fracked state in the country and has long been a stronghold of Big Oil and Gas. Now, the industry is expanding with petrochemical facilities, using some of the same toxic chemicals spilled in East Palestine. 

But our movement shows that Pennsylvanians have had enough. The fracking industry’s harms are devastating the region, and it’s time for a new wave of leaders who defend our health and economies from harmful industries. 

What’s Next: Continuing the Fight Against Corporate Power

Underneath the headline election results, we saw some stark messages for our work ahead. For one, Democratic turnout was higher in battleground states that saw major get-out-the-vote efforts. This reaffirms that our on-the-ground work pays off. To that end, Food & Water Action will expand our networks and people power even more leading up to the 2026 midterms. 

Additionally, we saw that many of the most successful Democrats were also the staunchest voices against corporations and billionaires. Families are facing higher costs and struggling to access basic needs like food, water, housing, and more. Exit polls showed that economic concerns were top-of-mind in the voting booth. 

Like these winning Democrats, we know the real solutions and the real enemies. And, we’re not afraid to call them out. Corporate greed and power are the root of many of our recent crises, from skyrocketing food prices to the climate emergency. Progressive policies that put people over profit are the only antidote.

Our next steps are clear. We need more leaders who will stand up to corporations and defend our food, water, and climate. 

In the coming years, Food & Water Action will be working tirelessly to win just that. We are expanding our work on the ground and bringing more elected officials to support our policies. We’ll be electing more progressive champions in 2026, and we have strong chances of flipping Congress. 

At the same time, we’re growing our community of allies and supporters and mobilizing them to act. This community will be essential to draw strength for the difficult fight ahead and build a broad-based coalition. Together, we know we can slow Trump’s dangerous policies now and build a strong movement and livable future for years to come.