The animal movement, for too long, has relied on individual tactics. Many activists spend their time encouraging individuals to adopt a vegan diet. A much smaller number carry out acts of terror against animal exploiters. Far from being diametrically opposed, these groups often share an understandable—but self-defeating—pessimism about collective, political engagement. The truth is we can’t afford to leave the electoral arena to animal abusers. Below are the five most animal-friendly Democrats in the House of Representatives, who we should support and push to do better.

Using the Humane Society Legislative Fund’s 2016 scorecard, there was initially a 37-way tie for most pro-animal House Democrat, which is actually synonymous with most pro-animal representative. All of these politicians received 100-percent ratings from HSLF, while earning extra credit for leadership on animal protection issues. To break this tie, I examined scores going back to 2012…