What the Blue Wave Means for Farmers

The 2026 midterm election results are being called a blue wave, or even a blue tsunami. Democrats won control of both the House and the Senate, flipping key seats that could have significant implications for farmers, especially as lawmakers debate significant farm policies.

Let’s recap where we’re at with the Farm Bill:

• In the spring, the House passed its version. In addition to including the Save Our Bacon Act, it also included protections for the pesticide giant Monsanto. 
• The Senate Agriculture Committee advanced a different version, which did NOT include the Save Our Bacon Act or protections for Monsanto.
• The full Senate has not agreed, leaving the Farm Bill in limbo.

Because the new Congress does not take office until January, there is still a short window to pass a Senate version of the Farm Bill. However, because Republicans will need Democratic support to reach 60 votes, the likelihood a Senate version will advance is low. This leaves many to wonder: what happens now?

How Might The Blue Wave Change Priorities?

With a Democratic majority in the House and Senate, farmers could see a significant shift in political priorities. Though both Republicans and Democrats have historically been lax in cracking down on corporate power, some progressive politicians are already discussing ways to even the power imbalance between Big Ag corporations and farmers. 

Conservation funding is another area to watch. In 2025, the Trump administration made significant funding cuts to programs that supported localized food systems, sustainability, and research. A blue-wave shift in policy could lead to more investment in climate-related initiatives. This would create key opportunities for farmers adopting sustainable and regenerative practices, including those pursuing farm transitions. 

A significant Farm Bill battle between parties is over California’s Prop-12, a state law that banned the sale of meat from animals kept in extreme confinement, like gestation and farrowing crates. The Save Our Bacon Act is a bill that was included in the Farm Bill. In addition to overturning Prop-12, it would allow states to enact food safety or animal welfare laws that affect national farm standards. 

But one of the most contentious battles in the Farm Bill centers on nutrition assistance (SNAP) and funding to sustain rural markets. A Democratic majority could make the restoration and protection of these funds a central priority of a new Farm Bill, which could ultimately bolster business for small and independent farmers. 

Post-Blue Wave: What Comes Next?

The bottom line is that the results of the midterm election will not automatically guarantee a better deal for farmers. The real test will be whether lawmakers can address the structural challenges farmers face and if policy can better support a diverse, resilient food system. 

A new Farm Bill is unlikely to happen this year. That means the fight for farmers is far from over. Farmers and advocates have an important role to play in shaping what 2027 could hold. The future of farming should include farmer autonomy, more competition, support for independent farmers and localized food systems, and opportunities to shift away from harmful agricultural practices. 

At Transfarmation, our biggest hope is that the new majority will reject a continuation of Big Ag’s status quo. We’re eager for a Farm Bill that puts power back in the hands of farmers, challenges corporate power and lobbying dollars, and shifts critical funding to the people and programs working to build a more just and sustainable food future.