DC, Denver voters to decide foie gras bans as animal rights group releases farm footage

Early voting starts in Washington, DC on Oct. 26, and voters in DC and Denver will decide Nov. 3 whether to ban sales of foie gras made by force-feeding. Animal Outlook released footage from a Minnesota farm days before the vote, intensifying the debate over the practice and the ballot measures.

Why it matters: - The two measures would bar the sale of foie gras made by force-feeding in two major U.S. cities. - A win in both places would add to a growing list of jurisdictions restricting foie gras sales and could pressure retailers and restaurants beyond DC and Denver. - The timing of the Animal Outlook release puts animal welfare footage in front of voters during the final days of the campaign.

What happened: - Early voting opens in Washington, DC on Monday, Oct. 26. - Mail ballots are already out in both DC and Denver. - DC voters will decide Initiative 86, the Prohibiting the Force-Feeding of Birds Act of 2026. - Denver voters will decide Initiated Ordinance 311. - Both measures would prohibit the sale of foie gras produced by force-feeding, with an effective date of July 1, 2027. - Animal Outlook released video last week from a small foie gras farm in southeastern Minnesota. - The organization says the footage shows the force-feeding practice the ballot measures target.

The details: - The footage shows ducks housed in a barn with wire flooring for the final two weeks of their lives. - Ducks are fed twice a day through a metal tube inserted into the esophagus, a process known as gavage. - During feeding, each duck is held by the wing or head while feed is delivered through the tube. - Ducks move to the far end of the pen as the farmer approaches. - Some ducks are panting, one is unable to stand, and one is dead. - Animal Outlook reports that when asked, the farmer said he did not know the cause of death. - The outdoor area visible in the footage is bare ground. - Foie gras is made by feeding ducks or geese more than they would eat voluntarily, which enlarges the liver through fat accumulation. - A 2026 review of the scientific literature reported that repeated restraint and tube insertion can injure the upper digestive tract. - The same review found force-feeding produces marked liver enlargement, altered liver function, reduced mobility and elevated mortality. - Force-feeding is prohibited in more than 20 countries. - The sale of force-fed foie gras is already prohibited in California, New York City, Pittsburgh and Portland, Oregon. - Portland adopted its ordinance in June 2026. - In Washington, DC, 198 volunteer circulators collected 46,020 signatures. - The DC Board of Elections certified the measure for the ballot on Aug. 5 after verifying 31,726 signatures, above the 28,728 required. - In Denver, 84 volunteers collected more than 16,000 signatures. - Denver Elections Division verified more than 11,000 signatures. - A 2026 Colorado State University survey found 85% of Colorado voters support ending the sale of foie gras from farms that force-feed. - Denver's official ballot information booklet lists no written comments submitted against the measure. - Initiative 86 is endorsed by more than 100 businesses, organizations and officials, including DC Shadow Representative Oye Owolewa. - Initiated Ordinance 311 is endorsed by more than 135 organizations, including the Democratic Party of Denver. - Both campaigns are projects of Pro-Animal Future, which led the Portland campaign. - Animal Outlook is a national nonprofit animal advocacy organization based in Washington, DC. - Pro-Animal Future supports the campaign committees Pro-Animal DC and Pro-Animal Colorado. - The groups say those committees sponsor the DC and Denver measures. - Pro-Animal Future posted a link to its Instagram account at More on social media.

Between the lines: - The campaigns are pairing ballot organizing with undercover video to frame the vote as a choice about animal welfare, not food policy. - The endorsement lists and signature totals suggest both measures cleared the ballot with organized local support. - The Denver survey result and lack of written opposition in the ballot booklet point to a favorable political environment, though election outcomes remain uncertain.

What's next: - DC early voting runs from Oct. 26 through Nov. 1. - DC offers same-day registration during early voting and on Election Day. - In Denver, 24-hour drop boxes are open through 7 p.m. on Election Day. - Denver voter service and polling centers open in phases through Nov. 3. - Election Day in both cities is Tuesday, Nov. 3. - If approved, both measures would take effect July 1, 2027.

The bottom line: - Voters in DC and Denver are deciding whether force-fed foie gras stays on local menus or joins a growing list of banned products.