Right-to-repair policies weren’t the headline issue in the midterms , but lawmakers across party lines ran on fixing the systems that lock buyers out.

Iowa senator-elect Josh Turek and presumptive Minnesota state representative Jake Johnson both centered repair policies in their platforms, focusing on issues that affect farmers and their equipment . (As of publication, Johnson’s race has not yet been called and may be headed to a recount .) In St. Paul , Minnesota, voters also passed a measure ensuring renters' right to repair with overwhelming support.

The right-to-repair movement, propelled by advocates in the US and internationally, pushes lawmakers for rules that prevent manufacturers from locking owners out of their own devices.…