Axios C-Suite: CEOs need a post-election plan
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Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios
Here's the new six Ps of post-election strategizing: Prior Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Political Positioning.
Why it matters: Divided government seems certain. This probably means more, not less, risk: shutdowns, unfilled Cabinet and regulatory posts, endless anti-business bills — and investigations, investigations, investigations.
The big picture: Two forces will likely collide come January.
- The first is a Democratic oversight machine built to go through companies to reach the White House. Subpoenas will be aimed at many of YOU.
- The second is a leaderless Democratic Party using legislation and hearings to stress test a 2028 platform. Make no mistake: Dems are winning despite themselves. There's little evidence voters know or like what Dems stand for. This will be a wild free-for-all, especially around AI.
Most urgent for CEOs: subpoenas. Any company that's cozy with President Trump, contributing to Trump projects like his library or ballrooms, or on the wrong side of progressive Ds should lawyer and lobby up ASAP.
- Your future foretold: Democrats want to go after Trump, his family and closest aides to prove self-dealing and self-enrichment on the public dime. Trump will order all government officials to refuse to cooperate; his Justice Department will protect them, and targets will be promised pardons.
- Democrats know this and will instantly turn to companies who did business with Trump and aren't covered by executive privilege.
Unpredictability surges. We'll have a Congress loaded with new (or relatively new) members, most of whom have only lived in a red-hot, anti-Big Anything political environment. This means anyone relying on old-school lobbying shops with flimsy connections to newbies will get blindsided.
- Bruce Mehlman, a GOP lobbyist who writes a must-read weekly newsletter on power, sent me this: "The freshmen classes in 2027 House & Senate will be VERY large! 73 minimum in the House, 96 in a Blue Tsunami. 12 minimum in the Senate, 16-18 in a Blue Tsunami. That's a lot of brand new politicians arriving in a VERY populist environment. Advice: Meet the newbies, stat. They won't help you if they don't know you, and all trust is local these days!"
One way to think about D.C.: You need at least four kinds of lobbying and consulting firms.
- MAGA-wired: This is why Ballard Partners is the biggest firm by dollars.
- MAGA-aware, establishment-wired: This is why BGR Group is #2.
- Dem establishment-wired: Steve Elmendorf's Evoq.
- DSA-wired: One will surely emerge post-election, so monitor closely.
Go deeper: Punchbowl has a great list of the top players and a free daily newsletter that's worthy of your time.
📈 If you're a CEO or on a CEO's team: Ask to join Jim's weekly Axios C-Suite newsletter.
