Where election winners see room for cooperation
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Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Stock: Getty Images
Newly elected senators and governors are bringing a pointed message into office: Americans are struggling to make ends meet while powerful interests wield too much influence.
- But their recent remarks also reveal potential openings for cooperation.
Why it matters: For comms chiefs, these messages offer an early look at where their businesses might face political scrutiny, along with opportunities to find common ground and build goodwill with incoming leaders.
In conversations with former political comms leaders, one theme was clear: Establish these relationships early, before they're needed, and build them on substantive local impact.
- This isn't a comprehensive list, but it offers a starting point for corporate affairs leaders to identify shared priorities with incoming officials, even when those issues extend beyond their companies' immediate business interests.
- The opportunity is to contribute to broader goals — from children's health to housing — and build relationships around tangible mutual objectives.
We reviewed recent campaign remarks and election night speeches from 12 winning Senate and gubernatorial candidates across the country, prioritizing newcomers and historic firsts.
- Ten are Democrats, so the sample isn't representative of all winners.
The big picture: Affordability was a recurring theme, with several Democrats tying economic frustrations to corporate influence.
- Minnesota Sen.-elect Peggy Flanagan called for a movement defined "not by corporate greed or political hatred," while New Hampshire's Chris Pappas called his victory a "wake-up call for corporate special interests and billionaires."
Yes, but: Other remarks revealed possible areas of cooperation, including across party lines.
- Children and families: Georgia Gov.-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms said she and defeated Republican opponent Rick Jackson agreed to continue supporting foster children, an issue both have personal connections to.
- Health care: South Carolina Sen.-elect Annie Andrews said she planned to invite Republican Sen. Tim Scott to lunch to discuss preventing Medicaid cuts, citing his previous work on sickle cell care.
- Housing and immigration: Texas Sen.-elect James Talarico said Wednesday he'd work with President Trump on building more housing and immigration reform, even acknowledging that some housing regulations came from his own party.
- Energy and infrastructure: Florida Republican Gov.-elect Byron Donalds emphasized protecting households from data center utility costs, while New Mexico Democrat Deb Haaland pledged a moratorium on large projects pending legislative action.
The bottom line: Corporate leaders have an opportunity to build valuable goodwill with incoming leaders and help them deliver on priorities their constituents care about.
