By Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs
What can grocers expect to see in Washington and how will the election results affect how independents do business?
In a recent webinar, Chris Jones, NGA senior vice president of government relations and counsel, and Executive Assistant Max Wengroff reviewed the primary season and explained the potential impact on independent grocers as the November general election looms.
Here are some key takeaways from the discussion:
Issues to watch. Key issues influencing voters this year include rising inflation and consumer prices, violent crime rates and immigration and abortion rights. The minority GOP has been questioning incumbent Democrats’ effectiveness in dealing with these challenges.
Historic 3-issue front for independent grocers. For the first time in many years, political conditions are favorable for passing antitrust reform, reducing credit card swipe fees and protecting nutrition programs.
You can make a difference. Taking your story directly to members of Congress is having an impact. Hosting member store visits has driven support for antitrust and swipe fee reform. Meetings on the Hill put a human face on the business and stress its importance to home legislative districts.
Balance of power in Congress is at stake. Whether Republicans seize control of Congress as had been widely anticipated, or Democrats hold on to their majority, hinges on a few key races. Democrats hold the House by a slim majority, with a 50-50 split in the Senate requiring the vice president to break ties.
Eight states could decide control of the Senate. Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin offer contentious races, with the influence of Donald Trump a key factor.
Midterm elections tend to hurt the president’s party. The president’s party lost ground in the House in 18 of the past 20 midterm elections and in the Senate in 15 of those elections. Will this hold true in November? It may come down to voters’ faith in the Biden administration’s ability to right the ship vs. the quality of candidates running in key elections, many of them hand-picked by former President Donald Trump.
Click here to watch a recording of this webinar.
