Like many of you, I was up late Tuesday night watching the midterm results come in. Some races were still being counted when I finally dozed off early Wednesday morning, but the overall outcome was clear. Historically clear.
Democrats had secured control of both the House and Senate by large margins. They’d gained governorships in states that many political observers considered reliably Republican. Legislative chambers flipped. Several long-standing state trifectas were broken. In places like Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, and elsewhere, the political map looks significantly different than it did just a few days ago.
Associations like TCIA look to election results to understand who will now be making decisions and how best to communicate our industry’s priorities in ways that align with the values, goals, and concerns of those decision-makers.
Elections certainly reshape the political landscape, putting new people into positions of influence. But the morning after the votes are counted, my job remains the same: understand what matters to the people making decisions and ensure the tree care industry’s perspective is part of the conversation.
What is becoming increasingly clear for us is that the story of 2027 may not be written primarily in Congress. It will be written just as much in state capitals.
One of the most significant aspects of Tuesday’s results is how far down the ballot the political shift went. Party control shifted in state governments across the country. Several states moved into or out of trifecta control, fundamentally changing their ability to advance legislation and pursue policy agendas. For industries like ours, that will matter.
While Washington often commands the headlines, statehouses frequently determine the rules our members live with every day. Workforce regulations, licensing requirements, heat standards, utility vegetation management policies, and insurance reforms are often shaped first in state capitols before they ever become part of the national conversation.
That’s why the ripple effects of this election reach far beyond Washington. In 2027, our job will be to monitor developments at every level of government while listening closely to members who are experiencing these changes on the ground. The best advocacy strategy starts not with assumptions, but with attention.
For TCIA, that means continuing to build bipartisan relationships, educate policymakers about the tree care industry, and ensure that arborists, tree care business owners, and industry professionals have a voice in the decisions that affect their work. It means showing up consistently, building trust over time, and helping decision-makers understand the real-world impact of their choices on our members and the communities they serve.
Listening to our members’ concerns is a critical part of the advocacy mission. To that end, I’ll be in the TCIA booth and out on the trade show floor throughout TCIA EXPO in Fort Lauderdale next week. If you see me, please stop and say hello. Whether you have a question about an issue we’re tracking, an idea we should explore, or simply want to talk about what’s happening in your corner of the industry, I’d love to connect.
Some of our most valuable advocacy work doesn’t happen in a legislative hearing room or congressional office. It starts with a conversation between members sharing what they’re seeing, what’s working, and what’s keeping them up at night. Those conversations help shape our priorities and ensure we’re bringing real-world industry perspectives to policymakers at every level of government.
I hope to have a few of those conversations with you next week!
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
