2020 Election Preview

October 27, 2020
By Troutman Pepper

The Troutman Sanders Strategies (TSS) Washington, DC team is pleased to present the following overview of the 2020 elections for president, Senate, House of Representatives, and governors. Click HERE to access the full webpage overview.

The 2020 election may be one of the most memorable and consequential elections in American political history. Not only are voters experiencing a hyperpartisan political environment, but they also face the obstacle of voting during a global pandemic. Tens of millions of Americans will vote by mail — an unprecedented challenge for state election agencies and an under-resourced U.S. Postal Service. Millions more will brave the pandemic and physically vote at a polling station, potentially leading to a spike in COVID-19 cases just as the winter months begin.

Predictably, voters are divided along party lines over what issues they consider most important as they decide who to vote for in November. A recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found that the top three issues for Republican voters in the 2020 election are the economy, violent crime, and immigration. Conversely, the top three issues for Democrat voters are healthcare, the coronavirus pandemic, and race and ethnic inequality.

The coronavirus pandemic has undoubtedly shaped President Trump’s regulatory agenda over the last several months, as well as the actions by Congress. Likewise, the election results will influence what regulatory and legislative items can be accomplished in the final weeks of 2020 and early 2021. If a party change occurs in either the White House or the Senate, it will significantly affect what is accomplished in the lame duck session, as Democrats may hold out for more leverage in the 117th Congress.

Every election provides new opportunities for clients to engage with the federal government. We encourage you to reach out to the TSS team with any questions or client-related concerns