The Interim Is Critical
The field is now set for the 2026 General Election, and it is shaping up to be a heavyweight contest. Election Day falls on Tuesday, Nov. 3, and the marquee race is for U.S. Senate, where Texans will choose between current Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton and current Democratic State Representative James Talarico — both emerging from bruising, expensive primaries. More than $130 million has already been spent, and between continued fundraising and the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision expanding corporate contributions, the general election is likely to greatly exceed that figure. Expect the airwaves to be saturated by fall. This election is expected to be close and will likely impact down-ballot races.
Most statewide Republican officeholders are also contested on the ballot, including our governor and lieutenant governor. The Texas Senate will seat at least five new members, and the Texas House will welcome at least 24. Nationally, Republicans face historic headwinds: From 1946 to 2024, there have been 20 off-year elections, and the White House party lost House seats in 18 (90%) of them. In every instance where the sitting president’s approval rating was underwater in the months before an off-year election, his party lost House seats. Whether that pattern holds — or whether President Trump breaks it — remains to be seen. On the state level, it’s worth remembering that Democrats have not won a statewide office in Texas since 1994, but this may be the year.
What all of this means, practically, is that personal relationships will matter more than ever in the next session. The high rate of turnover in the legislature requires each of us at TADA and each of you personally to invest time in building relationships with your elected officials and the candidates who may replace them in November.
Many of you already maintain strong relationships with your elected officials. For those who don’t, it’s time to get started.
The Work Happens Before the Bill Is Filed
Every legislator’s conversation with a dealer sharpens our perspective. Every dealership visit is a chance to learn something new. Every discussion with a legislator helps us understand not just which issues matter most to our members, but how to frame those issues in terms that resonate with policymakers.
The most consequential work in the legislative process happens long before a bill is ever filed. By the time the legislature convenes, relationships are already built, questions have already been asked, and policymakers have already begun forming views based on who they trust and what they have learned. That is precisely why the interim carries so much weight for our association and our members.
No single dealership represents every experience. Every market is different, every manufacturer relationship is distinct and every community has its own priorities. That diversity is exactly why it matters when legislators spend real time with their dealers across the state; it ensures that when TADA speaks for the industry, we are speaking from the collective experience of our membership.
Building Toward 2027: A Partnership
As we prepare for the 2027 Legislative Session, TADA is already busy laying the groundwork by meeting with legislators, educating policymakers, and identifying where and how best to advance our association priorities. But our most effective advocacy has never come from the association working alone. The conversations that carry the most weight are those in which legislators hear directly from the dealers they represent. The greatest impact is achieved when your personal engagement amplifies the work TADA is doing.
Over the coming months, many of you will have opportunities to take part in legislator dealership visits and other grassroots advocacy efforts. Kate McGrath, our senior vice president of legislative affairs, will reach out to coordinate these opportunities and ensure you have the background information and support needed to make every conversation count. You may also be asked to sign advocacy letters or to share your perspective directly on issues affecting our industry.
What legislators value most is your relationships, your experience and your perspective. We appreciate your time and investment in advancing the TADA advocacy agenda.
Our legislative success has always been a partnership. TADA brings policy expertise and legislative strategy; dealers bring the relationships, credibility and real-world experience that legislators trust. Together, those strengths are what make us effective advocates for Texas franchised dealers and the communities you serve.
