2024 Election Guide

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Welcome to our comprehensive guide on the 2024 election results, explicitly tailored for ABC members. This guide provides insights into the key races that will impact our industry. As we navigate the post-election environment, this resource aims to equip you with the information needed to stay informed.

Federal Election Results

ABC's National PAC and the Free Enterprise Alliance were all in on this election to support pro-merit shop candidates who will advocate for our members in Congress and the White House. Over the past two years, ABC’s Free Enterprise Alliance has spent more than $5 million on issue advocacy efforts and, separately, get-out-the-vote campaigns in key states.

FEA educates elected officials and the public about the importance of fair and open competition through digital ads, videos, text messages and more. In addition, ABC PAC invested nearly $2 million in direct support of federal candidates and campaign committees that champion free enterprise and fair and open competition. ABC increased its spending this cycle, continuing to be one of the nation’s most politically engaged trade associations.

FEA has widened its issue advocacy campaign outreach, with ads playing in over 34 key states and congressional districts throughout the country. Some top areas of focus include Arizona, Florida, Maryland, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania. Additionally, FEA spent seven figures to educate voters on current labor laws imposed by the Biden-Harris administration.

Click here to read more about ABC's efforts at the federal level.

President

ABC endorsed Donald J. Trump won re-election after claiming victory in most battleground states. He became the first president since Grover Clevland in the 1800s to regain the presidency after losing re-election.

In New York, Trump received 3,429,918 votes compared to Harris 4,330,770.

Trump made significant inroads this year in places like New York City, where he received 786,000 votes compared to the 692,000 he received in 2020. Harris only won New York City by a 37-point margin compared to Biden's 54-point victory in NYC over Trump in 2020.

Here is a statement from ABC National on the Trump victory:

“ABC looks forward to working with the Trump administration and Congress to advance policies that solve the issues that the construction industry faces, including the skilled labor shortage of more than half a million, widespread regulatory burdens and inflation and tax challenges,” said ABC President and CEO Michael Bellaman. “We also welcome the opportunity to work with a president who is willing to welcome all of the U.S. construction industry to rebuild America.”

US Senate

The Republican Party currently holds a 53-47 majority in the Senate, solidifying their control over the chamber. This majority positions them to shape legislative priorities, confirm federal appointments, and potentially influence the trajectory of key policy decisions over the next term. With the balance of power tipping in their favor, Republicans are expected to drive their agenda while Democrats face challenges in advancing their legislative initiatives.

US House of Representatives

Republicans currently hold a narrow 218-212 lead in the U.S. House of Representatives, with five races still too close to call. This slim advantage already gives the GOP control of the House, allowing them to set the legislative agenda, steer committee leadership, and act as a significant check on opposing policies. If current trends hold and the Republicans secure additional seats, they will not only solidify their majority in the House but also maintain their dominance across both chambers of Congress, positioning themselves to drive their legislative priorities more effectively.

Statement from ABC National the federal elections:

“This is an exciting day for our industry,” said ABC President and CEO Michael Bellaman. “ABC is optimistic about the future of America’s construction industry and the opportunities to advance policies that protect free enterprise, reduce regulatory burdens and expand workforce development. With leaders and lawmakers committed to promoting economic growth and supporting the principles of fair and open competition, we are confident that the construction industry will thrive and all workers will be given the opportunity to build America with fewer obstacles."

To read their complete statement, click here

New York Election Results

Big Takeaways From New York Senate & Assembly Races

ABC had two goals going into this election:

Gain access and influence with members of the majority party who hold power in the state and influence our industry
Eliminate the Democratic super-majority in the state
- As the previous bullet states, ABC took a bipartisan approach to this election. A supermajority by either party gives them impunity to pass laws and regulations without much challenge. Before this election, Senate Dems held a two-thirds majority in the Senate, giving them a mighty position. The goal of removing the supermajority was to restore checks and balances to the New York State government. Doing so allows ABC to push for the governor to veto harmful policies passed by the legislature, such as the PLA mandate on SUNY projects or the expansion of the prevailing wage for Brownfield cleanup projects.

The 63 state Senate seats are now split between 39 Democrats and 22 Republicans, with one race too close to call. The breakdown of the 150 Assembly seats is 101 Democrat and 49 GOP.

We issued the following statement from Chapter President Brian Sampson on the 2024 elections:

"While we congratulate all those who won their races, we emphasize the significant opportunity Albany’s leaders now have to confront New York’s critical issues, from the affordability crisis to the pressing need for housing,” said Brian Sampson, President of ABC Empire State Chapter. "We look forward to working with legislators across the state to tackle these issues and create a construction industry that benefits all workers, regardless of affiliations.”

Election Results for ABC Empire State Chapter's Targeted Races

First, we will recap the races in which ABC was engaged. The endorsed candidates were thoroughly vetted using a comprehensive review process that included responses to the ABC Empire State Chapter's candidate questionnaire, legislative scorecards, and an analysis of previous voting records. To view our legislative priorities, click the button below:

2024 Legislative Memos

State Senate

ABC endorsed fourteen New York State Senate candidates and contributed to the campaigns of eighteen. Fifteen of these candidates achieved victory, while one was defeated, and the race for the NYS Senate 50th District in Syracuse remains too close to call.

If the final results align with current trends, Senate Republicans will break the Democratic veto-proof majority—an objective of the ABC Empire State Chapter PAC. This shift could reshape legislative dynamics, influencing policies critical to our industry, as Senate Democrats may now face potential gubernatorial vetoes on their legislation. ABC also succeeded in supporting influential candidates within the Democratic majority who will play a crucial role in shaping legislation affecting ABC members.

Key:

ABC endorsed candidates are in bold
Italicized candidates were supported by the ABC Empire State Chapter Political Action Committee (PAC)
Bold & italicized received both
(i) indicates Incumbent

8^th District (i) R-Alexis Weik VS. D-Francis Dolan
- Result: Weik by 33 pts
9^th District (i) R-Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick VS. D-James Lynch
- Result: Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick by 8 pts
17^th District (i) D- Iwen Chu VS R-Steve Chan
- Result: Chan by 10 pts
23rd Senate District: (i) D-Jessica Scarcella-Spanton VS R-Marko Kepi
- Result: Scarcella-Spanton 9 pts
24^th District (i) R-Andrew Lanza Ran Unopposed
35th Senate District (i) D-Andrea Stewart-Cousins VS R-Khristen Kerr
- Result: Stewart-Cousins by 30 pts
42^nd District (i) D-James Skoufis VS R-Dorey Houle
- Result: Skoufis by 12 pts

43^rd District (i) R-Jake Ashby VS D-Alvin Gamble
- Result: Ashby by 9 pts
45^th District (i) R-Dan Stec Ran Unopposed
49^th District (i) R-Mark Walczyk Ran Unopposed
50^th Senate District D-Chris Ryan VS R-Nick Paro (open seat)
- Result: Ryan less than a point. Very tight race
53^rd District (i) R-Joe Griffo VS D-James Meyers
- Result: Griffo 40 pts
54^th District (i) R-Pam Helming VS D-Scott Comegys
- Result: Helming by 28 pts
56^thDistrict (i) D-Jeremy Cooney VS R-Jim VanBrederode
- Result: Cooney by 17 pts
57^th District (i) R-George Borello Ran Unopposed
58^th District (i) R-Tom O’Mara Ran Unopposed
62^nd District (i) R-Rob Ortt Ran Unopposed
63rd D-April Baskin VS R-John P. Moretti Jr *open seat
- Result: Baskin by 29 pts

State Assembly

Like in the Senate, our goal was to reduce the supermajority in both houses while also cultivating relationships with key individuals in the majority who understand ABC’s priorities. While the supermajority remains, ABC achieved significant success—14 out of 14 Assembly candidates supported by ABC won their races this cycle. This outcome reflects the dedication and strategic effort of the ABC team in utilizing members’ PAC contributions effectively to drive meaningful change.