Election parties were humming with nervous energy Tuesday night as lobbyists making the rounds of the festivities waited to see whether they would be dealing with a Democratic- or Republican-dominated landscape for the next two years.
For some of the lobbyists — the ones who had worked on the election campaigns — the parties marked the midpoint, not the beginning, of a well-thought-out effort to connect early with incoming members of Congress.
“That is why, in all of these contested House and Senate races there are lobbyists all across D.C. who have relocated to these districts to go down there and knock on doors, be election monitors, do canvassing,” said Rich Masters, managing director with communications firm Qorvis.
As a way to establish an early relationship with incoming members and be heard above the noise, Masters said, “you need to be on the ground and … very, very active in these campaigns.”
Other firms prefer to connect with members and their staff through their district offices. Meeting in the home state enables advocates to sit down face-to-face where there is less time pressure, said Sean Casey, vice president for public affairs at Sawchuk, Brown Associates.
But sometimes it’s the simplest things that leave a lasting impression with new members.
When Gerry Sikorski first came to Congress to represent Minnesota in 1983, he needed a tuxedo in a hurry. Another member told him he could find one on sale at Woodward & Lothrop. Now with the firm of Holland and Knight, freshmen ask Sikorski for advice on getting settled — everything from staffing questions to how to get preferred committee assignments.
“If you can prove you are a good resource for people, then you are starting to build a relationship of trust. That leads to them listening to you when one of their constituents has an issue.”
Dee Ann Divis is the business editor of The Washington Examiner. Contact her at [email protected]
