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Managing risk & reputation in an election year
“Today, elections have consequences for business that go far beyond regulations or public policy. Amidst a fractured and hyper-partisan social and political landscape, companies run a gauntlet of reputational and business risks in an election season. Knowing how to navigate these risks and when to engage is a high-stakes gambit.”
– PAM JENKINS, Chair of Powell Tate, Chief Public Affairs Officer of Weber Shandwick
More than half the world’s population –4.2 billion people – will vote in 2024 elections. Elections in global power centers – in the U.S., U.K., the European Union parliament, Taiwan, India, Mexico, Indonesia and South Africa – will have significant impact on the geopolitical, economic and social landscape.
Organizations and brands must navigate a convergence of highly polarizing issues including the economy, abortion, immigration, racial inequities, LGBTQ+ rights, and climate, alongside the impacts and consequences created by artificial intelligence, misinformation, and disinformation.
Organizations must find the right balance when taking a public stance on political and cultural issues as well as understand and address how these issues affect their employees and workplaces.
Over the course of the 2024 election cycle, The Weber Shandwick Collective’s Global Elections Task Force – including experts across Powell Tate, Weber Shandwick, KRC Research, and United Minds – will provide data-driven election insights, analysis, and real-time counsel. We’ll track political activity around the world, with particular focus on the three most consequential elections for our multinational clients: U.S., U.K., and the E.U.
Policy priorities in the second Trump administration
As we gain a clearer understanding of President-elect Donald Trump’s approach to a second term in the White House from the ongoing transition process, cabinet nominations and staff appointments, our Elections Task Force is here to help organizations understand and prepare for the shifting political environment heading into 2025. We’ve assembled policy briefs examining the anticipated priorities for domestic and foreign policy, and across key sectors including energy, financial services, healthcare and technology.
(First released November 2024)
Election Matters 2024: Winning at all costs
As the clock ticks down to the U.S. election, here is a snippet of a lunchtime conversation with Senior Advisors Michael Dubke, former Trump White House Communications Director, and Ashley Etienne, former Communications Director to VP Harris, to break down each party’s ‘winning’ strategy in the final days of the campaign trail.
(First released October 2024)
Election Matters 2024: The art & science of polling
Ashley Etienne, The Weber Shandwick Collective senior advisor, moderated a conversation between Simon Rosenberg, strategist and author of Hopium Chronicles, and Brenda Gianiny, pollster and founding principal of Axis Research, on “The art & science of polling” in the 2024 Election. Watch the full interview here.
(First released October 2024)
Pulse on America – Political violence and election interference
Our latest Pulse on America survey polled American consumers and employees on the role of business in national elections. A majority of U.S. adults – across party lines – want American business leaders to be engaged when it comes to protecting a free and fair election. Similarly, consumers expect businesses to publicly speak out and/or act to help stop election interference and political violence. Read the full report here.
(First released October 2024)
U.S. Election Matters: contested Presidential Election scenario planning
This edition of Election Matters focuses on what happens after the polls close on Election Day, specifically the timeline of events, new laws that change the way the election can be contested and the major scenarios for which the presidential candidates, political parties and government are preparing.
(First released October 2024)
Pulse on TikTok
TikTok may be the most consequential, least understood media platform in America. Pulse on TikTok, The Weber Shandwick Collective’s multi-modal research of U.S. TikTok users and creators’ experiences and perspectives, seeks to change that.
This groundbreaking analysis offers key insights into how news and politics are shaped, shared and consumed on this ever-evolving and increasingly indispensable platform. Read the report here.
(First released September 2024)
Social and paid media guidance for clients on and around Election Day
In the lead-up to Election Day in the U.S., organizations are navigating a national landscape of extreme polarization. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach for external engagement on and around November 5, we broadly advise clients to take extra precautions throughout this time period, especially with respect to social and paid media. Read the latest social and paid media guidance.
(First released August 2024)
Inside Election Matters 2024: The State of the U.S. Presidential Race with Ashley Etienne (D) and Mike Dubke (R)
Powell Tate’s Chief Public Affairs Officer, Pam Jenkins, spoke with two of our Senior Advisors for a candid conversation on the state of the presidential race and what to expect as we head toward Election Day and in the next administration. Watch the interview.
(First released August 2024)
Top things to know about Minnesota Gov. and Democratic VP candidate Tim Walz
Vice President Kamala Harris announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket. Walz’s selection checks many important boxes: The governor is a military veteran, grew up in rural America, was a public-school teacher, brings strong union and labor support and has a proven track record of winning consistently in very purple parts of the Midwest. Get to know Gov. Walz with this backgrounder.
(First released August 2024)
Pulse on Political Narratives
Amid the 2024 elections, Pulse on Political Narratives is a first-of-its-kind, AI-powered study conducted by The Weber Shandwick Collective’s Elections Task Force examining what candidates across the political spectrum are saying about issues that matter to companies and their stakeholders.
After assessing nearly 200,000 campaign messages, we identified the top five issues candidates were most likely to talk about regarding the business community – inflation, corporate accountability, labor, local economic growth and healthcare. Read the study here.
(First released July 2024)
Pulse on America July 2024
Amid fears of a tumultuous election, Americans expect business to take a stand on protecting democracy – while remaining politically neutral.
The July edition of Pulse on America features the latest survey examining the role of business in the 2024 U.S. elections, particularly as many Americans express concern and fear about the election outcomes. Read the survey findings here.
(First released July 2024)
Geopolitical Alert: Outlook for global business after India’s election
This spring, India’s election resulted in a shift in the domestic political landscape, with no political party attaining a clear majority in the 543-seat Lok Sabha. This Geopolitical Alert examines the election results, what global companies and markets should watch next, anticipated priorities in key economic sectors and implications for geopolitics and international relations. Read it here.
(First released June 2024)
The Weber Shandwick Collective (TWSC) TikTok Ban survey
New survey from TWSC finds that younger adults ages 18-27 are significantly more likely to perceive TikTok ban as a free speech infringement, take political action. Read it here.
(First released May 2024)
Pulse on America March 2024
As the 2024 campaigns accelerate in the U.S. elections, we surveyed American consumers and employees on the role of business in national elections. The findings shine a light on the shifting landscape of public opinion at the intersection of business and politics. Read it here.
(First released March 2024)
2024 Global elections overview
In 2024, voting around the world will take place against a backdrop of geopolitical issues, driven by conflict, competition and economic uncertainty. This overview provides a quick snapshot of some of the most notable elections in 2024 and key issues to watch. Read it here.
(First released January 2024)
Leading at the Intersections 2024
Powell Tate’s Leading at the Intersections 2024 report covers six of the most front-and-center issues that impact businesses across all sectors including AI, geopolitics and the 2024 elections. Read it here.
(First released January 2024)
2024 U.S. elections guidance
With the 2024 U.S. elections cycle underway, we’ve prepared guidance to inform how businesses consider and prepare for internal and external communications relative to the campaigns and elections. Read it here.
(First released November 2023)
For more information, contact our team:
John Files, EVP, North America Co-lead, Public Affairs
Meghann Curtis, EVP, North America Co-lead, Public Affairs
Sign up for Powell Tate Insights for monthly fresh takes on disruptions, innovations and impact in public affairs.