Voters sent a clear message last week. | Photo: Shutterstock
The major news over the past week has been Democrats’ tsunami of historic wins on midterm Election Night — the biggest blue wave since the Watergate scandal over 50 years ago.
As of Nov. 11, votes are still being counted in multiple Congressional races, including the too-close-to-call Alaska and Mississippi Senate races. But as of right now, Democrats have secured 255 seats in the House (flipping 44 previously held Republican seats) and 54 seats in the Senate (flipping seven previously held Republican seats).
Beyond their gains in Congress, Democrats scored major victories at the state level, flipping at least 12 legislative chambers across nine states. Those wins could have significant implications for businesses, which often face a more immediate impact from state and local laws than from federal legislation, where the policymaking process tends to move more slowly.
In other government news this week, voters also made decisions on outdoor dining and foie gras.
Congress turns blue
On Nov. 3, the predicted blue wave of Democrat wins turned into a blue tsunami and Democrats won control of Congress, setting up a major shift in the federal legislative landscape.
While it’s unclear how much a Democrat-controlled Congress will be able to get done in the last two years of President Trump’s final term, the majority party of the 2027 Congress has named oversight and accountability, healthcare reform, AI regulation, and economic relief as some of their biggest priorities.
Why should operators care: The change in congressional control could affect prospects for legislation on issues that matter most to the restaurant industry, including immigration reform, credit card swipe fees, minimum wage, tipped wages, trade and franchise regulation. Businesses should look out for new employee-friendly legislative pushes in 2027 and beyond.
Democrats nab major wins in state elections
Democrats didn’t only have a big night on the national stage. On a state level, three states flipped both chambers of their state legislatures: Arizona, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin, among other smaller local wins. Democrats are on track to control 24 states’ legislatures, compared with 18 before the election, as of Nov. 11.
Additionally, Democrats won 22 out of the 36 gubernatorial races, flipping at least five states blue (Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio, and Texas), with votes still being counted in Alaska for a potential sixth pickup.
Why should operators care: For business owners, local legislators and their state governor will be the decisionmakers for practical issues like labor costs, permitting, taxes, alcohol and outdoor-dining rules, and the cost of compliance. These laws can have much more direct impact on operators than federal business regulations.
New Yorkers vote in favor of new outdoor dining rules
New York City voters approved a charter amendment intended to speed up the process for restaurants to receive outdoor dining permits. The measure makes public hearings optional, combines the application processes for sidewalk and roadway cafes, removes the City Council’s authority to reject sidewalk cafe permits, and eliminates required newspaper advertisements. The changes are scheduled to take effect March 1, 2027, but will not apply to applications already submitted.
The vote comes after an October report from City Comptroller Mark Levine that found more than half of restaurants with outdoor dining licenses waited more than 19 months for approval since the program launched in 2024.
Why should operators care: Faster approvals could help New York City restaurants add outdoor seating while reducing administrative costs and lost revenue from permitting delays.
Washington, D.C., and Denver vote to ban foie gras
On Election Day, voters in Washington, D.C., and Denver approved ballot measures banning foie gras produced through force-feeding birds. The measures prohibit the sale of products made through force-feeding, including foie gras.
In D.C., the ban is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2027, provided the city funds its implementation. Violations could carry fines of $1,000 to $5,000. Denver’s measure also prohibits the sale of products derived from force-fed birds.
The D.C. measure is already facing the prospect of a legal challenge from Hudson Valley Foie Gras, a major New York producer. A similar ban passed in New York City in 2019 but has yet to take effect amid litigation.
Why should operators care: Restaurants in both cities that serve foie gras will need to monitor implementation and potential legal challenges, review suppliers, and consider menu changes.
Contact Joanna at joanna.fantozzi@informa.com
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