Election Redux for Financial Services
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MEMORANDUM From: FS Vector Date: November 4, 2020 RE: Quick Reaction: Election Redux for Financial Services The Morning After: Election Redux for Financial Services On the presidential front… After a grueling night of ups and downs for both camps, we are right back where we started: Paths to victory exist for both candidates, but Biden’s is clearer; NV + MI + WI = Biden at 270 (does not need PA). A lot of ballots left to be counted in urban/suburban areas trending towards Biden make this the likely outcome. Legal battles already underway will make this a murky road. As for Congress… Republicans win by not losing. No Blue Wave in House or Senate. In fact, the Dem 17-seat majority in the House could slip to 10 with flipped seats in FL-26, FL-27, MN-7, NM-2, NY-11, OK-5, and SC-1. With votes still coming in, only Dem pickups so far are in remapped seats in heavily favored NC-2 and NC-6. The Senate is 47-47 w/ AK both GA races, ME, MI & NC unclear. As of now, Dems are net 1 (pickups in AZ and CO and loss in AL). They need +3 to take the majority with a Biden win. Jan runoff guaranteed in GA-special. The committees… It looks more likely that the Senate Banking Committee (SBC) will be chaired by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) for two years (until he retires). As he said recently, he would like to prioritize housing finance reform, lowering the cost of investing for middle income investors, and “exciting changes” in fintech, payments systems, and the possibility of a digital currency. SBC election night losers: Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL) and Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ). SBC election night winner: Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN). Still uncalled races (although ahead as of 11/4 AM): Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC). A good night for incumbents… House Financial Services Committee Republican incumbents in close races came out on top (Rep. French Hill (AR-2), Rep. Van Taylor (TX-3), Rep. Ann Wagner (MO-2), and Rep. Lee Zeldin (NY-1)), while Democrats are trending towards wins (Rep. Cindy Axne (D-IA) and Rep. Ben McAdams (UT-4)). As the House Dem majority looks likely to shrink, so too will the ratio of Ds to Rs on the House Financial Services Committee, leaving Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) with less leeway to pass priority legislation. Some new faces… A number of newly-elected Members of Congress will bring financial services policymaking and/or business experience to the Hill, including: Byron Donalds (R-FL-19), Scott Franklin (R-FL-15), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-2), Nancy Mace (R-SC-1), Matt Rosendale (R-MT-At large), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10), and Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15). Some old faces… A pair of former Members moved Districts and found victory: Darrell Issa (R-CA-50) and Pete Sessions (R-TX-17). Both have previously been active on financial services issues with Sessions likely to return to HFSC and lobby for seniority. .