Business Succession in Public Policy

A good bit of the month’s Member Monthly newsletter is dedicated to the succession of business ownership, with an eye on managing such transitions to preserve continuity, stability and preparing for the future. At ABI it is helpful to think of sustaining good public policy outcomes in the same manner.

Attention must be paid to who occupies key leadership roles, how a “bench” of future leaders is identified and developed. Tools and information must be provided to rank-and-file “employees” to help them be successful in providing a pro-growth environment in Iowa. The stakes are high for those affected by policy choices and for those making them. 2026 is an election year and all one hundred Iowa House members, half the fifty-member Iowa Senate, the Governor, one of two U.S. Senators and all four members of the U. S. House will be determined by the November elections. Some positions will have no incumbents; others will have incumbents for an additional term. ABI works this succession process to best secure a continued pro-growth business environment in many ways.

ABI publishes voting records for incumbent members of the Iowa House and Senate so the public can gauge their performance on key ABI priorities.

The “Friend of Iowa Business” designation is earned by incumbents that have helped move pro-business priorities and is widely publicized and candidates may use the designation as part of their campaigns. Members of ABI contribute to the Iowa Industry Political Action Committee (IIPAC) to pool their contributions and financially support pro-growth, pro-business candidates for office.

Open seat elections for Iowa executive branch and statehouse positions where no incumbent is running are invited to an interview process by the ABI hosted “Economic Progress for Iowa Citizens” organization. This process lets new candidates understand the public policy priorities of ABI and gives ABI an early glimpse of a candidate’s governing philosophy.

Each ABI member can play a role in this plan for optimized succession planning. First, let the candidates get to know you back home. Let ABI help you arrange facility visits for candidates to let them appreciate your role in the community. Second, if you are not a member of IIPAC, join today by going to https://www.iowaabi.org/public-policy/iipac/. And finally, make a point to register and attend the ABI Business Day in Des Moines on March 11, 2026 https://www.iowaabi.org/events/detail/520-business-day-in-des-moines/, where you can interact with the Governor and legislative leaders of both parties to stress the importance of pro-growth, pro-business policies.

Just as in the private sector, if you are not planning for succession in the public sector, it becomes something that you are simply reacting to after the fact. Sustaining public policy achievements takes planning and commitment. We hope that you will consider committing to IIPAC today if you have not already done so. We hope that you will also commit to building a relationship with legislators at home through facility visits or here at the Capitol with the ABI Business Day in Des Moines.