Election years don’t just change who’s in office. They reshape the environment in which health care advocacy organizations pursue their missions. The 2026 midterm elections will influence congressional leadership and committee priorities, state policy agendas, and the broader health care landscape. Organizations that prepare now will be better positioned to protect patient access, advance key policy priorities, and build relationships with policymakers before and after Election Day. 

Effective advocacy, particularly when advancing a policy agenda, is about becoming a trusted resource when policymakers need timely, credible information to make informed decisions. That’s why the strongest advocacy programs don’t simply react to political change; they anticipate it by investing early in the relationships, resources, and infrastructure needed to remain effective regardless of how the political landscape evolves.  

Now is the time to pressure test your internal and external advocacy strategy by: 

• Preparing for a range of post-election scenarios and how changes across Congress, state capitals, and local elections may impact your key policy priorities; 

• Refreshing and updating resources for policymakers, including the strongest data points, evidence, and patient perspectives to support policy change; and 

• Engaging with your key stakeholders on policy priorities pre- and post-election. 

 

Preparing for the Post-Election Reality 

Election Day is an important milestone, but it isn’t the finish line. In many ways, the most meaningful work begins once the ballots have been counted, and the governing landscape begins to take shape. 

Changes in leadership, committee assignments, agency priorities, and legislative calendars can quickly reshape the policy environment. Taking the time now to prepare for multiple scenarios will better position your organization to maintain momentum, adapt to change, and continue advancing their mission regardless of the political landscape. 

That preparation starts with asking a few critical questions. Does your organization have the resources needed to educate new audiences about your issue? Are your messaging, materials, and policy priorities flexible enough to remain relevant as priorities shift? Have you identified where your strongest relationships exist — and where you’ll need to build new ones? 

The transition period post-election moves quickly, leaving little time to develop new strategies from scratch. Think of the time between November and January as an opportunity to reaffirm coalition alignment, ensuring partners remain unified around shared priorities, consistent messaging, and a coordinated strategy as the policy landscape evolves. Organizations that pressure-test their advocacy plans before Election Day won’t spend the transition reacting — they’ll spend it leading.  

 

Update Your Resources and Ensure Patients are at the Core 

As the midterms approach, take the opportunity to refresh your advocacy resources — from fact sheets to issue briefs — with the latest data and policy developments. Just as importantly, distill that information into concise, decision-ready resources that help policymakers quickly understand both the challenge and the solution.  

Importantly, consider how your materials are framed for your audience(s). The most compelling and impactful advocacy campaigns align policy solutions and patients together. No matter the complexity of the issue, authentic stories that reflect patients’ lived experiences are one of the most important ways to turn abstract policy debates into conversations that drive awareness, understanding, and action.  

As you evaluate your advocacy infrastructure and materials, determine whether your messaging strikes the right balance between evidence and experience. Do your materials pair credible data with compelling patient stories? Are patient voices woven throughout your communications? Every advocate should be able to explain not only the policy challenge, but the real-world consequences of getting it right — or wrong — for the patients and communities elected officials represent. Relatedly, your outreach to advocates should be intentional and clear. Strong two-way communication is essential at every step of your advocacy efforts. 

 

Equip Stakeholders to Inform and Engage 

Building and empowering your advocates is key ahead of and during transitions, and they ultimately represent your organization in more places than ever before. Whether they’re meeting with policymakers, participating in coalition meetings, speaking at conferences, engaging with reporters, or mobilizing grassroots supporters, every interaction reinforces — or weakens — your organization’s credibility. Organizations that invest in shared messaging and consistent training create advocates who speak with one voice, regardless of the audience. 

The post-election environment will also usher in new lawmakers and staff who may have little familiarity with your issue. That makes this the ideal time to prepare your advocates — not only by sharpening their storytelling skills, but by ensuring they can confidently educate new audiences, answer difficult questions, and establish themselves as trusted resources from the very first meeting. Whether you’re onboarding first-time grassroots advocates or preparing seasoned champions for a new Congress, investing in advocacy training today will strengthen every engagement tomorrow. 

 

The Bottom Line 

Election years reshape the environment in which advocacy organizations operate. The organizations that succeed won’t be those that predicted every outcome — they’ll be the ones that invested in the people, partnerships, and infrastructure needed to thrive in any environment. The question isn’t whether change is coming. It’s whether your advocacy program is ready to lead through it.