The Outdoor Industry Just Won the Midterms

The Outdoor Industry Association’s first-ever #VoteTheOutdoors campaign reached 14 million Americans, and 19 of the 32 candidates it endorsed for the Senate, the House, and governorships succeeded. Patagonia also endorsed candidates for the first time. Jacky Rosen succeeded in her bid for one of Nevada’s seats in the Senate. Jon Tester won his Senate race here in Montana by a margin of less than 10,000 votes; with such a slim margin, it’s possible the outdoor industry helped make that win happen. These are huge results for an industry that is still finding its feet in national politics. For the first time, outdoor recreation is on the lips of national politicians, who are embracing its players and courting its audience. At the Outdoor Retailer trade show in Denver this week, journalists and gearmakers will be joined for lunch by Colorado governor elect Jared Polis, who was also endorsed by the OIA...MORE