Donald Trump was elected the 45th president of the United States, defeating Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in a race called in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Nov. 9. In addition, Republicans maintained control of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate and will now control the executive and legislative branches of government for the first time since 2006.

As Election Day approaches, ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓNational is ramping up efforts to ensure that the voice of the merit shop is heard loud and clear in battleground states on Nov. 8. Funded by the Free Enterprise Alliance, ABC’s travel teams supplement the association’s broader political advocacy efforts by engaging in member education and get-out-the-vote efforts in concert with ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓchapters and members ahead of the 2016 election. ABC’s travel teams will be on the ground throughout the fall in several states including Florida and Pennsylvania, but the size and scope of our efforts are not limited to select swing states.

Presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) Nov. 3 addressed and responded to questions from members of a coalition of major nationwide business groups in a TeleForum. Rubio answered questions from members of ABC, Associated General Contractors, Business-Industry Political Action Committee, National Association of Manufacturers, National Federation of Independent Business and National Retail Federation.

ÀÏÅ£Ó°ÊÓand Ìýseveral other major business groupsÌýhave invited leading contenders for the 2016 presidential race to speak with their members in a series of teleforums.