Trail Voters Can Be Proud – TPAC

Simon | November 8, 2012

Dear Trail Voter,

Congratulations on being engaged as a trail voter in your first national election. As you knew, trail voters and off-road recreationists had a lot at stake in the 2012 election. TPAC always believed that you could make a difference in several tight races in battleground and/or swing states… and YOU did!

Our strategic goal for 2012 had four tenets:

Elect a pro-access majority to the U.S. Senate – Did Not Accomplish

Maintain our majority in the House of Representatives – Accomplished

Elect a pro-trail/pro-regulatory reform President – Did Not Accomplish

Get OHVers more engaged in trail politics – Accomplished

All of our key races were classic examples of where you had pro-access and pro-EPA reform candidates v. candidates who champion the closure agenda of the League of Conservation Voters, Earth Justice, Earth First!, and the Sierra Club. Trail voters did make a difference in several of the races including key senate campaigns in public land states (NV and AZ) and a toss-up House race in KY. Those were important victories.

HERE ARE THE RESULTS (updated 8:15am PST – Nov. 7) OF OUR LIST OF KEY TARGETED AND/OR ENDORSED RACES FOR ELECTION 2012.

President and Vice-President of the United States
Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan — Lost

U.S. Senate
Tom Smith (PA – Senate) – Lost
Richard Mourdock (IN-Senate) – Lost
Josh Mandel (OH-Senate) – Lost
Tommy Thompson (WI-Senate) – Lost
Dean Heller (NV – Senate) – Won
Denny Rehberg (MT-Senate) – Lost
George Allen (VA- Senate) – Lost
Jeff Flake (AZ – Senate) – Won
Heather Wilson (NM-Senate) – Lost
Rick Berg (ND-Senate) – To close to call

U.S. House of Representatives
Andy Barr (KY CD-6) – Won
John Koster (WA CD-1) – Lost
Dan Lungren (CA CD-7) – To close to call
Chip Cravaack (MN CD-8) – Lost
Ricky Gill (CA CD-9) – Lost
Scott Tipton (CO-CD-3) – Won

TPAC believes we have a good foundation upon which to build an effective political voting block that will play an important role in the 2014 midterm election. Historically, there is a “6-year itch” in a 2nd Presidential term where the electorate is ready for change. Stay tuned for more updates and analysis over the next few days and weeks.

Thanks again for voting to protect your FREEDOM to enjoy responsible OHV recreation on public and private lands.

Don Amador, Founder
The Trail PAC
www.thetrailpac.com