 Elections are almost here. The President of the United States, one third of the United States Senate, the entire U.S. House of Representatives, one half of the Texas Senate, the entire Texas House of Representatives, as well as many local office holders, will be decided by the Nov. 2 general election. The candidates who are elected next month will make decisions that will affect your life for years to come.
The REALTOR® organization has long been involved in the political process at the national, state, and local levels. REALTORS® believe strongly that part of their professional obligation to the American real estate consumer is to advocate for policies that promote and protect the private property rights that are fundamental to the American way of life.
The REALTOR® organization engages in political advocacy by several different means. One of the most important areas involves supporting candidates who are favorable to the REALTOR® position concerning private property rights and good consumer real estate practices.
Before deciding to endorse or to support a candidate, leaders of the organization interview candidates either in person or via questionnaires. Decisions to endorse or to support candidates are made by the appropriate level of the REALTOR® organization. For example, a local association of REALTORS® will vote on supporting or opposing local candidates for positions such as city councilman. The 70,000-member Texas Association of REALTORS® will vote on whether or not to support candidates for the Texas Legislature and statewide offices such as governor, lieutenant governor, and the Texas Supreme Court. The National Association of REALTORS® endorses or supports candidates for the U.S. Senate and House. NAR does not endorse candidates for President of the United States.
Another significant area of REALTOR® involvement involves financial support for candidates for office. Texas REALTORS® support candidates individually by giving direct contributions to candidates for office and by giving money to the Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee (TREPAC) and to the National Association of REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC). TREPAC makes contributions to Texas statewide candidates, candidates for the Texas Legislature, and candidates for local office when supported by local REALTOR® associations. RPAC makes contributions to candidates for the U.S. Congress.
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REALTORS® are also involved in grassroots activities. Once the REALTOR® organization decides to support or endorse a candidate, communications are sent to REALTOR® members explaining the candidate’s positions on relevant issues and urging REALTORS® to support that candidate.
Another important tool that REALTORS® use to communicate with policy makers is through professional lobbying activities. The REALTOR® organization employs professional lobbyists at the national, state, and local levels to keep elected officials and regulatory agencies informed about the effects of law and regulation changes on real estate consumers.
In addition to involvement with political fundraising, grassroots communications, and professional lobbying, the Texas Association of REALTORS® also maintains an issues mobilization fund (the Issues Mobilization Political Action Committee or IMPAC). Funded by REALTOR® member dues, the fund advocates for public policy positions that promote REALTOR® values such as private property rights and consumer protection. For example, during the 2003 regular session of the Texas Legislature, IMPAC paid for advertisements directed at the Legislature advocating homeowners insurance reform.
Texas REALTORS® wanted to address this issue because the skyrocketing cost of homeowners insurance, as well as difficulty in obtaining insurance, was making it difficult for homebuyers to obtain homeowners insurance at reasonable rates. In other instances, IMPAC had paid for advertising supporting specific ballot questions, such as a measure increasing sales taxes in a portion of one county to pay for infrastructure improvements, or opposing efforts by one city to create publicly-financed campaigns for city council.
The REALTOR® organization’s political and public policy advocacy are just another way that REALTORS® are working to protect and promote the rights of private property owners and consumers of real estate services.
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