Insights

Ten states held elections for state attorney general last month. Those states include: Indiana, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia. Of the ten elections, there was only one change in political party—Pennsylvania, from Democrat to Republican. Additionally, six states elected new attorneys general—North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington and West Virginia. Notably, three attorneys general were elected governor of their respective states. Those incoming governors include Josh Stein of North Carolina, Bob Ferguson of Washington, and Patrick Morrisey of West Virginia. A summary of each new attorney general and attorney general turned governor is below, listed alphabetically.

While it is unclear at this stage what exactly a second Trump administration means for U.S. digital, technology, and trade policy, one thing that is clear is that it will involve major changes, especially as it relates to the potential for high, broad tariffs. Media reports and commentary and recent personnel appointments give some early clues on what else a second Trump administration may do. It is an open question as to which Biden administration policies a second Trump administration keeps, revises, or scraps (like Biden administration executive orders on artificial intelligence) and which policies and strategies from the first Trump administration it revives or revises. It is also unclear the extent to which a second Trump administration will consider the interests of allies and close trading partners and whether the Trump administration will pursue its own vision for global technology governance at the G7 and other fora.  

Regardless of what happens in the U.S. elections on November 5, one theme is clear – protectionist policies in international trade are here to stay. To some extent, the key difference between the trade policies of a Harris administration and a second Trump Administration may be one of degree. Vice President Harris is expected to continue the more cautious, incremental approach to trade policy favored by the Biden Administration. A second Trump administration, on the other hand, is expected to pick up where it left off and aggressively use the trade tools at its disposal to try to reset and renegotiate trade relationships with many of the U.S.’s trading partners—particularly those countries with whom the U.S. has a trade deficit.

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This week’s special edition focuses on what contractors can expect from the incoming administration relating to conflicts of interest, revolving door, and bid protests, and is hosted by Yuan Zhou, Dan Forman, and Rob Sneckenberg.  Crowell & Moring's "Fastest 5 Minutes" is a biweekly podcast that provides a brief summary of significant government contracts legal and regulatory developments that no government contracts lawyer or executive should be without.

This week’s special edition focuses on what contractors can expect from the incoming administration relating to domestic preferences, supply chain security and sourcing, and evolving requirements and enforcement, and is hosted by Yuan Zhou, Addie Cliffe, and Alex Barbee-Garrett. Crowell & Moring's "Fastest 5 Minutes" is a biweekly podcast that provides a brief summary of significant government contracts legal and regulatory developments that no government contracts lawyer or executive should be without.