Awards “Friend of Franchising” endorsements to candidates for showing leadership for America’s locally owned franchise small businesses

WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 27, 2022– The International Franchise Association (IFA) today announced its full list of candidate endorsements ahead of the 2022 election for their leadership on pro-business policies supporting America’s locally owned franchise small businesses. Named a “Friend of Franchising,” IFA has endorsed candidates for Governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.

“These candidates have proven that they are champions for America’s local franchise small businesses,” said IFA President and CEO Matthew Haller. “Local franchises are engines for growth in communities around the nation, and we need leaders that prioritize creating an environment for these entrepreneurs and their 8.2 million employees to grow and thrive.”

Below is the full list of endorsements:

Governor

Heidi Ganahl (R-CO)

U.S. Senate

Sen. John Boozman (R-AR)

Ted Budd (R-NC)

Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) 

Adam Laxalt (R-NV)

Joe O’Dea (R-CO)

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL

Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC)

Tiffany Smiley (R-WA)

Sen. John Thune (R-SD) 

Sen. Todd Young (R-IN)

U.S. House of Representatives

Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA-03)

Vern Buchanan (R-FL-16)

Steve Chabot (R-OH-01)

Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28)

Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL-13) 

Regan Deering (R-IL-13)

Chuck Edwards (R-NC-11)

Tom Emmer (R-MN-06)

Drew Ferguson (R-GA-03)

Virginia Foxx (R-NC-05)

Kevin Hern (R-OK-1) 

Richard Hudson (R-NC-08)

Glenn Ivey (D-MD-04)

Darin LaHood (R-IL-18)

Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-23)

Morgan McGarvey (D-KY-03)

Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-05)

Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ-01)

Scott Peters (D-CA-42)

Dean Phillips (D-MN-03) 

Kurt Schrader (D-OR-05)

The candidates are selected based on a review process that evaluates factors such as the candidate’s voting records, official actions, and public statements. The endorsements are reflective of the candidate’s efforts to promote business growth and employee development for America’s over 775,000 franchise local businesses. Endorsements are not related to political party affiliation. 

According to recent research by Oxford Economics, franchised businesses provide better wages, up to 3.4% higher, and more generous benefits than their non-franchised counterparts. They offer entrepreneurial opportunities that would not otherwise be available, especially to women, people of color, and veterans. Around 26% of franchises are owned by people of color, compared with 17% of independent businesses generally. Nearly one-third of all franchise owners say they would not own a business without franchising.

America’s 775,000 franchise small businesses employ nearly 8.2 million Americans and contribute $787.7 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy. IFA represents franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology, and business development. National, state, and district level economic impact information can be found at www.franchiseeconomy.com.

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About The International Franchise Association:

Celebrating over 60 years of excellence, education, and advocacy, the International Franchise Association (IFA) is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations, and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the approximately 775,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.2 million direct jobs, $787.7 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and almost 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology, and business development.