U.S. Chamber Pre-Endorses 31 Republican Candidates With Policy Roadmap

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce gathered 31 congressional candidates — every one of them a Republican — at its 2026 Free Enterprise Forums, handing prospective members of the 120th Congress a ready-made policy roadmap before a single vote has been cast.

The Chamber ran the events under Ashlee Rich Stephenson, its senior political strategist. The program covered the economy, workforce, technology and fiscal policy, framed around what the Chamber calls rising threats to free enterprise. In plain terms: the lobbying arm of American business is briefing likely lawmakers on business's wishlist a year before they could take office.

What did candidates hear?

Neil Bradley, the Chamber's chief policy officer, pitched 3% economic growth as the benchmark needed to create new opportunities for American workers, businesses and communities. Suzanne P. Clark, the Chamber's president and CEO, recapped the organization's 114-year mission to defend, protect and advance free enterprise, and its current campaign, the New Fight for Free Enterprise.

"Left unchecked, policy choices that treat business like the problem will result in slower growth, fewer opportunities, and a more constrained and less dynamic economy," Clark said. "Together, we can push back against the rising tide of anticapitalist sentiment and ensure the American experience continues to be defined by innovation, opportunity, and mobility—which only free enterprise can deliver."

The claim is direct. What it lacks is evidence — the Chamber offered no data on how much growth current policy would cost, or which policies it means. The takeaway: the Chamber is framing the 2026 election as an ideological contest, not a technical policy debate.

Who is in the room?

Rodney Davis, the Chamber's head of government affairs and a former congressman, told candidates what to expect after the midterms if they win. Davis previously served as the top Republican on the House Administration Committee — the body that runs new member orientation. That gives the Chamber an unusually well-placed guide to congressional onboarding.

The candidate list skews heavily toward Texas and the South. Attendees included Ralph Alvarado (R-KY-06), Jon Bonck (R-TX-38), Jerry Carl (R-AL-01), Dr. John Cowan (R-GA-11), Wes Climer (R-SC-05), Carlos De La Cruz (R-TX-35), Jim Desmond (R-CA-48), Jay Feely (R-AZ-01), David Flippo (R-NV-02) and Ed Gallrein (R-KY-04).

The rest of the roster: Chris Gober (R-TX-10), Chuck Gray (R-WY-AL), Dan Green (R-FL-09), Dr. Charlie Hatcher (R-TN-05), Jenny Honeycutt (R-SC-01), Marty Jackley (R-SD-AL), Rhett Marques (R-AL-02), Chris McGowan (R-IA-04), Amanda McKinney (R-WA-04), Alex Mealer (R-TX-09), Joe Mitchell (R-IA-02), Trever Nehls (R-TX-22), Austin Rogers (R-FL-02), Tom Sell (R-TX-19), Scott Singer (R-FL-25), Jessica Steinmann (R-TX-08), Chris Stigall (R-MO-06), Brent Taylor (R-TN-09), Mark Tedford (R-OK-01), Mark Teixeira (R-TX-21), Steve Toth (R-TX-02) and Jace Yarbrough (R-TX-32).

Texas alone accounts for 11 of the 31 attendees. Notably absent: any Democratic candidate, though the Chamber did not say whether any were invited. In short, the forums are, on the current evidence, a Republican pipeline.

Why engage before the election?

The Chamber's answer is candor about its own method. "Defending free enterprise isn't a one-election effort - it's a long-term commitment. That's why the Chamber engages candidates before they are members of Congress," Stephenson said. "Building relationships early and exposing future lawmakers to the priorities of American businesses helps lay the foundation for sound policymaking when they arrive in Washington."

The strategy is long-horizon: the Chamber has run Free Enterprise Forums after the 2024 and 2022 cycles as well, making the events a standing institution rather than a one-off. Candidates also got face time with senior Chamber leaders and business-community stakeholders — relationships that typically outlast any single campaign.

The caveat is the one the source leaves open: relationship-building before office is legal, routine and undisclosed in its effects. Whether these 31 candidates win in November will determine whether the Chamber's early access converts into committee votes next year.