What do a car dealer, a former Navy SEAL commander and a financial advisor have in common? They were all recently elected to serve in the U.S. Congress. As a result of the November midterm elections, a lot of new faces have arrived in the nation’s capital. Fifty-eight first-timers were elected to the House of Representatives and 13 to the U.S. Senate. Among them are the future champions of the automotive specialty-equipment industry. While sorting through all of the new names may seem daunting, here are a few to keep an eye on.
Newly elected U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) is a bona fide car guy. Not only did he attend the 2013 SEMA Show, but he also counts his restored ’38 Cadillac Series 65 as a prized possession. Prior to his election to Montana’s sole seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, Zinke served in the Montana State Senate. There, he was a member of the SEMA-supported State Automotive Enthusiast and Leadership Caucus.