search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube instagram Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Cool Roofing
    • Event News
    • Latinos in Roofing
    • Low Slope
    • Legal
    • Metal
    • Project Profiles
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Roofing Safety
    • Steep Slope
    • Sustainable Roofing
    • Technology
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Best of Success
    • Contractor Profile
    • IRE Show
    • Roofing Contractor of the Year
    • Top 100
    • Young Guns
    • State of the Industry
    • Century Club
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Roofing Quizzes
    • IRE Videos
    • Webinars
    • Photo Galleries
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Featured Products
  • COLUMNS
    • Editor's Note
    • Exit Planning
    • Legally Speaking
    • Safety Advice
    • Technical Details
    • Guest Column
  • EVENTS
    • International Roofing Expo
    • Webinars
    • Best of Success Conference
    • Industry Events
  • DIRECTORY
    • Associations
    • Distributors
    • Manufacturer/Supplier
    • Business Services
    • Get Listed
  • MORE
    • Roofing Contractor eNews
    • RC Store
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Company Spotlights
    • Classifieds
      • Auctions
      • Business For Sale
      • Business Opportunities
      • Equipment For Sale
      • Positions Available
      • Products
      • Safety
      • Software
      • Services
      • Training
    • Contact Us
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Editorial Calendar
      • Contact
    • Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!

Roofers Got What They Wanted

Now, will Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress Deliver?

By Art Aisner
November 9, 2016

In some form or another, I’ve covered every presidential campaign since 1988 as a journalist, and the last six as a working ‘professional.’ Upon joining the Roofing Contractor team in 2015, I knew my role in this election cycle would be different as I narrowed focus on our core readers — roofing contractors and the people that work for or with them in roofing companies. So, it was the first cycle time in a long time where I got to sit back and watch the presidential campaign unfold from afar. And what a spectacle it was — right up to the very end.

At times, I thought how exciting it would be to still be on the campaign trail and in the political fray of this historic election. And other times, frankly, I was glad to not be part of the brouhaha that it became.

Along the way, I learned that regardless of how tumultuous the political season became, roofing contractors that I spoke to and worked with over the past 18 months were focused largely on just one thing when it came to the election: business.

And it appears, looking at anecdotal evidence and yesterday’s results, that meant overwhelming support for Republican President-Elect Donald Trump. Perhaps that’s not a surprise to anyone. Roofers have historically supported Republican candidates, and, after all, Trump amassed a fortune as a builder. What roofers that actually want to be successful honestly dislike builders?

Still, some of what I observed over the past warrants a closer look. According to Roofing Contractor’s unscientific online candidate poll that posted in October, Trump was an overwhelming favorite. He received 69 percent of the vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton’s 21 percent. Nearly 8 percent selected neither or supported a different candidate, and 2 percent said they were undecided (really?)

Taking a deeper dive into some anecdotal evidence, the support for Trump among roofers was strong long before he even emerged as the party nominee. In a random, anonymous poll, roughly 40 percent of roofing contractors that attended RC’s annual industry roundtable event at Best of Success 2015 said they expected Trump to beat out Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and Scott Walker in the primary and ultimately win the presidency.

In a similar unscientific poll, a largely different group of industry leaders that attended the roundtable at Best of Success 2016 in September again showed strong support for Trump (nearly 40 percent). However, a slight majority gave Clinton the nod when asked who they thought would actually win.

During his presentation at this year’s conference, political insider Craig Brightup of the Brightup Group, didn’t predict a Trump victory. Yet he did say the future was looking up for roofing contractors if Trump won, particularly on the regulatory front.

“We’ve got a really good chance to get rid of all these regulations, especially if the Republicans maintain a majority in the Senate,” he said. They did, by a 51-47 margin.

It looks like Trump, and the majority of roofing contractors from around the country, got their wish. Now he just has to deliver.

KEYWORDS: President Donald Trump

Share This Story

Artaisner

Art Aisner is Editor-in-Chief of Roofing Contractor and Roofing Supply Pro. He spent the bulk of his career as a multi-media journalist for newspapers and television stations before joining the RC team in 2015. He is the driving force behind the publication’s content development, editorial strategy and other initiatives that serve growing audiences in the roofing space.

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Blog Topics

Damato of the Day

Guest Blog

Recent Comments

Justin Bieber’s purple hoodie is an iconic piece...

It's fascinating to see how virtual trade shows...

This update is a game-changer for flat...

This is a timely conversation for residential...

Safety is No1

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Sign Up for the eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Roofing Contractor audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Roofing Contractor or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • An overhead view of a residential block
    Sponsored byCBIZ CompuData

    From Spreadsheets to Strategy: How Roofing Companies Can Transform Financial Operations

  • Snow Guard Solutions for Metal Roofs by S-5!
    Sponsored byS-5!

    Safeguard Your Building: How Snow Guards Prevent Costly Roof & Property Damage

  • A hand holding a wooden block that reads 'EVOLVE'
    Sponsored byWatercress Financial

    Embracing Change: A New Era for the Roofing Industry

Popular Stories

Florida has become the focal point for construction-site raids, attracting national attention and altering labor dynamics throughout the industry.

Florida Emerges as the Epicenter of ICE Raids

Agentes de ICE arrestaron a casi una docena de empleados de una empresa de techos en Lowell, Massachusetts. Los arrestos son parte de una redada federal más amplia contra la contratación no autorizada y las violaciones migratorias en Boston.

ICE Redondea a Equipo de Techos Afuera de Boston

Kingspan’s planned 100-acre roofing campus in Oklahoma is under consideration as the new location for asphalt shingle production.

Kingspan Flirts with Disrupting the U.S. Shingle Market

Roofing Contractor Webinar

Events

December 3, 2025

The Premier Roofing Conference: Best of Success

Join roofing professionals from across the nation at the 2025 Best of Success conference, the ultimate destination for roofing professionals seeking the latest industry insights and networking opportunities. Pick up strategies for critical challenges like workforce shortage with innovative solutions, explore the latest advancements in roofing technology and sustainable practices, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders on navigating the evolving roofing landscape.

View All Submit An Event
×

Be in the forefront of the roofing industry!

Join thousands of professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing