Last Tuesday, voters unleashed their frustrations on the ballot boxes, driving Republicans to midterm victories nationwide and giving them control of both houses of Congress for the first time in eight years. For Republicans, Wednesday was one long victory lap, and who can blame them?

There hasn’t been a lot to celebrate in national politics, lately. But now the champagne and confetti have been mopped up, and dealers, like so many Americans, are asking, “What happens next?”

The 113th Congress is now officially a lame duck, and will remain so until the 114th congress is sworn in on January 3, 2015. That gives us about two months to get a feel for how Tuesday’s election results will impact our businesses, our employees, our customers, and our future.

In general, international nameplate dealers have a lot to feel good about. Republicans seem confident that they can harness the momentum from Tuesday’s election to force cooperation from the White House and move legislation forward. Gridlock is still a real possibility, thanks to the president’s veto power, but some pundits speculate that Tuesday’s results may function as a wakeup call for those in power who felt that compromise and negotiation were beneath them.

Trade could be a real bright spot for dealers in 2015. Nevada Senator Harry Reid has been unseated from his spot as majority leader, and is no longer in position to block the president’s Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), which is central to any potential trade deals. Trade is one of the few issues on which Republicans in Congress and the president see eye-to-eye, and international nameplate dealers will certainly benefit from the passage of TPA and the potential ratification of trade deals with Europe and Asia.

Dealers worked hard to make Tuesday’s results a reality – through voting, campaigning and donating to candidates who support our businesses. Now is not the time to take our foot off the gas. Let’s keep the pressure on in Washington, D.C., by upping our participation in AIADA. Click here to learn how you can get involved and how to set up a Dealer Visit at your dealership with your Member of Congress.

Why plan a dealer visit now? Because Members of Congress who have been re-elected will be grateful to see a familiar face and shore up support in their districts. At the same time, new members will be eagerly looking for ways to connect with business leaders like you. On Election Day, you let your ballot do the talking. Don’t quiet down now; make your voice as a dealer heard on the issues that matter most to our industry.

Larry Kull is the AIADA (American International Automotive Dealers Association) chairman. See this post and more at the Chairman's Blog.