Black Friday Sale! 50% Off All Access

Election Night Was a Good One for Business Leaders Republicans swept into office, and so did some big names from the corporate world.

By Ben Geier

Entrepreneur+ Black Friday Sale

Our biggest sale — Get unlimited access to Entrepreneur.com at an unbeatable price. Use code SAVE50 at checkout.*

Claim Offer

*Offer only available to new subscribers

This story originally appeared on Fortune Magazine

Denis Kornilov | Shutterstock.com

Last night, Americans took to the polls and voted, and the results were clear: this is a good year for Republicans. The GOP took back the Senate and strengthened its hold in the House of Representatives, setting up two years of divided government leading up to the 2016 Presidential elections.

Last week, Fortune took a look at some of the people with prominent business ties who were running for office, and some of the ballot initiatives that would have a big impact on business. So, how did they do?

On the whole, pretty well.

In Arizona, former Coldstone CEO Doug Ducey, a Republican, was elected to the governorship. Ducey won comfortably, taking nearly 54% of the vote. Down in Florida, meanwhile, sitting Republican governor Rick Scott, formerly CEO of Columbia Hospital Corporation, won reelection with just 48% of the vote. Former Dollar General CEO David Perdue won his election to the Senate as a Republican in Georgia, while founder of Capital Cellular, early Nextel investor and sitting Democratic Senator Mark Warner won a closer-than-expected election in Virginia.

The only loser from our guide was Democrat Mary Burke, a former executive at Trek, a bicycle company founded by her family. Burke lost her bid to take down sitting Republican Governor Scott Walker in Wisconsin.

In terms of ballot initiatives, it was almost a clean sweep for "yes." Pot legalization passed in Oregon and Washington, D.C., and a yes vote was lately looking likely in Alaska, although a medical marijuana initiative failed in Florida. Minimum wage hikes were approved in Arkansas, Alaska, South Dakota and Nebraska, with a non-binding resolution also passing in Illinois. Massachusetts passed an initiative requiring paid sick leave.

Ben Geier is an Online reporter @fortunemagazine.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Science & Technology

I've Spent 20 Years Studying Focus. Here's How I Use AI to Multiply My Time and Save 21 Weeks of Work a Year

AI is supposed to save time, but 77% of employees say it often costs more time due to all the editing it requires. Instead of helping, it can become a distraction. But don't worry — there's a better way.

Business News

The Two Richest People in the World Are Fighting on Social Media Again

Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk had a new, contentious exchange on X.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Money & Finance

Why Donald Trump's Business-First Policies Trump Harris' Consumer-Centric Approach

President Donald Trump's pro-business agenda is packed with policy moves encouraging investment to drive economic growth. The next Congress has a unique opportunity to support entrepreneurship and innovation, improving U.S. competitiveness with the rest of the world.

Business News

Barbara Corcoran Says This Is the Interest Rate Magic Number That Will Make the Market 'Go Ballistic'

Corcoran said she praying for lower interest rates and people are "tired of waiting."

Growing a Business

Build a Business That Will Sell: From Valuations to a Successful Exit

Join us for this free webinar and learn how to develop a business that buyers will find irresistible.