Not since the U.S. Supreme Court in 200 regarding Bush v. Gore has the country “had a December as politically momentous as the one shaping up this year,” said Charlie Cook, the editor and publisher of The Cook Political Report. In his latest column, Cook calls recent shake-ups in Congress and the soon-to-be-passed tax reform bill “political portents” that are sure to raise the stakes for midterm elections in 2018.

The outcome of the upcoming elections will help to decide the fate of the farm bill, as well as legislation regarding the U.S. sugar program and worker visas, which are important to dairy food companies and sweetener users. That’s why IDFA has invited Cook to speak at its two premier events early next year: Dairy Forum 2018, Jan. 21-24 in Palm Desert, California, and the International Sweetener Colloquium, Feb. 11-14 in Orlando.

In his column, Cook discusses the special election for the Alabama Senate seat, the resignation of Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) and the “Toss Up” rating of several other states that may gain or lose political advantages in the November elections.   

“Republicans could hardly face tougher headwinds, nor could Democrats face a tougher map in terms of which states have Senate seats up next year and where the congressional district boundaries were drawn for this decade back in 2011,” Cook said.

For more political insights, watch a video interview with Cook and Michael Dykes, D.V.M., IDFA president and CEO.

• Register here to attend Dairy Forum 2018 and Cook’s presentation, “What the Midterm Election May Bring.”
• Register here to attend the International Sweetener Colloquium and Cook’s luncheon discussion, “Political Update 2018 and Beyond.” IDFA co-hosts this event with the Sweetener Users Association.

For more information, contact Melissa Lembke, IDFA manager of meetings and educational services, at registrar@idfa.org.