[New Report] Advocacy in Washington’s New Normal

New Purple Strategies Research Maps the New Rules of Influence in Washington

The rules have changed. And most organizations haven’t caught up.

That’s the central finding of Purple Strategies’ latest report, Advocacy in Washington’s New Normal — produced in partnership with POLITICO and based on a survey of 340 advocacy professionals and in-depth interviews with senior public affairs leaders across companies, trade associations, and lobbying firms.

The verdict is clear: Washington is running on a fundamentally different operating system. A hyper-centralized White House, vanishing venues for bipartisan deal-making, and an expanded constellation of informal influencers have rewritten the rules of how policy gets made — and who gets to shape it.

The old playbook — broad national messaging, earned media, bipartisan coalition-building — no longer moves the needle. And doubling down on what used to work won’t fix it.

What does? Speed. Precision. Coalitions built for impact, not optics. And a clear-eyed map of where power actually lives.

The report identifies what advocacy professionals are learning the hard way: direct lawmaker engagement still matters, but it’s no longer sufficient. Coalitions and associations are at peak influence — but only when they’re purpose-built with clear governance and a defined goal. And in an environment where public disagreement can cost you access, strategic patience isn’t weakness. It’s the strategy.

With the 2026 midterms approaching and this environment showing no signs of easing, the organizations that thrive will be those that update their playbook now — before the next wave of hearings, crises, and election cycles forces their hand.

Download the full report or reach out to learn how Purple Strategies can help your organization navigate Washington’s New Normal.