What the midterm elections may mean for travelers

Josh Roberts believes the best trips involve long hikes and muddy boots. His life goals haven't changed much since he was a kid: He still wants to be Indiana Jones when he grows up.

Follow him on Twitter (@joshwhowrites) and Instagram (@joshwhowrites), and visit his website (joshrobertsbooks.com) or Goodreads page to learn more about his forthcoming novel.

Josh joined SmarterTravel in 2001, and is an active member in both the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

In addition to SmarterTravel, he has written for USA Today, The Boston Globe, Yahoo! Travel, The Huffington Post, Airfarewatchdog, TripAdvisor, Jetsetter, ABC News, Oyster, and Business Insider. His travel photography can be seen in Britain and Ireland's Best Wild Places, published by Penguin UK.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A lacrosse ball. It's small, lightweight, and works wonders on loosening up tight muscles."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Being the first to discover an ancient lost city. Failing that, visiting as many of the already-discovered ancient ruins as possible."

Travel Motto: "Not all those who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle."

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When America voted on Tuesday, perhaps the last thing on anyone’s mind was how the results might affect travel. But with Democrats now in charge of the House and (according to some reports) the Senate as well, there may be some changes coming our way.

The AP reports that among the priorities set by the Dems, there are a few centered around transportation and security.

Specifically, they say they will “oppose administration plans to consolidate air traffic control facilities and allow more foreign control of airlines, raise the limit of Transportation Security Administration airport screeners from 45,000, [provide] more oversight hearings on the Federal Aviation Administration, [and] increase cargo inspection on passenger airlines.”

So there you have it. Whether you’re from a red state or a blue state, the next two years will likely see everyone who travels affected in some way—even if it’s mostly behind the scenes.

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