The Myth of the “Friendly Incumbent” Rule

Distraction: We follow the ‘Friendly Incumbent’ rule — if a candidate supported REALTOR® issues before, we endorse them again.

Fact: This “policy” isn’t written anywhere — it’s just tradition. The real question: how EXTREME does a candidate have to be before RPAC stops endorsing? If they committed a crime, we wouldn’t blindly support them. So why excuse anti-diversity positions?

Tradition Isn’t Policy

When REALTORS® question why a candidate with a troubling record still gets an RPAC endorsement, the common defense is:
“We have a Friendly Incumbent Rule. If they supported us before, we support them again.”

Here’s the problem: there is no official “Friendly Incumbent” policy. It’s not in the bylaws. It’s not in the trustee guidelines. It’s simply a habit — a tradition that’s been repeated so often it feels like law. But tradition is not accountability.

The Danger of Automatic Endorsements

What if they commit a crime? Would we still endorse them? Of course not.
What if they target LGBTQ+ communities, immigrants, or reproductive rights? Too often, the answer has been silence — and continued support.
What if their platform directly violates Article 10 of our Code of Ethics? By any ethical standard, that should disqualify them, no matter how “friendly” they were before.

Why This Matters to REALTORS®

Blindly following the “Friendly Incumbent” tradition turns RPAC into a rubber stamp. It strips members of the power to demand better. And it undermines the REALTOR® brand, which promises fairness, professionalism, and nondiscrimination.

Article 10 sets a higher bar: REALTORS® must not discriminate based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Endorsing candidates who do just that isn’t “friendly.” It’s a betrayal.

What REALTORS® Should Expect

Written, transparent policies — not unwritten traditions that shift with politics.
Accountability to the Code of Ethics — every endorsement should be judged against Article 10.
Courage to say no — to incumbents who have crossed ethical lines, even if they once voted with us.

The Bottom Line

The “Friendly Incumbent” excuse is just that — an excuse. REALTORS® should demand a higher standard: no endorsement for candidates who undermine diversity, equity, and inclusion.

If crime would be a dealbreaker, then so should discrimination.