VIRGINIA BEACH — Today Elaine Luria, a former Navy commander and small business owner running for Congress in Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, and Rep. Cedric Richmond (LA-02), chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, toured Banister Nissan of Norfolk to highlight the impact of the Trump Administration’s tariffs on local small businesses. During the visit, Luria and Richmond heard from Dan Banister, dealership owner and community leader, about the issues affecting his small business.
“As a small business owner myself, I always want to hear from other small business owners and talk about their challenges. One of those problems is the uncertainty created by the threat of tariffs,” Luria said. “Talking to Mr. Banister, I learned that if there is a 25% tariff on materials in his cars, that could lead to a big reduction in sales. That will hurt his business and hurt his customers.
“I’m out here with Elaine because I think it’s very important that we have members of Congress who listen to business owners and listen to their constituents,” Rep. Richmond said. “When we get outstanding candidates who are willing to talk to people, beat the streets, and get the facts, it’s important. That’s what Elaine represents, and I wanted to make sure that I came out to support her. We need people who are going to fight to give every family a fair shake, and I believe that Elaine is the person to do it.
“Car sales make up 18% of all retail sales in North America,” Banister said. “With the threat of tariffs, I’m looking for ways to reduce my expenses and my inventory levels. It’s a pretty big concern for most dealerships including Banister Nissan.”
Banister Nissan, a family business, is one of the largest African-American-owned car dealerships in the country, with locations in Norfolk and Chesapeake.
