Institute of Politics

For decades, the Democratic Party has focused more on appealing to voters in urban and suburban parts of the United States while putting up less of a fight in rural parts of the country.

These influences came to a head with a notable power shift during the Obama administration, when Democrats lost more than 900 seats in state legislatures. In 2009, Democrats controlled 27 state legislatures and 28 governorships. By comparison, in 2021 Republicans had maintained control of 30 legislatures and 27 governor’s offices.

Amidst the electoral shifts, the myriad challenges facing everyday Americans living in rural areas have continued to mount. Today, the one in five Americans who call a rural area home are experiencing a lack of health care and broadband access, declining population, stagnant economic development, labor shortages and the rising cost of food.

After the 2021 election of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who won by record margins in the state’s most GOP-friendly counties, some Democrats have begun to ask what the party should do next. Democrats are now debating over solutions to set them in the right direction again, reviewing their weaknesses and setting new expectations. As they face this critical point, party activists and leaders are hoping to gain back support in rural America. Members of the Democratic Party are asking if they should be concerned about their dwindling support in rural areas or instead focus on building on advantages in urban and suburban areas, many of which are continuing to grow.

The question now is if there is a way Democrats to increase their relevancy in rural areas? If Democrats want to gain ground in rural America, how can they appeal to voters? Are there ways the Democratic Party can resonate when there is often so much attention placed on hot-button issues that frequently leave them out of touch with the interests of rural voters.

Joining us to guide us through these topics are:

• Mike Lux, board chairman of American Family Voices, co-founder of Democracy Partners, author of The Importance of Investing in Rural and Small-Town Voters
• State Sen. Chloe Maxmin (D-Maine), author of Dirt Road Revival: How to Rebuild Rural Politics and Why Our Future Depends On It 
• U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana), author of Grounded: A Senator’s Lessons on Winning Back Rural America

Moderating the discussion will be current IOP Pritzker fellow Sarah Smarsh, a journalist and author of Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth