Democrats win big by taking rural America seriously
The gist
Democrats expanded the map and won rural America in the midterms, Reuters reported.
Rural voters are nearly 1 in 5 US voters, so the shift matters.
How it unfolded
- Dec 27, 2025Politico reported Democrats saw a rare opening in rural America ahead of the midterms.
- Jun 5, 2026Brookings reported Trump's support had declined sharply in rural America, with two of Iowa's four House seats and the governor's race rated toss-ups.
- Oct 2026Approval of the president in rural areas fell to a new low of 45%, down from 60% at the start of his term, according to Reuters.
Key terms
- midterms
- US general elections held near the midpoint of a president's four-year term, when all House seats and about a third of Senate seats are contested.
- Maga
- Political slogan and movement associated with Donald Trump's campaigns and his political base.
Source: Wikipedia