Democrats plan a new investment in winning rural voters, who've fled the party

"This is the first time, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee says, that it's had a program specifically dedicated to engaging rural voters. Suzan DelBene, who chairs the DCCC and represents Washington's 1st Congressional District, said Democrats see an opportunity to engage rural voters as President Trump's economic agenda, particularly tariffs, becomes less popular. She said rural voters see the "damage" being done by GOP policies that have led to "costs going up, health care being gutted," and Democrats can provide an alternative."

""I think Republicans are turning their back," DelBene told NPR. "They've been actively hurting rural communities with the policies they've put in place. Democrats are fighting to improve the lives of rural Americans and farmers." Trump has defended his economic agenda and plans to bring the message out into the country soon, an administration official recently told NPR. Democrats' spending in rural communities is part of an "eight-figure investment," according to a DCCC press release first shared with NPR."

Democrats are committing an eight-figure investment and launching a first-ever program specifically dedicated to engaging rural voters to help retake the U.S. House. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has assigned a full-time staffer for strategic rural engagement and is partnering with rural community groups and leaders in key competitive districts, including newly redrawn districts in South Texas. Party leaders argue that President Trump's economic agenda, especially tariffs, has become less popular in rural areas and that GOP policies have raised costs and harmed health care. The campaign will target rural voters in swing districts that will determine the House majority.

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