Heartland hustle: The fight for the rural vote in the 2024 Election

Graphic via: TNP Staff

Think about this: How are politicians catering to your own personal needs? Do they truly value your input regardless of socioeconomics or geographical demographics?

Well, in this current presidential race, it seems as if both the Democratic and Republican parties are aiming for an important voting demographic that has largely felt unseen. Specifically, the two parties are finding ways to cater to those who live in rural areas, especially the Midwest. The Midwest has long been a contested and consequential area, with its voters frequently alternating between the two major parties. However, in recent years, rural and small-town voters in the region have leaned increasingly toward Republican candidates, creating a challenge for Democrats seeking to regain ground.

For the Democratic Party, reconnecting with rural voters is crucial in 2024. Historically, Democrats held significant influence in the Midwest, referred to as the "blue wall.” However, in 2016, Democrats lost their hold in the region, specifically in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania after Donald Trump gained ground in crucial rural areas. However, Joe Biden managed to receive a foothold in these key states again in 2020. So the question remains: will the Democrats hold these states once again in 2024 and how will they do so?

A major pundit for Kamala Harris’s strategy to maintain midwestern voters has been her pick as running mate, Tim Walz, a former high school teacher and football coach, who comes from a small town in Nebraska and hits home on progressive issues that largely affect rural communities and is currently the Governor of Minnesota. Those issues are affordable healthcare, education and economic development. According to an article by Politico, Minnesota Democrats believe he represents what some Democrats are calling a revival of “prairie populism,” a strategy that harks back to the progressive politics of the late Paul Wellstone, a popular figure in rural Minnesota. Promoting leaders like Walz can seriously reverse recent losses in key states that they lost in 2016 and hope to permanently retain.

Democratic messaging in this campaign is also focused on addressing the everyday concerns of Midwesterners. According to the Harris-Walz campaign website, high housing costs, healthcare accessibility and infrastructure improvements are central themes of the campaign. The party is positioning itself as the party of pragmatism and stability, aiming to win back those voters who may feel disillusioned by the more extreme elements of both major parties.

While the Democrats are pushing to reclaim their hold on rural voters, the Republican Party is doubling down on its appeal to blue-collar voters in the Midwest. Figures like J.D. Vance, who won a U.S. Senate seat in Ohio in 2022, is absolutely representative of the party’s strategy to attract voters in traditionally Democratic strongholds.

Vance’s memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, is about rising from a struggling, working-class background to success, and it has been held up by Republican constituents as the embodiment of the American dream, a narrative that largely resonates with many rural and industrial voters. Republicans are also emphasizing economic opportunity, hard work and self-reliance, which also align with the values of many voters in industrial regions of Ohio and Michigan. Many of these midwestern areas, once dominated by factories and union jobs, have seen significant economic decline, and the Republican Party is framing itself as the defender of their livelihoods and traditional values.

The GOP’s focus on cultural issues—such as opposition to coastal elites and the protection of traditional American values—also continues to strike a chord with rural voters. According to WYPR, many feel that the Democratic Party has become too disconnected from the concerns of small-town America, focusing instead on issues that resonate more with urban and coastal populations. By addressing these cultural anxieties, Republicans have managed to hold onto much of the Midwest’s rural vote.

Both parties understand that the Midwest is far from a monolith. The region includes various subcultures, from the agrarian Midwest, represented by Walz’s rural Minnesotan roots, to the industrial heartland where Vance is from. This diversity creates a complicated dynamic for the Midwest in 2024.

The Democrats are hoping that by reconnecting with their populist roots and focusing on practical solutions for rural communities, they can win back voters who may have felt abandoned. Meanwhile, Republicans are working to maintain their newfound grip on the region by emphasizing cultural identity, economic recovery and a commitment to traditional American values in their campaigns.

As both parties battle for the Midwest and rural vote, the region's voters are positioned to play a role in shaping future elections. The outcome of the 2024 election may well depend on who can best address their concerns and represent their values.