Our Mission

The political landscape of rural America has shifted significantly over the past two decades, moving from a Democratic stronghold to a Republican one. This shift can be seen in Appalachia, the Deep South, the Rust Belt, and the Rural West, where districts that were once essential to sustaining Democratic majorities now lean heavily Republican.

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Historically, rural areas were often Democratic due to their strong ties to labor unions, particularly in agricultural and manufacturing sectors. The Democratic Party’s advocacy for social safety nets and economic policies that benefited working-class Americans resonated with rural voters. 

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But after decades of Republican gains, many leaders in the Democratic Party have all but given up. They've thrown in the towel in Rural America, and have become content with sacrificing support in Rural America, relying instead on suburban and urban votes.​​

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For those of us left in America's hills and hollers working to pick up the pieces, progress in undoing these changes can be slow and frustrating. For years now, Rural Democrats have lacked the same technical, political, and financial support that urban and suburban Democrats received in spades.

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But that's where we come in.

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We believe it's not too late for Democrats to win in Rural America. In fact, we believe it's essential to sustaining the future of our party. And if Democrats truly want to succeed in Rural America in the coming decades, we need to support candidates at every level and build an unbeatable bench of rural Democratic talent. State House, City Council, School Board – today's County Commissioner is tomorrow's U.S. Senator.

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Our mission is to support Democratic and progressive candidates at all levels​ – on every hill and in every holler – by connecting Rural Democrats with the technical, political, and financial support they need to build the next generation of progressive rural leaders.