Rural voters in Arkansas and across the U.S. tend to be swing voters and may decide the outcome of this year's presidential election.

According to a new poll from the Rural Democracy Initiative, their biggest concerns are the economy, threats to democracy, and abortion.

Sarah Jaynes, executive director of the initiative, said voters want elected leaders to make lowering costs and increasing wages for working people a priority, not cutting taxes for the rich or deregulating corporations.

"They're very focused on working people as kind of the heroes of the economy, and concerns that impact working-class people," Jaynes reported. "Rural people and small town folks are more likely to be working class. About 70% of rural folks are working class."

The poll was conducted between Aug. 28 and Sept. 8 in 10 battleground states. Early voting in Arkansas starts Oct. 21.

Nearly eight in 10 rural voters are firmly against banning abortion. Jaynes noted it is the same number pollsters saw in a similar survey in March.

"They either said that they were against abortion themselves but didn't think that the government should control a woman's choice in the matter," Jaynes observed. "Or they just thought that abortion should be legal."

The poll showed former President Donald Trump with an 18-point lead over Vice President Kamala Harris among likely rural voters, down from a 26% lead in March, before Harris announced her campaign. Jaynes added the big takeaway for both major parties should be rural voters want to see worker-centered policies.

"People want to make sure that they have the tools and the opportunities to create a good life for themselves and their families," Jaynes emphasized. "That shows up in their support for child care and health care."


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It is not just the weather or commodity prices farmers have to worry about. Many rural communities struggle to keep their roads and bridges in good shape, making farming life even harder and now, North Dakota is trying to correct the issue.

This year, state lawmakers have expanded eligibility for agriculture infrastructure grants awarded to towns with populations under 1,500.

Rob Schmidt, chairman of the Olivier County Commission and a rancher in Hensler, said it is welcome news because some local roads have self-imposed speed limits of 25 miles an hour because of the shape they are in, citing the effects from heavy truck traffic linked to a nearby refinery and an ethanol plant.

"Basically, there's no local money to fix that wear," Schmidt explained. "Any money that would come from the state would certainly be appreciated to help remedy that."

Schmidt, also a member of the North Dakota Farmers Union, is hopeful some jurisdictions in his part of the state are able to take advantage of the changes. Oliver County's total population is around 2,000, with the biggest town home to 500 people. The grant program was established in 2023.

Schmidt noted rebuilding roads and bridges could join other quality-of-life benchmarks his county is trying to highlight in the long-standing push to attract residents.

"We've got a very nice school here and we've got all the infrastructure in place in town to be thriving a lot more than we are," Schmidt emphasized.

He acknowledged even when a smaller town makes infrastructure improvements and attracts more industry, it does not always result in bigger population numbers. He said they have had issues in the past where people might take a new job in the area but still commute from elsewhere.

Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nev., said AM radio is essential to keeping Nevadans informed, especially in emergency situations, which is why she is one of many supporting the bipartisan AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act.

The legislation, which is under consideration in Congress, would require all new cars to maintain AM radio technology despite many having made the switch to now using satellite or internet services in their cars.

Lee said while AM radio does have a sense of nostalgia associated with it, it is also about ensuring people do not lose access to essential information, such as through the National Public Warning System.

"It plays such a vital role in our emergency infrastructure," Lee emphasized. "This country is moving towards digitalizing everything but ultimately there are instances where cell coverage goes out, where things go out, and having AM radios in cars is incredibly important."

Opponents of the bill feel mandating AM radio in all new cars without addressing the radio royalty issue for sound recordings is counterintuitive. Current U.S. copyright law does not provide artists with royalties when recordings are broadcast on AM and FM radio as it does on digital streaming services, which is why calls are being made to also consider the American Music Fairness Act.

Lee noted AM radio is highly important to rural and agricultural communities, relying on the service for things such as weather updates and other necessary information and Lee added they are not the only ones.

"We all know that cybersecurity is a key issue that we are dealing with, especially in an urban center like Las Vegas," Lee pointed out. "Making sure you have sort of that stalwart in cars that can be uninterrupted is really important."

Lee stressed it is not just about having what she calls "outgoing" sources of information, but also "incoming" information provided by people about what is happening on the ground. She added it was true during the 2017 Route 91 Harvest music festival mass shooting, which left 60 people dead and many others wounded.


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Ohioans were among dozens of rural leaders who gathered in Iowa this month, urging lawmakers to protect public education, small businesses, and working families.

They said policies gutting local resources are destabilizing schools and harming rural communities.

Melissa Cropper, president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, said the effects of disinvestment hit rural communities harder, where losing just one school or hospital can have outsized consequences.

"All these institutions that we rely on have an even more significant impact in rural areas because of lack of options," Cropper explained. "When a rural hospital closes down, it creates a great hardship. When voucher money goes to private schools, it has more of an impact because they don't actually have private schools to attend."

Some lawmakers argued closure mandates hold schools accountable and push for improved performance. Others said more investment is needed in wraparound services, early learning and fair funding.

Michael Chameides, policy director at the Rural Democracy Initiative, said Ohio is not alone. Rural communities across the country are pushing back against policies favoring the ultra-wealthy while essential services are underfunded.

"There's just been so much chaos with the federal government as it takes a chain saw to these valuable programs that support working families and small businesses," Chameides observed. "We really should be going the opposite direction."

Participants in the 2025 Rural Policy Action Summit said the path forward includes listening to local leaders, funding community schools, and protecting labor rights. They want lawmakers to strengthen, not sideline, the people and places keeping rural Ohio running.