The Rural Voter Institute conducted a focus group in late summer/early fall exploring perceptions of the events of January 6 and the resulting investigations. This previously unpublished research is of particular importance given the recent subpoena for former President Trump to testify before the Congressional Committee investigating the events of January 6.

The Rural Voter Institute conducted a focus group in August exploring perceptions of the search at Mar-a-Lago recovering classified documents taken by former President Donald Trump. A majority of panelists said they would change their opinions of what happened at Mar-a-Lago depending on what was found there.

New research by the Rural Voter Institute suggests that a distinction between the issue for candidates and ballot initiatives should be considered and addressed intentionally as the November midterm election approaches.

The latest research by the Rural Voter Institute not only emphasizes the dire predicament Democrats face on the issues of gas prices and inflation going into the midterm elections, but also offers a path for Democrats to discuss the issue with rural and small-town voters in an effective way to narrow margins of loss enough in November to win.

Rural voters’ notions of the political parties and the candidates who run on each ticket highly influence voting patterns, and understanding the presuppositions, as well as how to address them, can help narrow the gap for Democratic candidates. Testing ad concepts proved negative attitudes towards Democrats could be overcome by both Democratic candidates and the Party brand if more effective message constructs are utilized.

Rural voters’ notions of the political parties and the candidates who run on each ticket highly influence voting patterns, and understanding the presuppositions, as well as how to address them, can help narrow the gap for Democratic candidates. Testing ad concepts proved negative attitudes towards Democrats could be overcome by both Democratic candidates and the Party brand if more effective message constructs are utilized.

For Democrats to better reach rural voters, they must better understand views of rurality and the perceived rural-urban divide among rural residents as well as the prevailing attitudes toward the role of government among rural voters. The Rural Voter Institute’s research explored these notions with rural voters in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota.

RVI research found that Democrats hold an advantage on the health care issue with rural voters, and it is among the most compelling arguments with rural voters for Democrats – especially the key demographics of rural women under 50 and college-educated men. Democrats would benefit from framing the election as a decision on health care priorities.

The Rural Voter Institute’s research found a plurality (41%) of rural voters were more inclined to think state government has the most impact on their life (compared to federal government), underscoring both the importance of Democratic candidates at a national level emphasizing localization in their campaigns and the opportunity for local and state-level Democrats to improve margins with rural voters.

The correlation between religiosity and rurality in the United States emphasizes the importance of communicating with rural voters of faith ahead of the 2020 elections. The Rural Voter Institute’s quantitative research found a path for successful dialogue with rural faith voters.

Health care was a top-testing issue for rural voters when polled, and polling and focus groups explored how to best communicate health care agenda items in context of the COVID-19 pandemic and its perception among rural voters.

The Rural Voter Institute spent the summer engaged in research with swing state rural voters in Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota. Polling and focus groups presented a path for Democrats up and down the ballot to improve their margins with rural voters, by changing how Democrats communicate with rural voters.