RVI Report: Health Care and Rural Voters in 2020

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.

In our research, rural voters voiced concern not only for the price of health care, including the price of prescription drugs, but also for the long-term viability of rural hospitals and the accessibility and geographic proximity of specialty care.

RVI survey research tested multiple arguments for a generic Democrat, including “The coronavirus outbreak has shown us how important it is for everyone to have quality and affordable health care. … Democrats believe we must lock in protections for those with pre-existing conditions and make the cost of health care and prescription drugs more affordable.”

This argument moved rural voters overall by seven points beyond the generic Democratic baseline and 12 points among rural women under 50 and four points among rural college-educated men, the two demographics most likely to provide new Democratic votes in rural communities in 2020 according to RVI research.

Download the report for detailed findings and recommendations.