In just a decade, Democrats have lost their electoral dominance of the Midwest, becoming the minority party in state legislatures, governor’s mansions, and congressional delegations, says a report co-authored by Rep. Cheri Bustos of Illinois. Summarizing interviews with 72 officeholders in the rural Midwest, the report says that “national Democrats must acknowledge and stay focused on the bread-and-butter challenges facing hardworking families” to gain the rural and working-class support vital to winning elections.
“They urge national Democrats to stay focused on championing new policy solutions in infrastructure, education, and small business that will elevate the economic fortunes of all voters, especially those in rural areas and small towns who feel their concerns aren’t being addressed,” says the report, which is titled “Hope from the heartland.”
Bustos is in charge of rural outreach for House Democrats. In the report’s foreword, she says, “Democrats cannot win majorities in Washington or state capitals without doing better in rural areas.” The rural vote was key to President Trump’s election in 2016.
In a related development, North Dakota Rep. Kevin Cramer has decided against challenging Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, who narrowly won election in 2012. That “means Heitkamp doesn’t have a challenger who’s run statewide before,” said Roll Call. Tom Campbell, a state senator and wealthy businessman, is already running for the GOP nomination for Senate. The race is rated as “leans Democratic” by the political analysis site Sabato’s Crystal Ball.