Rural Voters Cite Costs, Test Trump Support

A AP-KFF survey of more than 2,000 rural registered voters found about half say the economy is worse since Trump returned to office. About half approve of his overall job performance, while only about 4 in 10 approve of his handling of the economy. About three-quarters rate local cost of living as only fair or poor, up from about half in a 2017 KFF-Washington Post survey. About 6 in 10 rural Republicans say Trump improved the national economy, versus about 2 in 10 independents and fewer than 1 in 10 Democrats; only 45% of rural Republicans say he made their local economy better off. Ed Westrick of rural Texas called Trump's job performance "mediocre, middle-of-the-road" and is unsure he will vote midterms. Brittainy Sosebee of St. Johns, Michigan, also unsure she will vote, said costs are "still crippling" despite hunted venison. Tim Slack said many link costs to the war in Iran, tariffs, and trade wars and that none will cut prices at the pump or Walmart. Kathleen Hanning of Woolwich, Maine, stopped voting for Sen. Susan Collins in 2020, saying she is "not independently voting on what's best for Maine." Contested: no factual disputes found in record. Only left-rated KFF/AP coverage was found. Midterm turnout effects remain unresolved.