Polling by the healthcare research organization KFF and The Associated Press of more than 2,000 rural voters nationwide found 74% of rural Republicans say they’re "absolutely certain" to vote in November, compared to 80% of rural Democrats.
Stacie Fugate, a lifelong Appalachian resident from Hazard, said more of President Donald Trump’s supporters are sharing their financial concerns online and claiming they are the poorest they’ve ever been.
"That has been a chain reaction that I've seen from all kinds of people that are speaking up about how they can no longer support him because of all of the inflation, of all of the rising prices," Fugate observed.
She noted people are making tough choices to buy milk or medicine, pay their utility bill or buy groceries. Still, the survey showed 40% of rural voters believe Republicans can best address their cost of living concerns, compared to just 25% who believe Democrats can handle the job.
The vast majority of rural voters, more than 90%, said Medicaid is important for people in their local community and nearly half have had a family member or friend utilize the program at some point in their lives.
Last year, Republicans touted passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which cut roughly $1 trillion from the program. The survey showed 54% of rural voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of healthcare and believe his policies have contributed to rising costs.
Fugate stressed she is frustrated America is choosing not to take care of its own people, despite having the resources.
"Rural America is starting to wake up to the lies that they have been fed by, by the 1% and by the people who are actually pulling the strings," Fugate contended.
The survey found Republicans maintain a slight advantage over Democrats in rural voters’ trust to handle the cost of healthcare, although nearly 30% said they trust neither party to deal with the issue.
The Nov. 3 election will decide all 435 House seats and a portion of the U.S. Senate. Voters will determine who will replace seven-term Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
