Rural Voters Are Not Who Campaigns Think They Are w/ Frank Spring

Campaigns often talk about rural voters, but they rarely understand how rural identity shapes political trust and participation. Culture, belonging, religion, work, and community expectations all influence how rural communities respond to candidates and national messaging. When campaigns rely on stereotypes instead of lived experience, the result is a growing gap between strategy and representation. Understanding that gap helps explain why rural voters often feel overlooked in American politics and across the modern South.