WASHINGTON — A new Associated Press‑KFF poll of more than 2,000 rural registered voters, conducted over two weeks beginning in mid‑August, shows that President Trump retains roughly half of the support among this key constituency, even as many express deep economic frustration.
Approval remains steady, but concerns grow
About 50% of rural voters say they approve of President Trump’s job performance, a figure that is higher than the approval rate for U.S. adults overall in separate AP‑NORC polling. Yet the same respondents rate the national and local economies negatively, citing the cost of groceries, gasoline and healthcare as top pain points.
Three‑quarters of those surveyed rated the cost of living in their communities as “only fair” or “poor,” a 25‑percentage‑point increase from a similar question asked in a 2017 KFF‑Washington Post survey. Rural voters also report higher worry about affording groceries and gas than the broader electorate.
Rural Republicans still see some upside
While rural Democrats and independents are largely skeptical, rural Republican voters are more favorable toward the President’s impact on the national economy. Six in ten say Trump has improved the nation’s economy, compared with about two in ten independents and fewer than one in ten Democrats.
Nevertheless, only 45% of rural Republican voters believe the President has made their local economies better off, and one in four say there are fewer good‑paying jobs in their area than five years ago.
Voices from the heartland
Ed Westrick, a 59‑year‑old registered Republican veteran from rural Texas, rates President Trump’s performance as “mediocre, middle‑of‑the‑road.” He expressed uncertainty about casting a ballot in the upcoming midterms, noting the personal impact of rising living costs.
“I hear the politicians talk about making groceries more affordable and making healthcare more affordable, but yet none of them are addressing the issues,” Westrick said.
In Georgia’s small town of Manassas, Republican voter Wanda Rogers praised the administration’s efforts to clean up what she calls an economic mess left by previous policies, while also lamenting high gas prices that are “eating me alive.”
Healthcare policy perception lagging
The poll found that only 17% of rural voters believe the Trump administration’s healthcare policies have had a positive impact on their costs. An equal share, 41%, said the policies have had no impact, and another 41% said the impact has been negative.
Despite the administration’s $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, more than eight in ten rural respondents said they have heard little or nothing about the fund, and many noted hospital consolidations and longer travel distances for specialty care.
Implications for the November midterms
The findings suggest that while President Trump’s core rural base remains largely intact, economic frustration could depress turnout among working‑class Republicans. The poll indicates that rural voters are more likely to trust their own party on issues such as healthcare and cost of living, but the growing sense of “mediocre” performance may translate into lower participation.
Political analysts note that the mixed signals from this poll underscore the importance of the administration’s continued focus on lowering energy costs, expanding rural broadband, and delivering on promised tax relief to sustain rural support through November.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
