How to Win the Rural Vote in Pennsylvania
Ronald Reagan once joked, “A Republican candidate was out giving a speech to a group of farmers. He was standing on the bed of a manure spreader, and he gave a great speech about the virtues of the Republican Party. When he was done, one of the farmers yelled out, ‘That’s the first time I ever heard a Republican speech from a Democratic platform!’”
Reagan’s joke accentuates a political truth that much of the 20th century displayed: rural America voted blue. Whether a lifelong Democrat in the South or a resident of a city like Johnstown or Beaver in its post-industrial nascence, many Americans outside of suburbs and metropolitan sprawl voted Democrat. While major political happenings such as the Reagan Revolution, Clinton signing NAFTA into law, and Obama’s social upheaval pushed many rural and post-industrial exclaves to the right-wing of the political spectrum, this month’s election proved that Republicans cannot take these areas for granted.
In Beaver borough, a Democrat flipped the mayoral seat for the first time in 113 years. In counties like Washington and Westmoreland, two that voted reliably for Trump three times, either saw a narrow victory for Republicans or, in many cases, voted for the Democratic candidate or position (in this case, YES on statewide retentions). Luzerne County, which Trump carried in 2024 by nearly 20 points, saw Democrats regain their County Council. Even in red Lebanon County, Democrats enjoyed success in its largest borough, Palmyra. Additionally, in early 2025, a state Senate seat in Lancaster County flipped Democratic for the first time in 130 years. Democrats proved strong in 2025.
While odd-year elections typically see around 30%-35% turnout, many counties saw over 40%, some even over 45%, turnout. This turnout seems to reflect a higher Democratic Get-Out-The-Vote push.
So, the question then poses itself: how can Republicans motivate voters to show up without Trump on the ballot? Specifically, in odd-year elections, how can the GOP engage with conservative-leaning independents and Republicans in a meaningful way that turbocharges turnout to edge out Democrats at local and judicial levels? While many pundits on television can offer platitudes, people involved in the process know the keys to winning, and it all begins at the precinct level.
First, volunteer recruitment must dominate the priority list. Without poll greeters, door knockers, staffers for local headquarters, and sign builders, the ground game will dissolve. This aspect of the process, in many local cases, presents the largest hurdle. Door knocking proves to serve as a key component of winning campaigns by the margins. While mentioned ubiquitously, the actual practice of door-to-door canvassing falls largely upon younger, energetic volunteers or staffers. Alan S. Gerber, a professor of political science at Yale University, studied the effects of door knocking. While surveying a race in New Haven, CT, he determined that door knocking increased turnout by roughly 6.3%. Many Pennsylvania rural communities often feel dejected or abandoned by the political powers that be. Door knockers can help humanize the candidates/issues and foster the sense of belonging and community that these places represent.
Fully embracing mail-in voting will also boost these numbers, and not just posting about “banking your vote” on social media. In Blair County, 6,864 people voted by mail. While independents and Republicans vote by mail, the overwhelming majority of these votes cast go to Democrats. In a year like 2025, overcoming thousands of votes becomes improbable. Targeting these voters requires consistent effort. In Pennsylvania, you can access mail-in ballot requests and see who returns their ballots as well. Activists must identify these individuals and encourage them to return their votes to help make Election Day numbers slightly more palatable for victory.
As the county party chair in a largely rural county that also contains a Class III city which exhibits many post-industrial traits, I find these directions paramount to ensuring that these beautiful areas that so many across Pennsylvania call home do not fall into the cracks of the campaign agenda. While we must target some areas more than others, every voter matters, and every municipality must hold importance to all activists, parties, and candidates.
