The short version
- Candidates in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Montana are emphasizing local agrarian values to win over voters in traditionally Republican areas.
- The campaign strategy draws parallels between historical opposition to railroad monopolies and current concerns about big tech data centers.
- Politicians describe their approach as pragmatic and nonpartisan, aiming to bridge divides by focusing on middle-class and rural community needs.
In the final weeks of the midterm election cycle, a distinct political strategy is emerging across the American Midwest and prairie states. Democratic and independent candidates are moving away from standard national party platforms to embrace a form of resurgent populism tailored to rural communities. This approach relies heavily on direct engagement with voters in areas that have long been considered Republican strongholds. The goal is to reclaim ground lost by the left and center over the past decade by addressing specific local grievances rather than relying on broad ideological appeals.
Dan Osborn, an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate in Nebraska, exemplifies this method. He has committed to visiting all ninety-three counties in the state, including tiny towns like Arthur, which has a population of roughly one hundred. In these locations, he enters local businesses and speaks directly with residents. This shoe-leather politics reflects a belief that every vote counts, even in solidly red regions often ignored by major campaigns. Osborn’s effort mirrors similar tours by other high-profile candidates seeking to penetrate rural heartlands through persistent, face-to-face interaction.
The messaging employed by these candidates is rooted in the agrarian culture of their respective states. They draw inspiration from historical figures who challenged corporate interests on behalf of farmers and workers. Josh Turek, a Democratic Senate candidate in Iowa, describes himself as a commonsense prairie populist. He frames his political north star as determining what is best for Iowans, particularly the middle class, workers, and small family farms. This rhetoric seeks to connect with voters who feel abandoned by both major parties, echoing sentiments from previous generations of midwestern politics.
In Montana, Democratic congressional candidate Sam Forstag emphasizes economic populism in his bid to flip a red district. He highlights issues affecting everyday people, such as reliance on food stamps, to illustrate the struggles of rural families. Meanwhile, Adam Hamilton, a Democratic pastor running for office in Kansas, is described by observers as practicing a populism of decency. Comparisons have been drawn between Hamilton and William Jennings Bryan, a late-nineteenth-century evangelical populist known as the great commoner. These candidates often resist strict partisan labels, instead promoting pragmatism and a willingness to collaborate with politicians across the aisle.
Hamilton’s campaign points to historical bipartisan cooperation in Kansas, such as the creation of the Farm Bill, which has supported farmers and low-income children for decades. The message is that delivering for the state requires working together rather than adhering to rigid party lines. This stance appeals to voters who value practical results over ideological purity. By looking up to figures like the late Republican Senator Bob Dole, Hamilton signals an openness to cross-party alliances that resonate with moderate and independent voters in rural areas.
A significant shift in this cycle is the inclusion of data centers and artificial intelligence in the populist platform. Candidates are tapping into anti-corporate and anti-elite sentiments by framing big tech expansion as a threat to local land use and lifestyles. Jane Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, noted that her party has adapted quickly to voter concerns on these issues. Rather than over-testing policies through polls, candidates are leaning into topics that residents are already discussing. This responsiveness allows them to address fears about outside corporate interference in their communities.
Historical context provides a framework for understanding this modern strategy. Cory Haala, a history professor at South Dakota State University, notes that the late-nineteenth-century populist movement focused on small farmers opposing railroad monopolies. Railroads charged exorbitant rates and bought up land, prompting farmers to organize with labor groups to regulate these out-of-state interests. Today’s candidates are drawing parallels between those historical flashpoints and current concerns about antitrust issues and data center development. The faceless nature of large corporations remains a consistent target for populist organizing.
Elements of this progressive populism have persisted in the region, such as state-run banks in North Dakota and political alliances like Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor party. After peaking in the 1980s during the farm crisis, prairie populists were once considered a fading species by 2013. However, new economic pressures are reviving these themes. The current campaign efforts suggest that anti-monopoly sentiments and concerns over corporate power are providing fresh opportunities for organizing. This approach aims to unite rural voters around shared economic interests rather than dividing them along traditional partisan lines.
As election day approaches, the success of this strategy remains uncertain. While candidates like Osborn, Turek, Forstag, and Hamilton are making significant efforts to engage rural voters, the deeply entrenched Republican support in these areas poses a formidable challenge. The emphasis on local issues and historical parallels offers a novel path for Democrats and independents. Whether this prairie populism can translate into electoral gains will depend on how effectively these candidates can connect with voters who feel disconnected from national political narratives. The outcome could reshape the political landscape of the Midwest for years to come.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian US Politics↗‘Talking to every single person matters’: ‘prairie populists’ canvass the rural US heartland to win in midterms
