{
  "id": 10200611,
  "title": "The most pressing midterm issues for rural voters",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/the-most-pressing-midterm-issues-for-rural-voters",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-27T10:55:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Axios",
    "slug": "axios",
    "url": "https://www.axios.com/2026/09/27/rural-voters-cost-of-living-midterms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Midterm elections approach, and rural voters prioritize economic concerns above immigration and other issues, according to a new AP/KFF poll. Sixty-nine percent of rural voters find it extremely important for candidates to discuss the cost of living, while 56% prioritize health care costs and 54% are concerned about government program fraud.\n\nThe poll of 2,241 registered rural voters reveals that cost of living worries encompass a broad range of expenses, with 57% mentioning affordability in daily life, 67% worried about gas or transportation costs, 66% about healthcare, and 60% about food and groceries. A significant 75% of respondents rated the cost of living in their area as fair or poor, a 25 percentage point increase since 2017.\n\nDespite this dissatisfaction, rural voters' party allegiance remains Republican-leaning. Forty percent of respondents trust Republicans more to handle the cost of living, compared to 25% who trust Democrats and 27% who trust neither party. Rural voters identify as 54% Republican or Republican-leaning independents, and 32% as Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents.\n\nThis economic frustration may impact voter enthusiasm among rural Republicans. Twenty-seven percent of rural Republican voters disapprove of Trump's economic handling, yet 59% of this group says they are absolutely certain to vote in the midterms. However, 98% of rural Republicans say they are more likely to vote for a Republican than a Democrat.",
  "summary": "Data: KFF/AP Rural Voters Survey ; Chart: Herb Scribner Cost of living and health care costs top the list of issues rural voters want 2026 midterm candidates to address, according to a new AP/KFF poll . The big picture: Ahead of the midterms, rural voters rank pocketbook concerns above immigration, the conflict with Iran and several major domestic policy debates. By the numbers: 69% of rural…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}