{
  "id": 4628681,
  "title": "Map Shows Planned Buc-ee's Locations as CEO Vows Focus on Conservative States",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/map-shows-planned-buc-ees-locations-as-ceo-vows-focus-on-conservative",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-31T10:55:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/map-shows-planned-bucees-ceo-vows-focus-on-conservative-states-12385999"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Buc-ee's CEO Arch Beaver Aplin III has announced the company's intention to prioritize expansion in conservative, business-friendly states. A new map of 24 planned Buc-ee's locations, as tracked by Roadtrip Beaver, reveals 22 of the proposed sites are in Republican voting states, while only two are in Democratic states like Virginia. This focus on conservative areas comes after Aplin praised the opening of the company's first location in Arkansas, highlighting the preference for states where Buc-ee's is well-received.\n\nThe map shows potential Buc-ee's sites spanning from Idaho and Utah to Florida and South Carolina. The locations are at different stages, from early planning to active construction. Notable areas where construction is underway include Meridian, Idaho; Gretna, Nebraska; Springville, Utah; Kansas City, Kansas; Greenwood and Whitestown, Indiana; Ruston and Lafayette, Louisiana; Murfreesboro and Gallaway, Tennessee; and multiple Florida sites. Only the Virginia locations, Stafford and New Kent, are predicted in states that supported Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in 2024, whereas the remaining 22 projects are in states won by Republican candidate Donald Trump.\n\nAplin's remarks echo his previous comments during the Benton, Arkansas, opening, where he stated that the company seeks \"conservative, business-friendly states with a phenomenal workforce.\" He emphasized that \"Life's too short to try to build in places that people don't appreciate what you're bringing versus a place like this, where people do appreciate what you're building.\"\n\nBuc-ee's has been the subject of trademark disputes with smaller businesses, leading to criticism over its aggressive legal actions. However, supporters argue that the company has become an economic success by partnering with communities that support large-scale commercial development. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders praised Aplin's remarks following the opening in Benton, affirming that the Buc-ee's founder \"said it best\" about attracting businesses to states that welcome investment.\n\nBuc-ee's, founded in Texas in 1982, currently operates 58 locations across 14 states, with rapid expansion over the past decade, including recent openings in Arizona and Ohio. The company's location strategy, influenced by factors such as interstate access, available land, and workforce considerations, now appears to prioritize states that were behind Trump in the 2024 election, reflecting a broader trend in growth decisions.",
  "summary": "A map shows 22 of Buc-ee's 24 planned locations are in Trump-won states after its CEO pledged to favor conservative areas.",
  "key_points": [
    "22 of the 24 planned Buc-ee s locations are in Republican voting states, according to the map.",
    "Only two proposed sites, in Virginia, are in Democratic states, supporting Kamala Harris in 2024."
  ],
  "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."
}