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Economic Frustration Tests Trump’s Standing with Rural Voters, New AP-KFF Poll Finds
About half of rural voters say the economy is worse off now, and only 17% see Trump administration health policies helping their costs, the survey found.
An AP-KFF poll of 2,241 rural voters conducted Aug. 12-24, 2026, reveals deep economic frustration among this key group, though President Donald Trump maintains 48% approval despite a slight dip from 56%.
Three-Quarters of rural voters rate their community's cost of living as "only fair" or "poor," a 25 percentage point rise from a similar 2017 survey, reflecting decades of lower wages for rural Americans.
Only 17% of voters report a "positive impact" from Trump's healthcare policies, while 41% say they experienced "no impact" and another 41% report a "negative impact" on their costs.
Democratic candidates may benefit more from rural Republicans staying home than switching parties, an outcome that could influence competitive Senate races in Ohio and Michigan this November.
Healthcare costs and gas prices rank as top economic worries for rural voters, with nine in 10 saying it is "extremely" or "very" important for candidates to address these expenses.