Rural voters in GOP strongholds helped carry Democrats to midterm victories

DES MOINES — Democrats have a surprising group of voters to thank, in part, for their sweeping victories in the midterm elections Tuesday.

Rural counties across the country swung more than 15 percentage points toward Democrats this year compared with 2024. While rural communities remained more Republican than Democratic, their support waned significantly, hurting GOP candidates who relied on the typically deep-red voting bloc.