Survey: Rural voters, especially women, are 'deeply worried about the rising cost of living'

Graph by Sarah Melotte, The Daily Yonder, from Lake Research and the Center for Rural Strategies data

The fight for rural votes during this year's midterm Senate elections could be decided by American voters seeking economy-stabilizing policies from Washington, and by women voters, who are acutely aware of rising living expenses, a new survey shows.

"Rural voters across Senate battleground states are deeply worried about the rising cost of living, and while that concern cuts across party lines, a new poll suggests it is especially pronounced among women," reports Sarah Melotte of The Daily Yonder.

The survey was conducted by Lake Research Partners and the Center for Rural Strategies, which publishes The Daily Yonder, included interviews with 600 rural voters in 13 states where the Senate seat tug-of-war is playing out. "It paints a picture of a partisan rural electorate, but one that is aligned on economic anxiety," Melotte writes. "The poll revealed a consistent gender gap in how rural voters experience economic strain."

Fifty-five percent of rural voters said "the rising cost of living is one of their top concerns," Melotte explains. "That includes about 60% of Democrats and 53% of Republicans. Women were more likely than men to cite the issue as one of their main concerns – 58% compared to 52%."

Graph by Sarah Melotte, The Daily Yonder, from Lake Research 
and the Center for Rural Strategies data

When it comes to stretching family budgets nearly "a quarter of rural women said they were ‘very worried’ about having to choose between necessities like medical bills and food or utilities, compared to only 17% of rural men," Melotte reports.

Pollster Celinda Lake told Yonder Radio, "People were adamant about protecting social security benefits, increasing local manufacturing jobs, cracking down on price gouging, and making healthcare more affordable . . . There is a very, very strong proactive issue agenda in rural America.”

'No Kings' protests in rural Minnesota highlight changes in some residents' opinions

Faribault residents Matthew, left, and Sarah said they wanted to protest
local ICE activity. (Photo by Betsy Froiland,The Daily Yonder) 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, cost of living increases and the U.S. war in Iran have moved some rural Minnesotans to speak out for change. "Minnesotans in small towns across the state joined the third wave of nationwide ‘No Kings’ protests Saturday, March 28," reports Betsy Froiland of The Daily Yonder.

Although some rural residents protested the Trump administration's immigration policies in October, many didn't feel called to action until ICE conducted aggressive raids and searches in smaller Minnesota towns, such as Faribault, Windom and St. James in early 2026.

Protesters from all three towns "reported escalated ICE activity in their communities in recent months," Froiland explains. "Many told stories of neighbors arrested, local businesses shuttered, and fear spreading in their schools and workplaces."

While the number of protesters who lined the streets of their respective towns was small, their growing numbers and repeated presence mark a change in areas that voted for President Donald Trump in 2024.  

"Some protesters wondered what happened to due process, like Travis McColley, a lifelong Republican who joined the protest in Faribault," Froiland reports. McColley told the Yonder, “People who have been in the community for years who are going through an asylum process are getting grabbed."

Beyond ICE activities, rural Minnesotans also protested against the war in Iran, cost of living increases and overall frustration with Washington. Froiland writes, "Faribault protester Norm Kokes, a ‘No Kings’ protester and a U.S. military veteran, worried about how the war would impact the world economy."

A St. James protester told Froiland, “I’m dissatisfied that billionaires are trying to run our country, and they’re not going to do anything for the common people."

In some places, protesters were met by counter-protesters driving by or standing across the street. Froiland adds, [Some] "revved their engines and gave middle fingers." Despite the difference in opinions, the protests remained non-violent.

In search of a quieter and more affordable place to live, many Americans move to largely rural states

The South Dakota website "Dakota Roots" claims the state is "paradise for anyone who loves the outdoors." (Dakota Roots photo)

Several rural states are seeing population growth as Americans leave cities in search of a different lifestyle that includes lower living costs.

"Nearly 15 million Americans moved across the country in 2025, with many opting for quieter and more affordable places to live, according to data company Stora's U.S. Census analysis, reports Kelly McGreal of Fox News. 

 

Saving money and living closer to nature are big factors for many movers. McGreal writes, "About 88% of movers say they're relocating to save money, while 76% are seeking better access to outdoor lifestyles often found in rural areas."

South Dakota, a state with no income tax, had the largest population gains. "The state recorded the largest net migration increase, with nearly 11,000 more people moving in than leaving," McGreal adds. "Other largely rural states also ranked highly, including Vermont, Nebraska, Mississippi and Alaska."

Home prices are also a driving factor. "Home prices in South Dakota average around $310,000, below the national average," McGreal reports. 

 

Gavin Shields, CEO of Stora, told McGreal, "It's no longer just about the house, but about having financial freedom, the ability to buy your own property that comes at a more affordable price, and a lower cost of living."

Maine lawmakers consider a moratorium on data center developments as more towns reject proposals

Maine lawmakers are considering a moratorium 
on data center builds. (Photo by I. Quick, Unsplash)

As data center developers target parts of rural New England for their sprawling compounds, advocates for Maine want answers to questions "about electricity prices, grid reliability, and impact on water resources," reports Julia Tilton of The Daily Yonder. Several Maine communities rejected data center proposals, in part, because Mainers already pay some of the highest electrical rates in the country.

As lawmakers examine the pros and cons of data centers, "one idea floating around Maine’s statehouse is to impose a moratorium on data center development," Tilton explains. "How Maine navigates these challenges could be a model for the rest of New England, which shares an aging electric grid and faces a similar set of circumstances."

Currently, Maine lawmakers are "considering LD 307, a resolution bill that would establish a data center coordination council to provide input and evaluate policy options for data center development in the state," Tilton reports. Passing a state moratorium would prevent larger data center projects from obtaining permits or building until the moratorium ends.

Not all Maine lawmakers agree that a moratorium is the best option. Matt Harrington, a Republican of York, Maine, voiced concerns "that a moratorium 'would harm' a data center development in his district, which includes several towns in the state’s more urban southern region," Tilton writes. Lawmakers suggested they could grant the data center in Harrington's district an exemption.

Questions about the state's grid and its capacity to "feed" data centers without raising residents' utility bills remain a concern. Seth Berry, executive director of Our Power, a Maine-based nonprofit organization advocating for energy democracy, favors the moratorium. He told Tilton, "There are just so many unknowns. We really have to slow this down and step back and look at this massive new development, preferably as a region.”

American consumers are worried about their energy bills, the job market and the increased cost of groceries

Americans deploy different strategies to counter grocery
costs. (Adobe Stock photo)

Between spiking energy bills and a dreary jobs market, a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs documents the deep stress many Americans feel about their bills and future financial prospects, reports Olivier Knox of U.S. News and World Report. Along with those worries, American consumers continue to look for ways to counter the ever-increasing cost of groceries.

When asked about utility bills, 36% of poll respondents said their "electricity bills are a 'major' source of stress, and a bit more than one half – 54% – said the same about grocery costs, a little more than a year ahead of the November 2026 midterm," Knox writes.

Roughly 47% of polled adults said they were "'not very' or 'not at all confident' they could find a good job if they wanted to," Knox reports. This response marks a big increase from 37% the last time the question was asked in October 2023.

Polled responses were somewhat surprising given the U.S. economy's low unemployment numbers and healthy stock market gains. Knox adds, "But there are worrying signs, including a weakening labor market."

While many Americans express concern about the overall cost of living, most continue to battle ongoing grocery price increases, reports Christopher Kuo of The Wall Street Journal. According to the Labor Department data, since August 2024, the price of "coffee increased 20.9%, ground beef was up 12.8%, and bananas rose 6.6%. Dairy, fruits, vegetables and cereals have all become pricier."

In an effort to help stretch their food budgets, some consumers are "cutting back on purchases, stockpiling certain foods or exploring more-affordable stores," Kuo adds. Other shoppers have become choosier about what lands in their cart, while others scour sale-only items.

U.S. food costs are rising due to higher commodity prices for items like beef, along with market adjustments to tariffs. Kuo explains, "Some of these costs have been absorbed by food companies; others are being passed on to consumers."