In a significant move, Minnesota Governor and Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz is set to announce his ticket’s agenda focused on enhancing the well-being of rural communities. This initiative comes as Vice President Kamala Harris aims to diminish former President Donald Trump’s influence among this historically Republican-leaning voter base.
The Harris-Walz strategy places a strong emphasis on rural healthcare improvements, aiming to recruit 10,000 new healthcare professionals in underserved rural and tribal areas. The plan proposes various support measures such as scholarships, loan forgiveness, and grants to facilitate this recruitment. Additionally, economic and agricultural policy priorities will be discussed in detail, revealing the campaign’s comprehensive approach, as shared anonymously by a senior campaign staff member ahead of the official announcement.
This effort reflects a strategic push by the Democratic campaign to engage with rural voters over the last three weeks leading up to Election Day. In the last election cycle, Trump garnered approximately twice as many rural votes compared to his opponents, according to data. As both parties seek to expand their reach beyond traditional voting demographics, capturing even a small fraction of these rural votes could be critical in this closely contested race.
Walz plans to make this announcement during a visit to Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, a key battleground in the upcoming 2024 election. Alongside this plan, he is featured in a new radio advertisement that underscores his small-town roots and experiences as a football coach, while directing criticism at Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance from Ohio.
In the advertisement, Walz expresses, “In a small town, you don’t focus on the politics, you focus on taking care of your neighbors and minding your own damn business.” He emphasizes, “Now Donald Trump and JD Vance, they don’t think like us. They’re in it for themselves.” This ad is set to be broadcast across over 500 rural radio stations spanning Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
The Harris-Walz plan also advocates for Congress to make telemedicine coverage under Medicare a permanent provision. This benefit, introduced during the pandemic, has been crucial for millions seeking healthcare, and is expected to lapse at the end of 2024 if not renewed. Furthermore, the proposal includes grants to bolster volunteer emergency medical services, aiming to halve the number of Americans located more than 25 minutes away from ambulance services.
Additionally, the initiative calls for the restoration of the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provided financial assistance for home internet services but expired last June. Lawmakers are also urged to mandate equipment manufacturers to allow farmers the right to repair their own machinery, addressing ongoing concerns about accessibility and ownership for agricultural stakeholders.