Empowering Rural Voices: Highlights from the Inaugural Rural Democratic Leaders Conference

This weekend, we hosted our inaugural Rural Democratic Leaders Conference, featuring an impressive array of participants from across the country. Rural Democrats and progressives are motivated, know the stakes, and are feeling the impact of the Trump/Musk DOGE agenda.

Throughout the week, we’ll recap the event in a series of posts. We learned a great deal from the attendees, and we look forward to sharing ideas and building on the great energy.

As Executive Director, I kicked off the Rural Democratic Leaders Conference, noting its purpose: "Today is all about empowering local leaders and organizations that support Democratic candidates and democratic values in their local communities."

We then heard former Baltimore Mayor, Governor of Maryland, and most relevant for our conversations, the Biden administration’s Social Security Commissioner, Martin O’Malley. He has been a forceful voice fighting the Trump/Musk efforts to ruin Social Security - a program that really is a key component for rural prosperity.

O’Malley told us "there are so many big lies being told about Social Security” like Musk calling it a “ponzi scheme” - we all need to call out the lies and speak out the truth about this vital program.

People see the damage Musk and DOGE are doing to Social Security already - especially in small towns and rural communities. He’s traveling the country to sound the alarm and help us fight back.

We next heard from comediate Trae Crowder, who many know as “the liberal redneck.” He told the his own story of growing up in Celina, Tennessee and how it changed over the decades, becoming a MAGA stronghold. And, he talked about all of us doing the work to fight back and make change. Felt good to hear Trae say, "Could not support more wholeheartedly" everyone who is doing things!

One really vital element he told us was at his shows across the country, a lot of rural progressives show up and find like minded people. He said many of people who come realize they are not the only rural Democrat in their town! That’s why visibility and vocal locals matter!

We also were fortunate to hear from former U.S. Representative from New Mexico, Xochitl Torres Small, who was Deputy Secretary at the Department of Agriculture. She pointed out something we needed to hear, “we are not alone” and our nation deserves better. She, listed the risks to rural communities from the Trump administration - and there are many. She draws strength from those who are fighting back!

Leslie Frane, Executive Vice President of SEIU joined to talk about the importance of Medicaid and the very real threats to this vital program. The US House and Senate have already passed budget resolutions that would cut almost one billion dollars. The House Energy and Commerce Committee will mark up the bill on May 7.

Frame reinforced what we all know: Motivation of the attacks on Medicaid is to fund tax cuts for billionaires. And, she did a terrific job outlining the key role of Medicaid in small towns and rural communities.

It wouldn’t be a rural event without music and we had an amazing interlude from Nathan Evans Fox who sang “Landlords” and a new song out soon, Bottleneck. Stay tuned for the videos from that amazing performance and our conversation with Nathan.

I’ll be posting more about the event, including our breakout sessions through the week. In closing, we did lay out Rural Organizing’s plan for 2025:

We are launching a bold national campaign to defend Social Security, Medicaid, and other vital rural services

We already have local organizers in six House battleground districts

We want to help turn people out to your events and recruit high level surrogates to your events.

More to come on all of this!