Winning Elections in Rural Virginia

Flipping 5 Rural Statehouse Districts

In rural Virginia, neighbors too often overlooked became central to some of 2025’s most important election wins. By showing up early, listening first, and lifting up local voices, Rural GroundGame connected policy and elections to everyday rural life.

Rural voters shaped the year's biggest outcomes as Virginia weighed a full slate of statewide and local races. The country watched for what the results might signal for coming midterms as 13 House seats flipped to pro‑democracy leadership, five in rural districts. Gains in 49 of Virginia’s 52 rural counties powered statewide wins and the governor’s race, showing how rural voters shape outcomes far beyond their county lines.

Building Year-Round Capacity

To drive that shift, Rural GroundGame built year‑round capacity where campaigns have historically underinvested. They worked alongside neighborhood committees, volunteers, and emerging leaders across 43 House districts and dozens of school board and county supervisor races.

As a one‑stop shop, the team recruited candidates, provided voter data, and offered hands‑on field operations training, fundraising, finance, and communications — tools that are often scarce or nonexistent in many rural communities. They helped candidates talk about what they stand for as good neighbors, focusing on practical issues like feeding kids, fixing roads, and keeping basic services reliable.

Storykeepers Bring Policy to the Kitchen Table

Organizers also invested in storytelling that brings policy choices home. In partnership with Video Activists Academy, they piloted a Local Storyteller Project, so working‑class Virginians — their “Storykeepers” — could share personal stories about how housing availability, public schools, economic opportunity, and cuts to Medicaid impact their lives.

Through video ads and social media content, public school teachers, farmers, and health care providers spoke directly to their neighbors, turning complex policy debates into clear, relatable choices. From front‑porch conversations to widely shared videos, this work makes sure rural communities’ voices and decisions are felt far and wide.

Note: The grantee work described may include activities that were not directly funded by Rural Democracy Initiative, but are included to provide a comprehensive overview of the impact of Rural Ground Game's efforts.