Hate Isn’t Winning in Ohio… or in These Battleground States Either!

It’s no secret that there’s been an increase in hateful, even violent rhetoric in the political space. Whether it’s birtherism theories, references to “woke” movements attempting to indoctrinate children, “DEI” hires, or the “invasion” at the southern border, it’s hard to miss the numerous ways in which the GOP has woven hatred rooted in racism and misogyny into political discussions.

Without stating causation, it’s important to note that at the same time, we’ve seen a corresponding increase in white nationalism presence and violent political threats. Recently, our sister organization, Ruralorganizing.org, conducted a national survey with 959 participants, of which 72.2% stated they were facing threats of political violence in their community.

Of the 959 participants, 616 (64.3%) identified themselves as living in a rural community or small town. For some, that information could be disheartening, disappointing, or disturbing enough to cause them to disengage entirely from the political process.

The good news?

That doesn’t seem to be the case.

We’re seeing many people in these areas who are actively engaged in the election process and taking bold steps and putting up yard signs! To date, 56 of Ohio’s 88 (63.6%) counties have requested yard signs demonstrating their support for choice, freedom, and healthcare.

If that’s not exciting enough, there’s more!

Nineteen counties reported experiencing threats of white nationalism, BUT seventeen (89.5%) of those counties requested yard signs! What does that tell us? For our team, it says that the hateful rhetoric being pushed by the GOP isn’t working… and it may just backfire! More and more, Democrats in rural areas are finding their voice, stepping out of the shadows, and letting their representatives know that they support progressive policies and their vote counts.

Broader Battleground Impact

The four other battleground states where we’re running yard sign campaigns support what we’ve seen in Ohio. In Montana, 83.3% of the counties that reported these types of threats ordered yard signs. In Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, every single county (100%) that had reported threats of political violence had people requesting yard signs!

Over the last year, our network of organizations has delivered over 14,000 yard signs to people in small towns and rural communities (we call them Vocal Locals). The data shows that every yard sign placed generates 4-6 organic conversations. Now, that’s something to get excited about!

The Success Stories from Ohio, Montana, and Michigan

Ohio:

Marje, a Vocal Local, recently scheduled a 1:1 with me after submitting an unsolicited op-ed. She is recruiting 3-5 people for another call with me in two weeks and wants more signs. Marje also attended the monthly NetWORKing and statewide Ohio calls, demonstrating her commitment and enthusiasm.

Montana:

Dylan turned an initial reaction to receiving 10 signs into a personal connection. She now understands our strategy and the arc of the campaign. Dylan loves building and connecting a foundation of shared values to the Democratic candidate. She shared that she’s on the spectrum and is also a therapist speaking at an event in Knoxville, TN, in October.

Michigan:

Stephanie had 50 signs and has given out 25 so far. She is holding the other 25 for an event this weekend. Stephanie even had to give some of her signs to a friend in the neighboring county because people had seen them, loved the messaging, and wanted more. She scheduled a 1:1 and uses our Rural Roadmap and Yard Sign Toolkits. She is also enrolling her 20-something daughter and her friend in the efforts, with 5-7 people expected on our next call in two weeks.

Just This Year

We’ve always known that people in our communities are strong, resilient, and ready to do what’s necessary to improve the quality of life for themselves, their families, and their neighbors. In 2024, a political cycle unlike any we’ve seen in recent history, their courage matters. Their hope matters. And yes, their yard signs matter.

You can continue to support RuralVote.org’s important work by donating today.

— Dani Cook, RuralVote.org Community Manager