This was a challenging year for everyone, but especially for those living in rural areas. Many rural communities were hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis. This impact was exacerbated by several underlying factors: Rural America is still waiting on reliable broadband infrastructure, over 30% of rural roads are in poor or mediocre condition, and farmers have been battered by low commodity prices, the trade war with China, and mounting bankruptcies.

As President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office, he must recognize that many rural people do not think that Democrats have a message that they can relate to. This is unfortunate, but also something that can easily be solved by a president committed to representing everyone, as Biden has said many times he would do.