Nancy is joined by guest host Betsy Morgan on this episode featuring superstar activist Jess Piper speaking about how Democrats can win with rural voters. Jess has become a prominent voice for rural Democrats and in her work at Blue Missouri, she and her colleagues are working to run a Democrat in every race in the state. Jess, Betsy and Nancy talk about the desperate state of affairs in rural Missouri where infrastructure has been gutted by the Republican state supermajority; what Democrats get wrong when it comes to rural voters; and how a relatively small increase in Democratic turnout in those areas can have outsize impacts on top of ballot races.

To learn more about Jess and her work, check out her Substack newsletter and to support Blue Missouri, you can do so here.

The University of New Hampshire study that Jess refers to in the podcast can be found here.

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This episode features Jackie Payne of Galvanize Action, an organization that focuses on moderate women living in rural, small town and suburban areas. These women want progress on key issues but aren’t reliably playing a role to get us there. Galvanize Action helps them connect with their values in a way that impacts their civic behavior. Nancy and Jackie talk about the neuroscience and behavioral psychology underlying the work at Galvanize Action; the nuanced concerns of this group of women that constitute the largest voting bloc in the country; and the challenges posed by misinformation and disinformation. To learn more about Galvanize Action and see examples of their top-performing messaging, check out their highlights page.

Thank you for being a listener!

• Stay up to date on New Faces of Democracy by signing up for the newsletter here.
• If you or someone you know would like to be a guest on the podcast, send us an email at info@newfacesofdemocracy.org.
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• Follow New Faces of Democracy on Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.

This episode features a conversation with Sarah Curmi, Executive Director of Sister District. Founded in the aftermath of the 2016 election, Sister District is a women-led grassroots political group that is dedicated to building lasting Democratic power in state legislatures. The group is powered by volunteers in blue districts that pair or “sister” up with key swing districts where their efforts can really move the needle. Unlike some other groups that have petered out over the years, the folks at Sister District have taken their mandate and run with it, expanding their operations to much more than just elections. Sarah and Nancy talk about the secret sauce that makes Sister District different, their work with local grassroots groups, and the community that people can find within the local chapters. Sister District is doing really interesting, smart and multifaceted work; you can check out their website to learn more and get involved.

Thank you for being a listener!

• Stay up to date on New Faces of Democracy by signing up for the newsletter here.
• If you or someone you know would like to be a guest on the podcast, send us an email at info@newfacesofdemocracy.org.
• If you like this podcast, please subscribe/rate/review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It makes a huge difference!
• Follow New Faces of Democracy on Instagram, Threads and Bluesky.