In These White Towns, Allegiance to Trump Has Backfired

For decades, the conversation about poverty has been shaped by a familiar image: struggling urban neighborhoods or the predominantly Black communities of the Deep South. Lost in that narrative are thousands of overwhelmingly white rural communities facing many of the same economic challenges: high poverty rates, shrinking job markets, declining populations and heavy reliance on public assistance programs.

In many of these counties, residents depend on programs such as Medicaid and SNAP at rates well above the national average, but residents routinely cast their votes for President Donald Trump and other Republicans who have pledged to gut these programs.

This is not a story about race. It is a story about how economics, identity and politics often shape how Americans vote… even if it’s against their own interest. The result is a national blind spot: poverty that remains largely invisible because it does not fit the stereotypes that dominate political debate.

Campton, Kentucky (Wolfe County)

Campton, Kentucky is home to fewer than 300 people, all of whom were born in the U.S. The majority-white town launched major support for Trump during all three of his campaigns.

Campton’s Concerning Poverty Rate

Campton’s staggering poverty rate sits at 47%– according to Data USA— which means more residents rely on government assistance programs like SNAP and Medicaid. The president has signed legislation targeting those specific programs, which has effectively increased requirements and increased the price Americans must shell out.

Bridgewater, South Dakota (McCook County)

In McCook County, Trump secured more than 73 percent of the popular vote. Small towns like Bridgewater, which has a total population of 516, are made up of majority white Americans– 94% white– who have shown loyalty to Trump and MAGA.

Trump’s Impact on Bridgewater Farmers

Many rural voters chose Trump on the promise that life would be easier once he took office, but for agricultural hubs like Bridgewater, rising prices on soybeans and gas have stunted their financial growth. According to the Center for American Progress, the prices farmers have to pay to produce their crops have increased by 50% from 2011 to now.

His immigration crackdown made it harder for ranchers, farmers, and milk producers to find the workers they needed.

Beattyville, Kentucky (Lee County)

Over 81 percent of Kentucky voters in Lee County cast their ballots for Trump during the 2020 and 2024 elections, according to CNN and POLITICO exit polls. In towns like Beattyville, the landslide political allegiance follows a larger trend of poverty-stricken towns and their beliefs in MAGA. According to the Guardian, Beattyville was the poorest white town in 2015.

Beattyville’s Allegiance to Trump

Like others on this list, Beattyville falls well below the poverty line, with most residents reportedly on Medicaid, CNN reported. Still, voters’ faith in Trump did not change in 2016… And it doesn’t seem to be changing now, TRT World reported.

Booneville, Kentucky (Owsley County)

MAGA supporters in Owsley County, Kentucky are proud of their loyalty to the president. In fact, they helped elect him, with nearly 90% of voters showing up for Trump at the voting booth, according to CNN. Still, residents in towns like Booneville have a poverty rate of 17.1%.

Owsley County Mirrors Poor Black Communities

Owsley County’s poverty rates rival some of the poorest Black communities in the South, yet voters continue to support politicians who campaign against expanding the social safety net, which many rely on. The contrast is evident: economic difficulties does not always determine voters’ political choices.

Welch, West Virginia (McDowell County)

Welch, West Virginia, the seat of McDowell County, reflects the same economic challenges facing most former coal communities. The county is about 86% white and has a poverty rate above 30%, according to DATA USA. Despite the poverty being one of the highest in West Virginia, many residents are avid Trump supporters.

A Political Shift in Welch

West Virginia hasn’t helped to elect a Democrat since President Bill Clinton, according to CNN. And in counties like McDowell, sharp loyalty for Republicans only mirrors the widespread political alignment across Appalachia. Now, residents are focused on candidates who can “bring back jobs” and restore towns like Welch to their peak coal production days.

Van Buren, Missouri (Carter County)

Van Buren, Missouri, shows that poverty in rural America isn’t just an Appalachian problem. Carter County is about 94% white, and more than 1 in 5 residents live in poverty, according to the World Population Review.

Van Buren’s Struggles

The county, located in the Ozarks, has faced years of low-paying jobs, limited economic opportunities and population decline. Even with these struggles, the area remains strongly conservative and continues to vote overwhelmingly Republican in national elections.