The most rural of the battleground states this year is North Carolina. About 3.4 million people, or roughly a third of the state’s population, reside in a rural area, more than in any other state besides Texas.
Democrats have seen their support slip in rural areas, ceding ground to Republicans. As such, rural voters in North Carolina could determine which way the state goes on Election Day, as Democrats hope to curb their losses in these communities and Republicans seek to solidify their grip.
But in interviews with more than 30 people in Wilson County, about 50 miles east of Raleigh, where backcountry roads weave in and out of tobacco fields, many residents told us that they felt both parties often overlooked their concerns, about high prices, underfunded schools and rapid growth from the state capital that is stretching into town.
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Nick Ellison
Nick Ellison
Sharon High-Jones
Sharon High-Jones
Paige Chesson
Paige Chesson
Alberto Herrera
Alberto Herrera
Julius Syfrett
Julius Syfrett
Nick Ellison
Nick Ellison
Amanda Cameron
Amanda Cameron
Sharon High-Jones
Sharon High-Jones
Julius Syfrett
Julius Syfrett
Amanda Cameron
Amanda Cameron
Alberto Herrera
Alberto Herrera
Gracie Torres
Gracie Torres
Sharon High-Jones
Sharon High-Jones
Nick Ellison
Nick Ellison
Gracie Torres
Gracie Torres
Nick Ellison
Nick Ellison
I’m a barber.
I’m a barber.
I’m a real estate agent.
I’m a real estate agent.
I’m a teacher.
I’m a teacher.
I’m a registered nurse.
I’m a registered nurse.
I just retired in November.
I just retired in November.
I am 21 years old.
I am 21 years old.
64 years old.
64 years old.
Despite my looks, I’m 29.
Despite my looks, I’m 29.
I know I look 40.
I know I look 40.
I am 99 years old.
I am 99 years old.
Basically, I’ve lived here all my life.
Basically, I’ve lived here all my life.
I am Wilson born and bred.
I am Wilson born and bred.
It’s quiet, laid back.
It’s quiet, laid back.
Definitely slower pace of life.
Definitely slower pace of life.
It’s small, but it’s very beautiful.
It’s small, but it’s very beautiful.
I wouldn’t trade it for nothing.
I wouldn’t trade it for nothing.
It’s very rural.
It’s very rural.
A lot of agriculture around here.
A lot of agriculture around here.
I’m real proud of Wilson, really.
I’m real proud of Wilson, really.
it is a city that’s growing.
it is a city that’s growing.
It’s a city that’s on the move.
It’s a city that’s on the move.
People are realizing Wilson’s like a little honey hole,
People are realizing Wilson’s like a little honey hole,
which I don’t think is going to last for long.
which I don’t think is going to last for long.
There’s more houses being built.
There’s more houses being built.
They’re building a Dollar General right beside
They’re building a Dollar General right beside
of our property.
of our property.
I might even ride my horse up there because it’s within
I might even ride my horse up there because it’s within
riding or walking distance.
riding or walking distance.
People that can’t afford to live in Raleigh
People that can’t afford to live in Raleigh
are coming to live in Wilson.
are coming to live in Wilson.
I definitely don’t think that we are close
I definitely don’t think that we are close
to the city vibes yet,
to the city vibes yet,
but who knows what the next 20, 30 years brings.
but who knows what the next 20, 30 years brings.
The ascension of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic presidential nominee has excited many Democrats in Wilson County, which narrowly voted for President Biden in 2020 and has about 78,000 residents, 40 percent of whom are Black. But voters across the county say that the animus that has plagued national politics feels draining, especially in a small place where people value being able to get along.
The Struggle for Rural Votes
The new chair of the state Democratic Party, Anderson Clayton, has prioritized reconnecting with rural voters since taking office in 2023, arguing that Democrats cannot rely only on cities and suburbs to win.
David Sherrod, a conservative in Wilson who worked at a farm most of his life and is now a mechanic, said that “the politics of both parties have flaws,” including not engaging enough with voters outside major cities. His support, though, is fully behind former President Donald J. Trump.
“I don’t agree with everything he does,” Mr. Sherrod said. “But I feel listened to.”
Even a Democratic voter like Jamar Jones, 29, said he sympathized with neighbors who felt fed up with both camps.
“You should be able to get an abortion and you can own a gun,” Mr. Jones said. “If the two parties are going to be polar opposites on every issue, then it’s just a scam.”
Mr. Sherrod, however, is the kind of voter that North Carolina Democrats have struggled to persuade. Since the ’90s, Republicans have mostly won the state’s rural counties, partly through a message about being left behind. Mr. Trump has continued that trend, even though many voters we spoke to in Wilson acknowledged his flaws.
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Gracie Torres
Gracie Torres
Nick Ellison
Nick Ellison
Sharon High-Jones
Sharon High-Jones
Gracie Torres
Gracie Torres
Julius Syfrett
Julius Syfrett
Paige Chesson
Paige Chesson
Julius Syfrett
Julius Syfrett
Gracie Torres
Gracie Torres
Sharon High-Jones
Sharon High-Jones
Paige Chesson
Paige Chesson
Julius Syfrett
Julius Syfrett
Gracie Torres
Gracie Torres
Nick Ellison
Nick Ellison
Julius Syfrett
Julius Syfrett
Nick Ellison
Nick Ellison
Nick Ellison
Nick Ellison
Amanda Cameron
Amanda Cameron
I think Trump is a good candidate.
I think Trump is a good candidate.
I don’t know that Trump is the best person for the job.
I don’t know that Trump is the best person for the job.
There’s definitely some unease.
There’s definitely some unease.
I don’t feel like there’s a great option.
I don’t feel like there’s a great option.
I don’t necessarily consider them ideal.
I don’t necessarily consider them ideal.
It’s a hot mess.
It’s a hot mess.
I try to make prayerful decisions whenever I’m going in to vote.
I try to make prayerful decisions whenever I’m going in to vote.
I’m not saying Trump’s perfect.
I’m not saying Trump’s perfect.
I’ve already gotten:
I’ve already gotten:
“Oh, well, you’re probably going to vote for Harris
“Oh, well, you’re probably going to vote for Harris
because you’re a woman.”
because you’re a woman.”
Not necessarily.
Not necessarily.
Here’s this man,
Here’s this man,
fighting for what I believe is right,
fighting for what I believe is right,
they’re trying to kill him.
they’re trying to kill him.
It would have been a civil war.
It would have been a civil war.
If he would, that man would have laid dead on that stage,
If he would, that man would have laid dead on that stage,
the guns would have come out from people that
the guns would have come out from people that
you wouldn’t think owned a gun.
you wouldn’t think owned a gun.
Raised his fist up in the air
Raised his fist up in the air
and said, “Fight.”
and said, “Fight.”
I really felt that.
I really felt that.
He’s a very powerful individual.
He’s a very powerful individual.
I’m drawn to people who are powerful.
I’m drawn to people who are powerful.
I believe the best candidate for this election is Kamala.
I believe the best candidate for this election is Kamala.
As an African-American woman, I can say,
As an African-American woman, I can say,
“My president looks like me.”
“My president looks like me.”
I never imagined myself being in a place where
I never imagined myself being in a place where
I was undecided or this was even going
I was undecided or this was even going
to be a question in my mind.
to be a question in my mind.
that Joker might win.
that Joker might win.
He started doing something good for this country
He started doing something good for this country
because he was a businessman.
because he was a businessman.
Businessman.
Businessman.
He’s a businessman.
He’s a businessman.
He’s not a politician.
He’s not a politician.
He’s a financial whiz.
He’s a financial whiz.
He’s a billionaire.
He’s a billionaire.
Not only is he a businessman,
Not only is he a businessman,
but he loves our country.
but he loves our country.
He could be at any one of his multi-million,
He could be at any one of his multi-million,
billion dollar
billion dollar
hotels, resorts, on a boat with models.
hotels, resorts, on a boat with models.
And he’s choosing to put himself to go through
And he’s choosing to put himself to go through
hell and back.
hell and back.
I just hope that Kamala Harris is the president
I just hope that Kamala Harris is the president
and that Trump would just
and that Trump would just
go on back to Mar-A-Lago.
go on back to Mar-A-Lago.
Voters in Wilson described feeling alienated and worn down by the emphasis on race and identity in politics. Some white, conservative-leaning voters said they were tired of the Democrats’ focus on race. Mr. Trump has tried to appeal to those voters by stoking resentments about their economic fortunes, at times using racially charged language.
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Julius Syfrett
Julius Syfrett
Politicians don’t know crap about a working man out here.
Politicians don’t know crap about a working man out here.
They don’t.
They don’t.
I started raising myself at 13.
I started raising myself at 13.
I’m paying my own bills and everything else at 15 years old.
I’m paying my own bills and everything else at 15 years old.
Where’s the white privilege in that?
Where’s the white privilege in that?
Where’s the white privilege in that?
Where’s the white privilege in that?
I was just as poor.
I was just as poor.
My family was just as poor as anybody else.
My family was just as poor as anybody else.
And I’m tired of listening to bull crap about saying that.
And I’m tired of listening to bull crap about saying that.
The only privileged ones are the rich sitting in the penthouses.
The only privileged ones are the rich sitting in the penthouses.
That’s who is privileged.
That’s who is privileged.
I’m not privileged because of my skin.
I’m not privileged because of my skin.
I don’t condemn somebody because of their color of skin.
I don’t condemn somebody because of their color of skin.
I’m fed up with the crap that got started in the
I’m fed up with the crap that got started in the
United States:
United States:
It’s my skin.
It’s my skin.
And you ain’t going to condemn me because I’m white.
And you ain’t going to condemn me because I’m white.
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They don’t understand
They don’t understand
about being a Black man.
about being a Black man.
They really don’t understand.
They really don’t understand.
I guess most white people, white men, look at us like
I guess most white people, white men, look at us like
like we nothing.
like we nothing.
I’m not saying that I hate white folk because I do not.
I’m not saying that I hate white folk because I do not.
I don’t like the unfairness that goes on.
I don’t like the unfairness that goes on.
I don’t care where it’s at.
I don’t care where it’s at.
The state of the country is divided.
The state of the country is divided.
It’s divided real bad.
It’s divided real bad.
Not because of the people.
Not because of the people.
Because of politicians.
Because of politicians.
Race got a lot to do with what goes on.
Race got a lot to do with what goes on.
And we as a country need to pull together
And we as a country need to pull together
and stop using race to destroy each other.
and stop using race to destroy each other.
But many Black and Hispanic voters in Wilson said that addressing racial inequality was important for the country, and that Ms. Harris represented a more racially inclusive America.
“It matters to me that there’s a woman of color with an immigrant background running for president,” said Flor Herrera-Picasso, 33, who remembers her Mexican American family encountering racism while she was growing up in Wilson.
“Obviously it’s not going to mean equality for all yet,” she said, “but it’s a step in the right direction.”
L.G.B.T.Q. Issues and Abortion Stir Debate
Some Democrats we talked to said they worried about preserving gay rights. Many conservatives voiced concerns about the acceptance of transgender people in schools and sports, an issue that has resonated with large swaths of the Republican base.
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Nick Ellison
Nick Ellison
Nick Ellison
Nick Ellison
Paige Chesson
Paige Chesson
Gracie Torres
Gracie Torres
Julius Syfrett
Julius Syfrett
Alberto Herrera
Alberto Herrera
I definitely think my faith has played a role
I definitely think my faith has played a role
in who I’m voting for.
in who I’m voting for.
And this is going to be a touchy subject
And this is going to be a touchy subject
for a lot of people but —
for a lot of people but —
I don’t want to say that.
I don’t want to say that.
The whole L.G.B.T.Q. thing,
The whole L.G.B.T.Q. thing,
that’s not faith,
that’s not faith,
that’s not faith-based.
that’s not faith-based.
That’s not in the Bible.
That’s not in the Bible.
I am everything I am because of my husband.
I am everything I am because of my husband.
And when Roe v. Wade was overturned,
And when Roe v. Wade was overturned,
the next week we went to the courthouse and got married.
the next week we went to the courthouse and got married.
We saw something so significant in history get changed.
We saw something so significant in history get changed.
You know, we started getting a little bit worried.
You know, we started getting a little bit worried.
If you’re happy,
If you’re happy,
do your thing.
do your thing.
That’s fine.
That’s fine.
that’s not something I’m going to go search out
that’s not something I’m going to go search out
and vote for and really care to be a part of.
and vote for and really care to be a part of.
I have a brother who’s gay and is married.
I have a brother who’s gay and is married.
Thirty years ago, I was raised to believe that
Thirty years ago, I was raised to believe that
that was completely wrong.
that was completely wrong.
Why should I hate you because you like her and y’all married?
Why should I hate you because you like her and y’all married?
Ain’t none of my business.
Ain’t none of my business.
Things that happen in the school
Things that happen in the school
make me nervous.
make me nervous.
I have heard that there have been some
I have heard that there have been some
sexual orientation conflicts
sexual orientation conflicts
with some of the younger children coming up.
with some of the younger children coming up.
shouldn’t have to worry about that stuff.
shouldn’t have to worry about that stuff.
I know I’m young, I’m only 32,
I know I’m young, I’m only 32,
but I never thought I’d see it get quite this bad where
but I never thought I’d see it get quite this bad where
I’m supposed to pretend that a man can be a woman.
I’m supposed to pretend that a man can be a woman.
I’m sorry, I’m not.
I’m sorry, I’m not.
That’s not my world.
That’s not my world.
I’m not going to hate somebody in my heart
I’m not going to hate somebody in my heart
because of who they are.
because of who they are.
But the point is:
But the point is:
Don’t put it in my face.
Don’t put it in my face.
Don’t come up to me and say,
Don’t come up to me and say,
“You got to accept it.”
“You got to accept it.”
I don’t think that that’s the issue that we have in this country.
I don’t think that that’s the issue that we have in this country.
It’s to like steer us away and to blind us from everything that
It’s to like steer us away and to blind us from everything that
is going wrong in this country.
is going wrong in this country.
You know, I’ll have a conversation with you
You know, I’ll have a conversation with you
if we don’t agree on certain things.
if we don’t agree on certain things.
if you cannot see past supporting gay people
if you cannot see past supporting gay people
in general, period,
in general, period,
then I just can’t comprehend it.
then I just can’t comprehend it.
Across the political spectrum, however, voters expressed divergent views on one of the top issues in this election: abortion.
Morris Worelds, 72, said he was voting for Ms. Harris because of his support for abortion rights, and dedicating his vote to his four granddaughters.
“To me, Wilson is still a country town, but some things like abortion are irrelevant to country or city,” Mr. Worelds said.
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Gracie Torres
Gracie Torres
Nick Ellison
Nick Ellison
Julius Syfrett
Julius Syfrett
Sharon High-Jones
Sharon High-Jones
Gracie Torres
Gracie Torres
Sharon High-Jones
Sharon High-Jones
Nick Ellison
Nick Ellison
Julius Syfrett
Julius Syfrett
Amanda Cameron
Amanda Cameron
The main thing,
The main thing,
and this is going to get a little bit into the political stuff.
and this is going to get a little bit into the political stuff.
All right. Abortion.
All right. Abortion.
Common sense.
Common sense.
You going to try to control a woman’s body?
You going to try to control a woman’s body?
For what reason?
For what reason?
It’s not hating women.
It’s not hating women.
It’s not wanting to go against their wishes.
It’s not wanting to go against their wishes.
That’s your body.
That’s your body.
This is my body.
This is my body.
There’s not a good way to talk about this.
There’s not a good way to talk about this.
My idea on abortion,
My idea on abortion,
and this can be really, really tough,
and this can be really, really tough,
and I have some friends, but — babies.
and I have some friends, but — babies.
After I became a mom, that became very important to me
After I became a mom, that became very important to me
because I believe that life starts at conception.
because I believe that life starts at conception.
I know a lot of friends who were born in
I know a lot of friends who were born in
not-so-great-situations, and
not-so-great-situations, and
their parents had contemplated abortion.
their parents had contemplated abortion.
And I think that my life would have been
And I think that my life would have been
totally different and probably not for the better
totally different and probably not for the better
without those friends here.
without those friends here.
At eight weeks,
At eight weeks,
all three of my babies had a heartbeat.
all three of my babies had a heartbeat.
Jeremiah 1:5 in the Bible says,
Jeremiah 1:5 in the Bible says,
“Even before you were in your mother’s womb, I knew you.”
“Even before you were in your mother’s womb, I knew you.”
I’m a Jesus seeker.
I’m a Jesus seeker.
I’m a Christian.
I’m a Christian.
I’m also a realist.
I’m also a realist.
Some people will say that I’m wrong to sit here and say
Some people will say that I’m wrong to sit here and say
that I am a Christian,
that I am a Christian,
but I am pro-choice.
but I am pro-choice.
You the one that’s got to answer to God.
You the one that’s got to answer to God.
I ain’t answering for you.
I ain’t answering for you.
I’m only answering for me.
I’m only answering for me.
Do I personally believe that you should be able to abort a baby
Do I personally believe that you should be able to abort a baby
seven, eight, nine months in?
seven, eight, nine months in?
No, I don’t.
No, I don’t.
Do I think that there’s three reasons
Do I think that there’s three reasons
you should be able to abort a baby?
you should be able to abort a baby?
Rape, incest, loss of the mother.
Rape, incest, loss of the mother.
If an abortion has to be interred to keep her alive,
If an abortion has to be interred to keep her alive,
yes take the child.
yes take the child.
I’m sorry.
I’m sorry.
And I think that’s where most people stand.
And I think that’s where most people stand.
It’s something between you, your God, your doctor,
It’s something between you, your God, your doctor,
your family, your husband.
your family, your husband.
It’s a personal thing.
It’s a personal thing.
Despite their differing opinions, many Wilson residents said they valued getting along with their neighbors, in part because there was no political bubble to hide in. Cecilia Coleman and her sister, Megan Coleman, said that at Sylvia’s Family Restaurant, which their parents own, the salesmen who deliver them products were Republicans and their clientele were mostly Democrats.
“Never any problems,” Cecilia Coleman said.
Cecilia and Megan Coleman
This month, hundreds gathered at the Wilson County Fair Truck and Tractor Pull, where drivers in modified vehicles compete to see who can drag a heavy metal sled the farthest on a dirt field.
Watching it all was Kimberly Wade, 46, an independent who said her thoughts about the presidential race could be summarized in one word: “Iffy.”
Ms. Wade, who is undecided, says she has long grown tired of the hyperpartisan attacks clawing away at the country. Ms. Wade’s husband is disabled, and her biggest concern is increasing disability benefits.
But she said one overarching thought would guide her through November: “I just want my community to be OK.”
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