A bipartisan path for rural America’s next 250 years

As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, Americans are increasingly reflecting on the story of the country’s past. Rural communities have always been central to that story, from the farms and small towns that fed and powered a growing nation to the innovation and resilience that define it even today.

Yet our nation is confronting major societal shifts: technological disruption, demographic change and the demands of long-term fiscal responsibility. The stakes are high for every American but nowhere are these pressures more evident than in rural communities. These forces could help revitalize rural places or accelerate their decline, depending on the support and strategies in place.

Unfortunately, policymaking has not kept pace with rural realities. For decades, Washington has lacked a coherent strategy for addressing the many changes and challenges facing America’s small and more remote towns.

Recent policy swings in Washington are a case in point. Investments during the Biden administration in infrastructure, clean energy and technological manufacturing promised new opportunities, but getting projects to land in rural areas was challenging. Some large-scale commitments such as the $20 billion Intel mega site in central Ohio have since stalled. 

Implementation of H.R. 1, the Trump administration’s signature legislation, raises uncertainty about the impacts on health care coverage and access for many rural Americans, and tariffs and immigration enforcement policies are reshaping sectors central to their local economies.

As a former Democratic senator and Republican governor who represented large rural constituencies, both of us found political success by listening to the people we served. In our experience, local leadership was central to any success that our rural communities achieved.

The question is whether those communities will have the tools and capacity to navigate what lies ahead. The absence of a modern, coordinated federal approach to rural policy has left many communities feeling overlooked, with little confidence that national leaders understand or prioritize their interests.

That question is precisely why we have joined forces to visit communities across the country that reflect the diversity of rural America. Our goal is simple: to hear directly from residents about their experiences, aspirations and ideas for strengthening their communities.

Our bipartisan commission — facilitated by the Brookings Institution and the American Enterprise Institute — has already begun that work.

Last fall, we began with visits in North Dakota and Minnesota, bringing together farmers, small-business owners, tribal leaders, local officials and community advocates. Last month, we convened a second round of hearings in the Mississippi Delta, where residents spoke candidly about the challenges of economic opportunity, workforce development, health care access and infrastructure in an historically underinvested region.

The themes that emerged from these visits were strikingly similar. We witnessed creative, committed people solving local problems with ingenuity, but struggling to manage the complex requirements of federal programs to access the investment needed to propel their efforts.

We have been inspired by countless examples of local rural residents drawing upon culture, faith and trusted partnerships to create a brighter future for their communities. These visits demonstrate that after 250 years, our democracy continues to generate a civic spirit that can keep our country strong.

In today’s political climate, our partnership might seem unconventional. But we believe it reflects exactly what Americans are asking for and what rural communities need right now. Survey research indicates that more than 90 percent of Americans agree that politicians need to stop dividing us and want Democrats and Republicans to come together to solve problems. Social media may reward outrage and partisan attacks, but most Americans are yearning for something different.

One of the greatest challenges we face is the persistent notion that there are two Americas: one along the coasts and in major metropolitan areas, and another across the nation’s rural interior. Nothing could be further from the truth. The prosperity of one depends on the success of the other.

America’s rural communities can be places of opportunity and vitality. Achieving that goal requires engaging rural Americans with mutual respect — as partners who possess the talent, ingenuity and commitment to build a future consistent with our shared values. As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, it is time to ensure their voices help shape the next chapter of the American story.

Heidi Heitkamp, a Democrat, served as a U.S. senator representing North Dakota from 2013 to 2019. Chris Sununu, a Republican, served as governor of New Hampshire from 2017 to 2025. 

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