How Two Candidates Won by 15+ Points in Appalachian Virginia — and Still Lost their Gubernatorial Primaries
Appalachian Virginia received another lesson last week in its ongoing education on political math. In the state’s Democratic and Republican primaries, the region voted for liberal populist Tom Perriello and Confederate-defending, conservative firebrand Corey Stewart, respectively. Both lost to more establishment-oriented candidates who succeeded in winning in Virginia’s three major […]
Sure, Appalachia Voted Heavily for Trump. But Not Everyone Here Loves Him.
Once President Trump’s first 100 Days had passed, we wanted to get a better idea of how those in so-called “Trump Country” felt about the new administration and changes in policy. We created a form (that’s still open and accepting submissions) — which uses the Coral Project’s Ask platorm — […]
Will New Gas Pipelines Take Away Landowner Rights, Shave off Mountaintops and Disrupt Clean Water?
Newport, Va. – The proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline has not been approved, much less built, but it is as real as the wooden stakes already in the ground to mark its probable path. The 42-inch diameter natural gas pipeline would start in West Virginia’s Marcellus and Utica Shale drilling region […]
Trump’s Proposed Infrastructure Improvements Remain a Windy Road for Commuters in Appalachia
The twisty roads winding through Appalachia can seem labyrinthine and intimidating to outsiders, but many residents spend an hour or more driving on them to get to work each day. As jobs and people have increasingly migrated to urban areas, those who remain in the many rural localities of Appalachia […]
Virginia’s Rural-Urban Divide Takes Center Stage in Tuesday’s Gubernatorial Primary
Virginia will make history on Tuesday: For the first time, both of its political parties are holding concurrent primaries for governor, with two Democrats and three Republicans running for their party’s nomination. None of the five candidates are from the Appalachian part of the state, which is not necessarily surprising. […]
Policy Pennings: After First 100 Days, What’s Ahead for Agriculture and Rural in the Next 1,350?
Trade wars, big budget cuts, and a possible deficit from tax reform don’t bode well for U.S. agriculture. Here’s what to watch for in agriculture policy as the Trump administration settles down to work after its first 100 days in office. While many analysts are focused on matching up President […]
Pittsburgh — ‘the Paris of Appalachia’ — Bucks Trump on Climate Change
Reasoning his withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement on Thursday, President Donald Trump said in his speech, “I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris.” Minutes later, Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto took to Twitter to vehemently refute the idea his city was aligned with the president, assuring […]
Appalachia, here’s your chance to weigh in on President Trump
Leading up to the 2016 presidential election, Appalachia was dubbed “Trump Country.” His message of restoring a downtrodden coal industry resonated with many whose lives were impacted economically and culturally by the extractive resource that’s historically been a cornerstone of the region’s identity. Despite his huge win in the region, […]
Coal Country’s Mixed Views on the Paris Climate Accord
Many political leaders in the Ohio Valley approve of President Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement. But surveys indicate that public opinion across the region varies, with a slight majority saying they’d like the country to stay the course on climate change. According to a Yale […]
Trump Budget Cuts Would Hit ‘Trump Country’ Hardest
The true costs of the deep cuts in President Donald Trump’s proposed budget would fall disproportionately on many of the poor and working class people in the Ohio Valley region who helped to elect him, according to lawmakers and policy analysts. Deep cuts to subsidized health care, food aid, disability assistance, and […]