Dirt road Democrats exist and they need our help

Jess Piper joins the show to talk about what rural progressives need and are doing

What are we telling Democrats?

I love having guests on that surprise me with their answers and make me rethink my assumptions. I don’t prep guests with what I will ask them or agree ahead of time on what their talking points will be so it’s a real conversation. This week was absolutely one of those kind of chats.

Jess Piper has made a national name for herself as the ‘Dirt Road Democrat’ through her viral TikTok videos and sharp wit. She ran for the Missouri House in a deeply red district last cycle and raised more than any other Democratic candidate in the state from small donors who love her leadership and unique style.

Now she is leading an effort called Blue Missouri to fund Democratic nominees across the state and support the efforts of the party and others to roll back the Republican supermajority in Jefferson City.

When I asked her what happens when we don’t have Democrats in the race I was surprised by her answer. Simply, we are teaching rural Democrats to vote for Republicans. They have to pick the least worst one that will hopefully at least govern somewhat for them.

Lack of a choice means lack of a voice.

We talk at length about what it means to be a blue dot in a red state, things she heard while knocking doors, and her unique insight on ‘school choice after 16 years as a teacher. There are lessons for every Democrat and American in how we must do more for all of us even in the toughest places. We are allowing whole swaths of our country to be abandoned to a party that doesn’t care about them at all.

Check out the whole conversation

Jess Piper

Jess is the Executive Director for Blue Missouri and hosts a weekly podcast called “Dirt Road Democrat.” She received degrees in English and Teaching from the University of Arkansas and was an American Literature teacher for 16 years. After the 2016 election of Trump, Jess became politically active. Jess ran for State Representative in HD1 in Northwest Missouri in 2022. She was not successful but used the experience to organize progressives in rural Missouri and across the country.

Learn more about Blue Missouri at: Blue Missouri

Follow her podcast ‘Dirt Road Democrat’ too!

My latest for MeidasTouch

The Republicans really showed themselves at the debate on Wednesday night. They seem to be running less against actual Democratic policies as memes and Fox News hype of what those policies really are. I discussed it with my friend John Nichols from The Nation.