Rural Working-Class Candidates Rise in Dakotas Political Races

Grassroots political engagement is gaining momentum in rural areas of the U.S. Northern Plains, where organizations like the Western Organization of Resource Councils are training underrepresented groups, including working-class individuals and minorities, to run for local and state offices despite longstanding barriers. In the UK, historic reforms are underway to lower the voting age to 16, continuing a centuries-long evolution of expanding the electorate from wealthy landowners to broader segments of society, including women and younger voters. In Kenya, a recent Senate decision prohibits governors and county assembly members from displaying their images and names on publicly funded project signboards, a change driven by activist Laban Omusundi to promote better governance and reduce political self-promotion. Meanwhile, in the U.S., the American Farm Bureau president shared that President Trump expressed interest in understanding farming challenges, highlighting the importance of agriculture in national policy, including recent tax provisions and the need for updated farm legislation. These developments reflect a global trend toward increasing political inclusivity, transparency, and responsiveness to grassroots concerns across different governance levels.