Understanding Rural America Through Values, Trust, and Communication

Most people think rural communities are divided by politics. I think they’re divided by misunderstanding.

I’m Dr. Nicole Loew—researcher, speaker, former candidate, and creator of Talk Rural To Me.

I help leaders, healthcare professionals, advocates, and organizations better understand rural communities and communicate in ways that build trust, connection, and meaningful change.

Values-based doesn’t mean values-neutral.

It means understanding what matters to people and communicating in ways that connect.

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Rural Candidate Workbook 101

A practical workbook to help you run for office with clarity and confidence

By Dr. Nicole Loew PhD, RN

Thinking about running for office—but not sure where to start?

This spiral-bound workbook gives you the structure, tools, and guidance to build and run an effective campaign. Created from real rural campaign experience and doctoral-level research, it helps you move from considering a run to taking action.

Most campaign advice wasn’t built for rural communities. This workbook addresses:

• The reality of running as a Democrat in rural areas
• How to build trust and connect with voters
• How rural networks work—and how to leverage them
• Rural-specific strategies grounded in relationships and credibility

Built for rural candidates. Valuable for anyone running for local or state office.

This is the workbook Dr. Nicole Loew wishes she had when she ran for office.

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10 Years, 500 Days

I am a nurse, researcher, and rural health strategist who has spent my career amplifying the voices of women and underserved communities.

With a PhD in Nursing and a decade of work focused on sexual and reproductive health, I spent 10 years preparing for my run for the Iowa Senate — a campaign carried out with grit, purpose, and heart.

And after spending more than 500 days campaigning across rural Iowa, I learned something most experts miss:

People don’t make decisions based solely on policy.

They make decisions based on values.

Today, I help audiences understand how values, communication, health, leadership, and policy intersect in rural communities—and what we can do differently if we want better outcomes.

The Rural Communication Guidebook

A practical guide to help Democrats communicate with rural non-Democrats

By Dr. Nicole Loew PhD, RN

Struggling to connect across political differences—but want to do it in a way that builds trust?

This guidebook provides the tools, frameworks, and real-world examples to help Democrats communicate more effectively with rural non-Democrats. Grounded in doctoral-level research and lived rural experience, it helps you move from frustration and misunderstanding to meaningful, productive conversations.

Most political messaging wasn’t built for rural communities. This guidebook addresses:

• How rural values shape beliefs, priorities, and decision-making
• How to build trust across political differences using values-based messaging
• How to listen for what matters most—and respond in ways that resonate
• How to navigate difficult conversations without damaging relationships

Built for Democratic volunteers engaging rural communities. Valuable for anyone seeking to build trust, strengthen relationships, and communicate more effectively across political differences.