Retiring Tennessee Democrat slams party’s approach to rural voters

Tennessee Rep. Jim Cooper (D) is criticizing his party’s approach to reaching out to voters in rural areas as he prepares to retire from political life.

Democrats have steadily lost representation in Congress from rural America over the last two decades, a trend that picked up speed when the party lost the House majority in 2010. 

“Remind me what the strategy is to change the minds of rural voters,” Cooper said in an interview with Nashville Scene of Democrats’ chances at winning over seats in the future. “Their strategy is blind hope. Many of the folks you’re probably listening to have probably never visited these counties. They’re not kin to these folks. Their best friends don’t live out there.”

“People in Nashville don’t realize how many kindred spirits there are in these rural counties who feel trapped by the Republican representation,” Cooper added. 

Cooper argued that the swing against former President Trump as reflected in the last election came about in part and was reflected by the fact that “more educated folks in rural counties do not find Trump appealing.”

“What steps have we taken to capitalize on that? What outreach do we have to Republicans and independents? Most of the rhetoric you hear is, ‘Let’s double down, let’s force it down their throats,’ ” he said. “That’s not the way to win votes. You have to have mutual respect and trust.”

Cooper has said his district, which includes Nashville, a blue island in a largely red state, was significantly changed by Tennessee Republicans during the redistricting process, prompting him to announce his retirement.

“No one tried harder to keep our city whole. I explored every possible way, including lawsuits, to stop the gerrymandering and to win one of the three new congressional districts that now divide Nashville,” Cooper said in a statement about his decision.

Now, after representing the state’s 5th Congressional District for 20 years and the 4th Congressional District for another 12 years, Cooper says he will return to working in the private sector.