>“I’ve called around trying to find a replacement, a new doctor, and for just a well-being appointment, the soonest is the end of January,” said Teresa Leach, 56, in an interview while sipping her coffee at the MTN. Mystic shop just a few feet from the shuttered clinic. Leach, who has asthma, said she voted for Trump last year.
>Democrats are hoping to make health care a defining issue nationally in next year’s midterms. But the environment in Churchville illustrates the challenges the party faces, particularly in rural communities.
>Trump carried Augusta County, which includes Churchville, by nearly 50 points in 2024. Jena Crisler, a physician, ran to represent the area in the Virginia House of Delegates and lost this month to the Republican incumbent by more than 40 points even in a Democratic statewide sweep.
It also says that the people who wanted to support Kamala wouldn’t dare put her sign in their yard because they were afraid to.
Grand_Raccoon0923 on
Something about leopards eating faces comes to mind.
MySixHourErection on
That’s tough. And democrats will try to explain to them how Trump caused this and how democrats would do better and it won’t make a bit of difference. Trump could win from the grave in this town.
-CJF- on
Most of those cuts haven’t even kicked in yet. Wait until late 2026 ~ early 2027 when millions get booted from Medicaid because of the new work requirements if you think things are bad now.
reuben_withfries on
Rural land is gonna be a bargain in 5-10 years. Can’t wait to score a little vacation property.
ProtocolDroid10014 on
I’m sure they blame Biden
nwgdad on
> A spokesperson for [Republican State Legislature] Runion said he was not available for comment.
> CNN has reached out to US Rep. Ben Cline, a Republican who represents the area in Washington and voted for the Trump policy bill. His office did not respond.
The MAGATs are cowards. They know that they are not representing the desires of their constituents and hide away to avoid the public humiliation they know they will receive by exposing themselves.
49DivineDayVacation on
I remember when we couldn’t have universal healthcare because “the wait times would be outrageous if everyone got free healthcare”.
Well now the wait times are outrageous AND we’re paying for it. Great work idiots.
evilsniperxv on
Rural communities overwhelmingly vote conservative. Seems like they got what they voted for. Here’s my small violin.
mistertickertape on
People who refuse to vote in favor of their own interest, vote against their own interest and suffer the consequences….again. Millions of people across thousands of rusty towns in the heartland and deep south have been doing this *for generations*. Trump and future Republicans will continue to rob them blind and steal whatever dignity they have left and they will continue to vote Republican up and down the ticket. No hospital? No schools? No jobs? No problem. This is a multi-generational thing and it isn’t going to change.
IAmInExtremeDebt on
This is what Trump wants. Little piggies need to fall in line or be quiet. This is what they voted for
THICKDadBod99 on
Let these people enjoy the future they voted for. Stop trying to save them from themselves
IPromiseIWont on
“He suggested the community could band together to find a doctor to make house calls.”
God damn socialist.
Peachy33 on
People who live in rural areas and vote Republican are so used to being angry and miserable that it truly doesn’t occur to them that the ability to increase their quality of life lies in their very own hands.
I truly don’t think they make the connection from filling in the little circles next to all the Republicans on their ballots to their day to day lives. Like, I really think some of them think that the act of voting has nothing to do with how they receive healthcare, education, and other resources.
Source: poll worker and longtime special education teacher in a rural area. My job as an educator is so hard sometimes (always).
Actions do have consequences so dors voting
Complaints @trump.com
ReesePuffsBoii on
Who did they vote for in that rural town? Just curious
Apexnanoman on
Well according to public records they voted not to have a clinic. In a landslide. So it looks like they got exactly what they *loudly* demanded.
The will of the voter needs to be respected.
Alternative_Rate7474 on
Sucks, but they got what they wanted, so I can’t be too sympathetic.
clowncarl on
I know coffee house sources are usually bullshit in these kind of articles, but the one lady in town that said she voted for Kamala saying the following was pretty ominous:
“But she said she wouldn’t put up a sign for a Democrat “because of the environment,” and she declined to be named by CNN.”
Like, even with everyone being aware the cuts by the trump admin will destroy towns like this, who knows what kind of hostility you get in these places for suggesting to vote blue. Total cultural capture.
davechri on
Rural healthcare in America is in crisis. republicans have no interest in helping. And rural America keeps voting for them.
Are_we_winning_son on
Oh no trump voters who got what they wanted.
steveosaurus on
what did charlie kirk say about empathy?
i’m sure that rural grit and f350 can get you to a further away hospital
Unhappy_Ad8344 on
They voted for pain. Pain they shall receive.
funtimes-forall on
This must all somehow be Biden’s fault!
LazyAssHiker on
They need some “Trump did this” stickers all over that sign on that closed clinic
KaijuTia on
Can we get the voting statistics for this town? I need to properly calibrate my empathy.
30 Comments
I wish he’d just keep healthcare out of his numerous cuts and destruction. Come on man, it’s healthcare. Let us have this one, please
Voting matters. Elections have consequences.
Its nuts that one woman only whispered that she supported Harris in 24.
Like supporting the not-rapist is a bad thing.
Oh well, these small towns can just up a die “for the greater good”.
>Augusta Medical Group [cited the health care provisions](https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/22/politics/rural-healthcare-one-big-beautiful-bill) in President Donald Trump’s signature [legislation](https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/21/politics/americans-losing-health-insurance-trump-bill), the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, for closing the rural clinics in Churchville and two other locations.
>“I’ve called around trying to find a replacement, a new doctor, and for just a well-being appointment, the soonest is the end of January,” said Teresa Leach, 56, in an interview while sipping her coffee at the MTN. Mystic shop just a few feet from the shuttered clinic. Leach, who has asthma, said she voted for Trump last year.
>Democrats are hoping to make health care a defining issue nationally in next year’s midterms. But the environment in Churchville illustrates the challenges the party faces, particularly in rural communities.
>Trump carried Augusta County, which includes Churchville, by nearly 50 points in 2024. Jena Crisler, a physician, ran to represent the area in the Virginia House of Delegates and lost this month to the Republican incumbent by more than 40 points even in a Democratic statewide sweep.
It also says that the people who wanted to support Kamala wouldn’t dare put her sign in their yard because they were afraid to.
Something about leopards eating faces comes to mind.
That’s tough. And democrats will try to explain to them how Trump caused this and how democrats would do better and it won’t make a bit of difference. Trump could win from the grave in this town.
Most of those cuts haven’t even kicked in yet. Wait until late 2026 ~ early 2027 when millions get booted from Medicaid because of the new work requirements if you think things are bad now.
Rural land is gonna be a bargain in 5-10 years. Can’t wait to score a little vacation property.
I’m sure they blame Biden
> A spokesperson for [Republican State Legislature] Runion said he was not available for comment.
> CNN has reached out to US Rep. Ben Cline, a Republican who represents the area in Washington and voted for the Trump policy bill. His office did not respond.
The MAGATs are cowards. They know that they are not representing the desires of their constituents and hide away to avoid the public humiliation they know they will receive by exposing themselves.
I remember when we couldn’t have universal healthcare because “the wait times would be outrageous if everyone got free healthcare”.
Well now the wait times are outrageous AND we’re paying for it. Great work idiots.
Rural communities overwhelmingly vote conservative. Seems like they got what they voted for. Here’s my small violin.
People who refuse to vote in favor of their own interest, vote against their own interest and suffer the consequences….again. Millions of people across thousands of rusty towns in the heartland and deep south have been doing this *for generations*. Trump and future Republicans will continue to rob them blind and steal whatever dignity they have left and they will continue to vote Republican up and down the ticket. No hospital? No schools? No jobs? No problem. This is a multi-generational thing and it isn’t going to change.
This is what Trump wants. Little piggies need to fall in line or be quiet. This is what they voted for
Let these people enjoy the future they voted for. Stop trying to save them from themselves
“He suggested the community could band together to find a doctor to make house calls.”
God damn socialist.
People who live in rural areas and vote Republican are so used to being angry and miserable that it truly doesn’t occur to them that the ability to increase their quality of life lies in their very own hands.
I truly don’t think they make the connection from filling in the little circles next to all the Republicans on their ballots to their day to day lives. Like, I really think some of them think that the act of voting has nothing to do with how they receive healthcare, education, and other resources.
Source: poll worker and longtime special education teacher in a rural area. My job as an educator is so hard sometimes (always).
Non-paywalled article link:
https://archive.ph/2025.11.30-121811/https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/30/politics/trump-one-big-beautiful-bill-rural-healthcare
Actions do have consequences so dors voting
Complaints @trump.com
Who did they vote for in that rural town? Just curious
Well according to public records they voted not to have a clinic. In a landslide. So it looks like they got exactly what they *loudly* demanded.
The will of the voter needs to be respected.
Sucks, but they got what they wanted, so I can’t be too sympathetic.
I know coffee house sources are usually bullshit in these kind of articles, but the one lady in town that said she voted for Kamala saying the following was pretty ominous:
“But she said she wouldn’t put up a sign for a Democrat “because of the environment,” and she declined to be named by CNN.”
Like, even with everyone being aware the cuts by the trump admin will destroy towns like this, who knows what kind of hostility you get in these places for suggesting to vote blue. Total cultural capture.
Rural healthcare in America is in crisis. republicans have no interest in helping. And rural America keeps voting for them.
Oh no trump voters who got what they wanted.
what did charlie kirk say about empathy?
i’m sure that rural grit and f350 can get you to a further away hospital
They voted for pain. Pain they shall receive.
This must all somehow be Biden’s fault!
They need some “Trump did this” stickers all over that sign on that closed clinic
Can we get the voting statistics for this town? I need to properly calibrate my empathy.