Partisanship and Place: Education Preferences Across the Urban–Rural Divide

Research linking political polarization to spatial divides has largely overlooked policy preferences. This article argues that local conditions meaningfully moderate the relationship between party affiliation and people’s policy preferences. Focusing on public education in the United States, it contends that local realities can create contextual cross-pressures for partisans, especially Republicans, whose education needs may be at odds with the party agenda. In rural contexts, alternative schooling is limited and traditional public schools are essential institutions. Preferences should reflect these contextual pressures. Examining survey data for tax and spending preferences, findings suggest that while Republicans generally oppose increased education funding, rural Republicans, particularly in areas with limited school choice, are more supportive of public education taxes and spending than their urban counterparts. Shedding new light on party-voter congruence, the article shows how local policy realities reshape partisan divides, particularly in rural America, where partisan loyalty persists but policy alignment is more complex.