Less than 30 years ago Russell County was considered a stronghold for the Democrat Party. Voters would overwhelmingly support the Democrats in local, state and federal elections.
The political landscape has drastically changed since then.
The 1992 presidential race saw Republican George Bush receiving just 33.9 percent of the county’s vote. In 2024, Donald Trump received an overwhelming 83.4 percent of the county’s support.
Mark Warner was the last Democrat to carry Russell County in a gubernatorial election in 2001.
The last time the majority of local voters supported the Democrat candidate for the 9th District seat in Congress was in 2010. That year Rick Boucher received 738 more votes than Morgan Griffith.
Since that time, Griffith has carried the county with each reelection bid.
As was the case with Republicans before the turn of the century, the local Democrat Party has not been as active in community events as it once was. But that is changing under the direction of the Russell County Democratic Committee Chair Alice Schlichting.
Throughout 2026 the local Democrats have had a presence at parades, festivals and other events.
“Several things are driving this, but the biggest is the current political climate,” Schlichting said. “For a long time, many people in our community felt uncomfortable speaking up. Some worry about how it would affect their jobs or their standing with neighbors, and when you feel isolated, it’s hard to know where to start.”
Schlichting said a change in the political climate began a few years ago and has picked up noticeably in 2026.
“Our regular attendance has grown from about six people to about 20,” she said. “That may not sound like much, but it’s the difference between one person doing everything and a team sharing the work. Events take time, energy, and money, and more hands are what let us show up at the fair, Cedar Fest, and the July 4 parade, and more to come.”
She said the committee plans to have a booth at the Haunting on Main, as well as entries in the upcoming Christmas parades.
“For many of us, it came down to a simple decision: we weren’t going to sit on the sidelines,” Schlichting stated. “We started reaching out to like-minded people, and for some, an invitation was all it took. Many didn’t know the committee existed. Now we’re here, and we’re committed to rebuilding our party’s presence and making a difference at the local level.”
When asked how the Democrat Party can become as popular in Russell County as it once was, Schlichting said, “This is a big question, and there’s no single answer. Southwest Virginia changed for many reasons: the decline of coal jobs, shrinking unions, and young people leaving because they couldn’t find opportunity here, which left an older population behind. When people are working multiple jobs, struggling to afford groceries, or can’t find work, they’re in survival mode. Frustration makes people want change, and it’s human nature to look for someone to blame.”
She added, “So yes, it’s an uphill battle, but I believe it’s possible. Parties have shifted over the years, and many people are realizing that the most important thing isn’t voting Democrat or Republican, it’s voting for positive change. A vote is a way to give yourself and your community a chance.”
Schlichting said volunteers and voters are the key to changing the party’s fortunes in Russell County. She said volunteers are needed to work the polls, make phone calls, etc.
Far too often voters, regardless of party, do not participate in elections. They shrug their shoulders and say, “What difference does it make?”
“That is something we hear all the time, and not just from Democrats,” Schlichting said. “To anyone who feels that way, I’d say it makes a difference, and the numbers show how many people sit out. In November 2025, only 54 percent of Virginia’s registered voters cast a ballot, which means close to three million registered voters stayed home. Even in the 2024 presidential election, about 30 percent of registered voters statewide didn’t vote. Here in Russell County, thousands of registered voters sat out the last presidential election. Elections are decided by the people who show up.”
Schlichting said a change of momentum can be felt, especially in the campaign of Joy Powers, who is seeking to unseat Griffith.
“The Joy Powers town hall in Cleveland wasn’t just Democrats. Independents and some disappointed Republicans came too,” Schlichting stated. “People want someone who will listen, show up, and fight for them, and many feel let down by the promises they were given. I believe a shift is coming.”
She added, “It also says something that this year’s Democratic primary for this seat had three candidates. That showed real interest, and after the primary, Joy said she saw strong turnout, including many first-time Democratic primary voters. I want to credit Adam Murphy and Douglas Crockett for their hard work. Both have said publicly that they support Joy against Morgan Griffith. I like to think the competition in the primary got people fired up, and I want to see that energy carried forward into November.”
Schlichting addressed some of the negative comments that have been hurled at Democrats.
“We keep getting called communists and socialists, among other things,” she said. “What we actually want is for people to have their basic needs met: healthcare, food, shelter, and so on. We have so much to recover from as a country. We need to stop hating our neighbors, stand up to this nonsense, and work together.”
She also addressed a common Republican slogan of “Pro God, Pro Gun, Pro Life.”
“There’s a misconception that Democrats aren’t Christians or that we hate God,” she said. “That’s simply not true. About half of Democrats nationwide identify as Christian, and here in Russell County it’s likely even higher. We also believe everyone has the right to their own faith, or none at all.”
She added, “A lot of our committee members own guns. We are not coming to take them from you, nor are we voting for someone else to.”
Schlichting concluded, “We’re pro the entire life of a person. We believe people deserve not only to be born, but to be wanted, supported, and cared for throughout their lives. These are deeply personal decisions, and we believe they belong to the people living them, not to the government.”
The Russell County Democratic Committee meets the second Friday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Lebanon Recreation Center.
