Most "rural" areas in Minnesota are actually just counties dominated by smaller towns and small cities, like Alexandria and Brainerd. Those cities are conservative, but nothing like the other states mentioned or most true rural areas. That's because they still have a decent amount of college educated whites as well as non-white voters too. For example Brainerd voted for Trump by 16 points, but its county voted for Trump by almost 30. But demographically Trump is kind of maxed out in Brainerd and in the rural areas too because they already vote quite conservative. So there's really not much more room to grow.
Interesting. Wonder if the same applies to WI.
