Beth Macy, a veteran newspaper reporter and author known for her investigative work on Appalachia’s social and economic challenges, is running as a Democrat for the U.S. House of Representatives in a heavily Republican district in Virginia. Her campaign marks a significant challenge against incumbent Republican Rep. Ben Cline in a district that former President Donald Trump won by a 24-point margin.
Macy, 62, draws on her decades of reporting in Appalachia and her personal experiences to shape a platform focused on protecting working-class Americans and addressing long-standing regional issues. Having spent much of her career with the Roanoke Times, she is recognized for her 2018 book “Dopesick,” which exposed the role of opioid manufacturers in driving the addiction crisis and was adapted into a Hulu miniseries. Last year, Macy published “Paper Girl,” a memoir reflecting on the same Appalachian landscape that featured prominently in JD Vance’s “Hillbilly Elegy,” though Macy’s interpretation counters Vance’s emphasis on personal responsibility by underscoring systemic factors like the opioid epidemic and economic decline.
Macy identifies as an “old-school mountain Democrat” and is positioning herself as a counterpoint to Vance, who rose to national attention as a Republican and now serves as vice president. While both come from Ohio towns less than 60 miles apart and share backgrounds marked by economic hardship and family struggles, Macy criticizes Vance for what she sees as blaming poor people for their circumstances and fostering fear about immigration. Instead, Macy points to factors such as corporate malfeasance and government policies that have contributed to job losses and community decline.
Campaigning in a district where Democratic candidates face steep odds, Macy emphasizes connection across political divides. At events, she shares stories of local residents grappling with issues like inadequate emergency infrastructure, rising fuel costs linked to global conflicts, and the human toll of painkiller addiction. “I don’t care if you’re Republican or Democrat or moderate. We’re people. We’re Americans,” she told a fundraising gathering near Harrisonburg, a college town that serves as a blue enclave in the otherwise red territory.
Residents’ responses to Macy’s campaign reflect the district’s political complexity. John Waugh, 65, a retired manufacturing worker and Trump supporter from nearby Covington, agrees with Macy’s analysis of regional problems but remains firmly aligned against voting Democratic, citing concerns about gender policies impacting school sports. His wife, Charlotte, a retired educator, plans to vote for Macy, highlighting differences even within households.
Several local business owners and community members express a mixture of respect for Macy’s work and skepticism about her chances. Jennifer Oeltjen, a 75-year-old consignment shop owner and lifelong Republican, calls Macy “a good person” and concedes that if she were to support a Democrat, Macy would be her choice. However, Oeltjen expresses reservations about Democratic policies, particularly those related to gender identity and government assistance, and remains committed to voting Republican.
Economic challenges persist throughout the region, illustrated by long-term job losses after industrial shifts and an ongoing struggle with healthcare and social services. Kristen McConnell, a lawyer working with veterans on disability and health care issues in Clifton Forge, describes widespread desires for livable wages, childcare, and healthcare access but notes that political polarization complicates solutions. “If a Democrat talks about those subjects, it is viewed as socialism,” she said.
Macy acknowledges her uphill battle in contesting a deep-red district but stresses the importance of reaching voters across ideological lines. She welcomes unexpected support from individuals disenchanted with aspects of Trump’s conduct and messaging, and hopes that personal stories can bridge divides in a politically fractured region.