Note: This piece was written and shot for the Murrow Rural Reporting Plunge. For more info, please see https://rural.murrowbpj.com/

In the rural town of Newport, signs of the upcoming elections are present everywhere.

Roadsides are adorned with campaign signs for various positions and politicians and at the local farmers market, a woman helps locals register to vote. In Newport High School, classes are being taught about voting and the American government.

Roughly two and a half hours by car away from Pullman, Newport is home to about 2,200 people. It is about a 10-minute drive away from Priest River, Idaho, which lies on the banks of Priest River.

Because of the ruralness of the two towns, most of the businesses are locally owned. Some of the staff of these businesses are concerned about the election.

Dylan Vens, Owen’s Grocery clerk in Newport, was skeptical that the national elections will impact the Newport economy.

“It will impact people’s perspectives and it will impact people personally, but I honestly don’t feel like it will impact very much for economic development,” Vens said.

Brittany Hofstee, The Village Kitchen cook in Priest River, said she expects the national election will impact local businesses.

“Without question, it’s a huge cloud over everybody right now as a business owner,” Hofstee said. “Whether it’s a grocery store, it’s a gas station, it’s a restaurant, it’s your mom’s sewing shop, it’s huge.”

Hofstee said she is concerned about inflation in Idaho and how it would impact local businesses.

“We’re all waiting on the election to see how it goes, to see, is this inflation going to continue [and] are the prices going to keep rising,” Hofstee said. “At that point, do we cut back half of our staff and half of what we do? How do we make up for that loss of income?”

Idaho’s Consumer Price Index reports inflation has risen by 2.5% since last year.