The challenges he faced as a Progressive Democrat

Betsy’s guest today is Matthew Ferrence, a Creative Writing Professor at Allegheny College and author of I Hate It Here, Please Vote for Me: Essays on Rural Political Decay. In this interview, Ferrence shares the motivations behind his campaign for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the insights that led him to write his book.

Ferrence discusses the challenges he faced as a Progressive Democrat running in a conservative rural district, where he contended with an established incumbent. We explored his campaign experience, the polarized nature of today’s politics, and the common values he believes unite people on both sides—such as a desire for affordable housing, lower taxes, and quality healthcare.

Ferrence also opens up about his health struggle with a brain tumor and the burdensome medical expenses he incurred despite having solid health insurance. He reflects on why more people hesitate to run for office, the neglect of rural communities in politics, and the need to restore civility in political discourse—especially given the hostility and threats he encountered.

In sharing his story, Ferrence hopes readers will understand the realities of running a campaign, the lessons from losing, and the importance of disagreeing respectfully. This was an insightful conversation, and Betsy highly recommends the interview and his book for anyone interested in today’s political landscape. For more about Ferrence’s work or to purchase his book, visit his website.

We are providing the audio interview with Betsy Wurzel and Matthew Ferrence on how difficult it is to run for Political Office: 🔴Click here to listen…