Democratic former House candidate Tedra Cobb on Thursday announced the formation of a political action committee meant to elect rural Democrats to office. 

Cobb is a two-time candidate for the North Country House seat held by Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik. The district is the largest geographically in the northeast and includes large, rural expanses. 

The Backroads PAC also is being launched at a time of searing polarization in the country at large with the divide line often a cultural boundary between people who live cities and those in rural areas.

“Democrats in rural areas have been left behind for decades, lacking infrastructure, organization, and resources,” Cobb said. “Backroads PAC is working to change that so we can defeat Republicans in every district.”

The PAC plus to find, vet and back rural Democrats running in competitive races while also provide training and support for those candidates and give them financial assistance after primaries. 

Cobb believes Democrats need to do a better job at winning rural areas in the next election cycle. 

“The results of the 2020 election prove that Democrats must do a better job communicating to rural voters,” Cobb said.

“It’s time to face some hard facts: 75% of the Members of Congress who voted against certifying the results of the election represent rural districts. Things have to change. Backroads PAC will support the candidates challenging these incumbents. We know that Democrats, with the right candidate, in the right district, with resources and support, can compete everywhere--and we must. Expanding the map begins on every backroad in rural America.”

Alex DeGrasse, a senior advisor to Stefanik, called the effort "laughable."

“This is laughable from a failed candidate who local Democrats will never allow on the ballot again," he said. "After losing by the biggest margin of any Democrat congressional candidate in the entire Northeast for the second time, Taxin’ Tedra seems to have forgotten that she got totally wiped out among rural voters in the North Country - especially in her home county! Her support for gun bans, higher taxes, and Medicare for All continues to make her toxic among rural voters.”