As a moderate independent turned Republican campaigning for County Attorney, I have recently met and spoken with many citizens across the county. Therefore, I believe I have gained insight into the political views of Douglas County. So here’s what I learned from adopting the Republican affiliation in an affluent, largely one-party college town.

There is dissatisfaction with all governance, particularly at the county level. Citizens living outside of Lawrence – and even many within the city – feel ignored and disconnected from public officials. Following national trends, Lawrence is remote from small communities and rural areas. Most concerns center on economic issues, including tax transparency and taxation. Few complaints focus on cultural issues, but there is a recurring feeling that the government and residents of Lawrence are often seen as superior, selfish and condescending. Many feel politically powerless because Lawrence’s affluent voters tend to almost automatically vote for Democrats and believe that party no longer represents their interests.

The county’s small business owners and workers live in a different world than the city’s more privileged groups. They don’t follow partisan news sources online, don’t donate to NPR, and haven’t amassed substantial 401(k) accounts. They cannot afford housing and are increasingly constrained by rising rents due to continued increases in property taxes. They don’t live in $450,000+ homes or drive new cars to get to their tech, college, or professional jobs. They don’t have the time or money to buy an ACLU card and feel no shame while vacationing in Europe.

Most Americans, including citizens of Douglas County, do not share the same economic realities as more privileged, self-described liberals who lament the results of recent elections. These individuals feel that the government is neglecting their daily struggles and that the economy primarily benefits wealthy professionals. This sentiment, both locally and nationally, has now become the majority view, helping to explain the election of someone as controversial as Donald Trump. A clear indication of this change is that the Democratic Party has lost the support of working class and rural America. Unfortunately, this observation can also be applied to Lawrence. Ironically, the once liberal and radical town of Lawrence may have transformed into an elite blue bastion that caters to the wealthy and educated. Although this is difficult to accept and may seem contradictory to her self-image, this change may have taken place.

— Mike Warner, a longtime federal prosecutor, was the Republican nominee in the recent race for Douglas County prosecutor.