Cairo, Illinois: A Town Beyond the reach of Presidential Attention, Grappling with Economic Shifts and Shifting Political loyalties
Cairo, Illinois – A once-optimistic river town, long overlooked by national political figures, is navigating a complex landscape of economic hardship and evolving voter sentiment, as evidenced by recent shifts in support for Donald trump among its diverse population. The city, situated at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, continues to persist despite decades of decline, a reality starkly captured in a 1972 study detailing its struggles with economic dependence on illicit industries and a pervasive sense of failure.
For decades, Cairo has remained off the radar of presidential candidates – a pattern unbroken by Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, George Bush, or Barack Obama, preceding Trump. The town’s history mirrors that of many river communities, experiencing a downturn as the nation prioritized expansion and often disregarded those left behind. Despite this neglect, Trump’s message resonated strongly throughout southern Illinois, with all but one county voting heavily Republican.
While Cairo City itself, now 67% Black, maintained its Democratic leanings within the Republican Alexander County, local business owner James Orr notes a significant number of residents were initially drawn to Trump’s promises.”I believe they were just tired of inflation,” Orr explained. “A lot of good things did come out of the Biden administration. Gas was up. Things like that. Where are we now and has it changed – or is it getting worse?”
A surprising demographic shift also played a role. orr observed strong initial support for Trump among his Latino customers, who have as expressed disillusionment. “they’ve taken all the Trump flags and signs down because they did not believe he was going to do the mass deportations; ICE picking people up,” he said. “So now it is indeed more anger for the man than, Oh, we love it. But he promised he was going to do it and he fulfilled it. You can’t be mad at him for that. People thoght he was going to bring all the changes that he promised.”
The challenges facing Cairo are deeply rooted. Herman Lantz’s 1972 study, A Community in Search of Itself, documented a history of speculative excess, the problematic reliance on industries like liquor, gambling, and prostitution, and the resulting atmosphere of lawlessness and community resignation.
Though,Cairo is not without signs of resilience. The city is preparing to host its 12th annual Heritage Blues and Gospel Festival in September, a free event that attracts thousands of visitors. Orr emphasizes the unique character of Cairo, a stark contrast to the homogeneity of suburban America, and its compelling story.
“It is always that number one question,” Orr stated, reflecting on the frequent inquiries about Cairo’s struggles. “Why is Cairo not doing what it should be doing? But I feel like, sometimes it just takes someone to think diffrent to change people’s minds about a place.”