Some Democrats trying to reclaim the issue of faith from the Republican Party
In some of the most critical races this election cycle, several Democrats are sharing how their faith has shaped their views and politics.
Several Democratic candidates are openly sharing how their faith shapes their political beliefs in an effort to connect with voters. This shift comes as Republicans have dominated elections based on moral issues for years. In Texas, James Talarico, a state representative and seminarian, hopes his faith will help him defeat Republican nominee Ken Paxton, who has faced numerous scandals.
Talarico believes there's a hunger for a new kind of politics rooted in love and not fear or division. In Kansas, Rev. Adam Hamilton, who runs the largest United Methodist Church in the country, is running for U.S. Senate and connects his Lutheran faith to why he identifies as a Democrat. In Iowa's competitive gubernatorial election, state auditor Rob Sands, a Lutheran minister, has connected his faith to his Democratic identity, stating that "Jesus is for the little guy."
Democratic state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, an ordained Lutheran minister, is also running against Republican incumbent Rep. Zach Nunn in a competitive Iowa House district. Trone Garriott credits her faith for helping her stay grounded and build connections in her community. In the 2024 Pew Research survey, 70% of religiously unaffiliated voters aligned with Democrats, while 62% of those who attend religious services monthly aligned with Republicans.
However, Democrats have historically struggled to connect with religious voters, ceding the moral vocabulary to Republicans.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News (US)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
