Democrats Gain Ground With Christian Voters
Candidates who centered their campaigns on faith won several Republican-held seats in the 2026 midterm elections.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Christianity
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Democratic candidates who centered their campaigns on Christian faith captured Republican seats in the 2026 midterms, including Senate and House races in Texas, Kansas and Iowa. Preliminary exit polls show Democratic support rose 3 percentage points among Protestant voters and 11 points among Catholic voters compared with the 2024 presidential election.
Why it matters
The shift challenges the long-standing assumption that religious voters across the country consistently back Republican candidates, a pattern that has shaped national campaign strategy. White evangelical Protestant voters continued to overwhelmingly support the Republican Party, so the gains were concentrated among other religious groups.
Preliminary exit polls show Democratic support rose 3 percentage points among Protestant voters and 11 percentage points among Catholic voters compared with the 2024 presidential election. Whether these gains will persist beyond this election cycle has not been established.
The players
James Tallarico
Democratic Texas Senate candidate and Presbyterian seminary student who won the race while citing faith-based arguments for expanded healthcare and reduced living costs.
Adam Hamilton
United Methodist Church pastor who was elected to the Kansas Senate in the 2026 midterms.
Sarah Thron Garrity
Lutheran pastor who defeated the incumbent Republican House representative in Iowa.
Democratic House Campaign Committee
The Democratic Party's congressional campaign arm that provided guidance to candidates on reaching religious voters and local communities.
The details
James Tallarico won the Texas Senate race, Adam Hamilton, a United Methodist pastor, was elected in Kansas, and Sarah Thron Garrity, a Lutheran pastor, defeated an incumbent Republican House representative in Iowa. Tallarico, a Presbyterian seminary student, argued that practicing faith requires expanding healthcare coverage, reducing living costs and ending tax cuts for billionaires.
Timeline
2024: Presidential election serves as the baseline for voter support comparisons.
- 2026-11-03
Midterm elections held.
- 2026-11-09
Results reported and victory speeches and analysis published.
Religious Voting Shifts
The 2026 midterms add to a decades-long pattern in which white evangelical Protestant voters have backed Republican candidates, while other religious groups have been more divided. Democratic gains among Catholic and mainline Protestant voters suggest the coalition map is changing, though white evangelicals remain firmly Republican.
For voters who attend church or identify with a religious tradition, the results show candidates across parties are competing for religious voters on issues like healthcare and cost of living. Readers in faith communities may see more campaign outreach framed around shared religious values in future elections.
The takeaway
Religious voters are not a monolith, and candidates who speak to economic concerns alongside faith may find openings across denominations. Readers interested in the trend can watch whether these gains hold in future elections.
Further reading
Explore more in Christianity coverage on how faith communities are shaping political engagement.
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