Religious voters' political alignment begins to shift

While religious voters have aligned strongly with the Republican Party for over 50 years, a shift is emerging as some Democratic candidates begin to emphasize their religious values and origins.

Exit polls from the last election showed that white evangelical Christians, who comprise nearly one-fourth of the electorate, supported Donald Trump by 82% to 17%. Conversely, voters with no religious ties, also making up about one-fourth of the electorate, supported Kamala Harris 71% to 27%.

Some Democratic candidates are now using religious language and scripture to advocate for liberal doctrines. However, these candidates face a difficult path, as they must navigate a Democratic base that is largely rooted in secular institutions and urban centers where religious language is often disdained, while attempting to appeal to moderate voters who are comfortable with faith-based messaging.