Evangelical Support Wanes, Threatening GOP Midterm Success
WHO:
Alternet - Ryan Burge, a professor at the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics, stated, “The evangelical vote is Trump’s strongest coalition. Thirty-eight percent of his voters were White evangelicals. [Republicans] cannot win — I don’t care where you are in the country — without the evangelical vote.”
CNN - James Buntrock, associate pastor at Glorious Way Church in Houston, mentioned that a voter registration table sits at the lobby of his church.
CNN - Southern Baptist Convention President Willy Rice has called on pastors to “step up” from the pulpit to educate their parishioners about what is at stake in the midterms.
CNN - James Buntrock, associate pastor at Glorious Way Church in Houston, is the executive director of My God Votes.
Alternet - Conservative leaders, including a conservative evangelical pastor in Texas, Ryan Burge (professor at the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics), North Carolina Rep. Mark Harris, Chad Connelly (former national director of faith engagement at the Republican National Committee), Ralph Reed (founder of the Faith and Freedom Coalition), and Southern Baptist Convention President Willy Rice.
CNN - Democratic candidates including Annie Andrews (challenging Darline Graham) and James Talarico (running for Senate in Texas), as well as Methodist megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton (running in Kansas).
WHAT:
CNN - Democrats are running candidates such as Annie Andrews, who is challenging Darline Graham, and Adam Hamilton, a Methodist megachurch pastor in Kansas, to appeal to White Christian voters.
CNN - The Faith and Freedom Coalition announced a get-out-the-vote operation aimed at turning out “drop-off voters,” evangelicals who vote in presidential elections but do not always show up in midterms.
CNN - Democrats are running candidates such as Methodist megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton in Kansas and ministers Sarah Trone Garriott and Lindsay James in Iowa congressional districts to appeal to White Christian voters.
CNN - In a recent Sunday sermon, pastor Steve Riggle warned his congregants about Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico’s views on Christianity, stating, “This is not a political issue. It is not a Democrat issue or a Republican issue. This is a truth issue.”
Alternet - White evangelicals make up about 13% of the U.S. population but account for roughly 20% of the electorate.
Alternet - Approximately 8 in 10 White evangelicals voted for Trump in the last three presidential elections.
Alternet - The Trump Inc. PAC and the national Republican Party have spent about $326 million, primarily on television ads.
CNN - The Faith and Freedom Coalition announced a get-out-the-vote operation aimed at turning out “drop-off voters.”
CNN - In 2016, 2020, and 2024, roughly 8 in 10 White evangelicals cast ballots for Trump.
CNN - The economy is a challenge for evangelicals, with rising gas and grocery prices impacting their voting behavior.
CNN - Ralph Reed stated, “We’re sailing into headwinds,” acknowledging the historical challenges for the party holding the White House during midterms.
WHERE:
CNN - The sermon by pastor Steve Riggle took place at his church in Texas.
Alternet - Key states mentioned include Texas, Iowa, Kansas, and South Carolina.
CNN - Specific locations include Texas, Georgia, and Kansas.
WHEN:
Alternet - The midterm elections are scheduled for November 3.
CNN - Chad Connelly has spent the last two months meeting with pastors.
WHY:
CNN - Conservative leaders are concerned that Republicans have not done enough to mobilize White evangelical voters, which could lead to Democratic victories in key races.
CNN - Democrats believe they can appeal to Christian voters by broadening discussions beyond issues like abortion or LGBTQ rights, focusing instead on themes of “loving thy neighbor.”
Alternet - Republicans fear that low turnout among White evangelicals could lead to Democratic victories in key races.
CNN - The need to mobilize White evangelicals is critical for Republican success in the midterms, as they are a significant part of Trump's coalition.
HOW:
CNN - Chad Connelly has spent the last two months meeting with pastors in more than 20 states to educate them on discussing political issues from the pulpit.
CNN - Chad Connelly has met with pastors in more than 20 states to educate them on discussing political issues from the pulpit.
Alternet - Grassroots mobilization is largely falling to individual churches and groups like the Faith and Freedom Coalition.
CNN - Pastors are encouraged to educate their congregations about the stakes in the midterms and mobilize voters through discussions from the pulpit.
(UPDATED October 13, 2026 20:01 UTC)
The evangelical vote remains a crucial coalition for Trump, with thirty-eight percent of his supporters identifying as White evangelicals, according to Ryan Burge, a professor at the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics. In response to concerns about mobilizing these voters, the Faith and Freedom Coalition has launched a get-out-the-vote operation targeting evangelicals who typically participate in presidential elections but may skip midterms. Meanwhile, Chad Connelly has been actively engaging with pastors across more than 20 states over the past two months to encourage discussions of political issues from the pulpit.
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(UPDATED October 13, 2026 19:07 UTC)
Southern Baptist Convention President Willy Rice is urging pastors to take a more active role in educating their congregations about the stakes in the upcoming midterm elections. Democrats are strategically running candidates like Methodist megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton in Kansas and ministers Sarah Trone Garriott and Lindsay James in Iowa to connect with White Christian voters, while pastor Steve Riggle in Texas recently emphasized the importance of truth in politics during a sermon. To support this effort, Chad Connelly has been meeting with pastors across more than 20 states to help them navigate political discussions from the pulpit.
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(UPDATED October 13, 2026 18:06 UTC)
Conservative leaders, including Texas pastor Ryan Burge and North Carolina Rep. Mark Harris, are ramping up efforts to mobilize White evangelicals ahead of the midterm elections on November 3, where this demographic, which makes up about 13% of the U.S. population, has historically voted overwhelmingly for Trump. With rising gas and grocery prices posing challenges for voters, the Faith and Freedom Coalition is launching a get-out-the-vote operation to engage “drop-off voters,” while pastors are being encouraged to educate their congregations about the importance of their participation. The Trump Inc. PAC and the national Republican Party have invested around $326 million in television ads to ensure that turnout among White evangelicals remains strong, as their support is critical for Republican success in key races.