A growing number of white Christian pastors and faith leaders are running as Democrats in next year’s midterm elections, breaking traditional partisan patterns. Among them is Justin Douglas, a former pastor and current county commissioner in Pennsylvania, who seeks to unseat Republican Scott Perry. These candidates aim to connect Democratic policies with working-class, churchgoing communities. Their campaigns also reflect a response to Christian nationalism and the influence of Donald Trump on evangelical voters
Justin Douglas Background
Douglas grew up in Indiana, the eldest of five children, and attended Liberty University, founded by televangelist Jerry Falwell. Once opposed to Democrats, he now runs for Congress as a Democrat, citing his faith as a guiding influence. Douglas emphasizes that the Democratic Party can reach beyond urban, college-educated voters to include white working-class churchgoers. “We’ve seen Democrats time and time again sell out working-class people… who think going to church on Sunday is a core part of their life,” he said.
Shifting Partisan Loyalties
Historically, white conservative Christians have voted Republican while Black pastors aligned with Democrats. The divide emerged in the late 1960s and 1970s, as the Democratic Party embraced civil rights, feminism, and secular liberalism. Many white evangelicals felt alienated, a shift accelerated by Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority, which used abortion and moral issues to frame political priorities. By the 1980s, white evangelicals became a consistently Republican bloc, while Black churchgoers remained loyal to Democrats.
Religious Voter Identity
Doug Pagitt, executive director of Vote Common Good, notes that Democrats historically sidelined religious voter identity. “Republicans have oriented themselves around religious voter identity, and Democrats have set aside religious voter identity,” he said. Pagitt added that Christian clergy running as Democrats in Iowa, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, and California represent a strategic effort to reclaim religious voters who may feel politically homeless.
Progressive Christian Candidates
Douglas is part of a new generation of the Christian left, including James Talarico, a Texas state representative and seminary student, who uses scripture to support vulnerable communities and critique Republicans. In Iowa, Evangelical Lutheran pastor Sarah Trone Garriott seeks to challenge Republican Zach Nunn. In Arkansas, Robb Ryerse, a former Republican pastor, campaigns against Steve Womack with the slogan “Faith, Family & Freedom,” traditionally associated with conservative rhetoric.
Response To Trump Influence
These campaigns are partly a response to Christian nationalism and the overwhelming support Donald Trump received from white evangelicals, winning 85% of their vote in the last presidential election. Ryerse said, “We realise… our churches and the people in our churches have been duped by this guy… so a lot of pastors respond… I’m going to be a part of the solution.” Their candidacies aim to challenge the moral and political narrative imposed by the religious right.
Faith And Policy Alignment
Candidates stress that their faith informs public policy in areas of compassion, justice, and care for the marginalized. Douglas highlighted his previous support for LGBTQ+ inclusion in his church, stating, “I paid the price for standing with the LGBTQ+ people. I would do it again… everyone deserves to be safe, respected and fully included.” Their campaigns attempt to bridge personal morality with governance, presenting a progressive vision rooted in Christian values.
Changing Political Landscape
The rise of white Christian Democrats signals a potential shift in U.S. politics, aiming to reframe the Democratic Party as inclusive of religious working-class voters. By entering the political arena, clergy hope to counteract Christian nationalist influence while promoting policies aligned with human dignity, social justice, and community well-being. Their involvement demonstrates that faith-based leaders can be both spiritual guides and political actors.