In the recent midterm elections, a notable shift has emerged within American political Christianity as a growing number of Protestant clergy are running for office on the Democratic ticket while openly expressing their faith. This phenomenon signals a departure from the longstanding association of Christian politics predominantly with the Republican Party and the religious right.
Among the candidates are James Talarico, a Presbyterian seminary graduate seeking a Senate seat in Texas; Adam Hamilton, pastor of a large United Methodist church in Kansas running for the Senate; and Lindsay James and Sarah Trone Garriott, both Presbyterian and Lutheran ministers respectively, competing for seats in the U.S. House from Iowa. Other Democratic clergy candidates include former Methodist minister Anna Golladay in Tennessee, Baptist minister Frederick Haynes III in Texas, and evangelical pastor Robb Ryerse in Arkansas.
These candidates cite two primary motivations for their campaigns. First, many are responding critically to former President Donald Trump’s approach to Christian morality, which they regard as inconsistent with their understanding of the faith. Ryerse described Trump as fundamentally opposed to Christian teachings, highlighting what he views as a disregard for decency and compassion. Second, they have taken issue with the rise of Christian nationalism, which holds that the United States is inherently a Christian nation whose government should prioritize Christian beliefs, such as reinstating school prayer.
Talarico has been particularly vocal about Christian nationalism, defining it as "the worship of power — social power, economic power, political power — in the name of Christ," which he argues conflicts with the core teachings of Jesus. Many of these progressive Christian candidates view the contemporary right-wing movement as a betrayal of authentic Christianity, contrasting their emphasis on humility and care for the vulnerable with what they characterize as a harsh, success-driven gospel.
This political and religious movement draws inspiration from the Social Gospel tradition, a Protestant reformist movement from the late 19th and early 20th centuries emphasizing collective Christian efforts to address social injustices and build a just society. Influential figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. invoked this framework during the civil rights era, but since then, many liberal politicians have largely avoided explicit Christian language. The current midterms have seen a resurgence of these themes, with clergy candidates advocating for policies rooted in compassion, social justice, and democratic pluralism.
Doug Pagitt, a Minneapolis pastor and founder of the advocacy group Vote Common Good, has played a significant role in encouraging progressive pastors to engage politically. He noted that these candidates seek to challenge the narrative that Christian nationalism represents all Christians, offering an alternative voice within the faith community.
As Talarico put it, “My faith in Jesus leads me to reject Christian nationalism and leads me to recommit myself to the project, the unfinished project of a multiracial, multicultural democracy.” On the campaign trail, he has invoked the biblical image of Jesus overturning the tables in the temple as a metaphor for challenging entrenched power. Whether this revival of the Social Gospel will endure beyond the Trump era remains to be seen, but the midterm elections have underscored a significant development in the intersection of faith and American politics.