Democrats test religious right's grip with faith-centered Senate bids

Democrats in Texas and Kansas are centering Christian faith in their Senate campaigns to challenge the religious right's dominance in deep-red states. James Talarico, a Presbyterian seminary student, and Adam Hamilton, a United Methodist pastor, are testing whether their religious backgrounds can open doors in terrain that has been historically hostile to the party. Their efforts follow the 2021 election of Raphael Warnock, a senior pastor, to the Senate from Georgia.

The stakes are high for the 2026 midterms. Upsets by Talarico in Texas and Hamilton in Kansas would all but ensure Democrats take control of the Senate. President Trump won both states by double digits in 2024, and neither has sent a Democrat to the Senate in the 21st century. The last time Kansas elected a Democratic senator was in 1932. Despite these historical barriers, both races are currently considered toss-ups.

A recent Pew poll indicates a complex landscape for these candidates. While White evangelicals still strongly favor Republicans, many other Christian groups lean Democratic or are more narrowly split. Talarico is leveraging his background to soften his liberalism and potentially win over Christians disillusioned with his opponent. He has made several visits to Black Baptist churches and invoked scripture to pitch against Christian nationalism. Brandon Rottinghaus, who co-hosts Houston Public Media's "Party Politics," notes that Talarico is using social gospel teachings to link his politics with his faith in a populist moment.

In Kansas, the strategy relies less on converting religious Republicans and more on replicating the coalition of Democratic Governor Laura Kelly. Hamilton presents himself as a bridge-builder, drawing on his experience leading the largest United Methodist church in the nation. Alexandra Middlewood, political science department chair at Wichita State University, suggests his well-known religious background could appeal to less engaged, moderate Christians and center-right voters.

However, significant obstacles remain. A September Marist survey of 1,139 Texas registered voters showed Glenn Paxton leading Talarico by 75% to 22% among white evangelical Christians. In Kansas, Bob Beatty, political science chair at Washburn University, notes that Republicans hold a massive registration advantage that has made a Democratic Senate win "near impossible." Beatty argues that while Hamilton's status as a pastor provides an open doorway to voters in western Kansas who have historically viewed establishment Democrats with suspicion, the registration gap is a formidable barrier.

The broader trend involves white clergy stepping up to run as Democrats in substantial numbers. In Iowa, Lutheran minister Sarah Trone Garriott and Presbyterian pastor Lindsay James are running in tight House races. Doug Pagitt, executive director of Vote Common Good, attributes this surge to candidates' personal convictions and years of training by progressive groups. Pagitt also points to Donald Trump as a motivator, stating that Trump's actions serve as a recruiting tool for Democrats reaching out to religious people.

Ralph Reed, chair of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, remains skeptical that leaning into religion will attract voters of faith who do not share Democratic values. One GOP opponent has labeled clergy candidates "PINOs," or Pastors in Name Only. Ryan Burge of the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics predicts that whether evangelicals are motivated to show up will be a major story of the midterms. He also highlights the potential shift among marginally attached Catholics if Hamilton and Talarico can win them over.