Crossroads of Conviction: Christian Voters Weigh Souls and Polls
A majority of voters who identify as Evangelical Christians or Catholics lean towards Trump, particularly on the issue of abortion. Other Christians say they see Harris as caring for the poor, immigrants and other marginalized groups, which fits into their definition of Christian values.
Photo by Ben White via Unsplash
By Lauren Blanton | MediaLab@FAU
Oct 16, 2024
In the breezeway at Florida Atlantic University, student Henry Peterson was dressed in a casual Sunday best: a button-down shirt and khakis. He stood beside a whiteboard with his question, “Should the U.S. be a Christian Nation?” His voice rose above the buzz of passing students as he actively engaged those around him, passionately advocating for America to return to biblical principles.
Two young women glanced at the sign and casually remarked, “Of course it should,” not necessarily considering the weight of what a Christian nation might entail. This snapshot encapsulates the conversation happening among Christian voters as they prepare to cast their ballots on or before Nov. 5. Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are vying for votes with a deeply divided electorate, including Christian voters with specific political priorities.
A Pew Research Center survey conducted in early September reveals that White Protestants and Catholics overwhelmingly support Donald Trump. For example, 82% of White Evangelical Protestants say they back Trump. To be sure, groups such as Christian Democrats of America and Evangelicals for Harris have their own faithful followers and are actively looking to sway more religious voters, but their numbers appear to pale in comparison to those leaning towards Trump.
Referring to herself as a Christain Nationalist, voter Julissa Cedillo is a member of “Vote No On 4,” an anti-abortion group, and attends Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in West Palm Beach. At 19, Cedillo is a student at Palm Beach State College and is deeply engaged in political discussions.
“As a young Christian, I prioritize a candidate who promotes more Christian values with regard to keeping the family,” Cedillo explained. “They [the Democrats] support far-left values, such as abortion, which I think goes against Christian values.”
Cedillo said politics cannot be separated from morality, and that’s why she’s voting for Trump. “Trump is clear on his vision for America,” she said. “I think he is the best possible candidate we have to establish a more stable and safe society and economy.”
She quickly recounted other reasons that the former president has her vote. “He proved himself to be a leader who kept us out of war, makes abortion to be the matter of the people, does not support taxpayer-funded abortions, promotes fracking, the elimination of taxes on Social Security benefits, and closed borders,” Cedillo added.
Hayden Gause, a 19-year-old student at the University of West Florida, shared how her Christian faith guides his political choices, with a strong focus on biblical teachings. While Gause doesn’t fully support Donald Trump, she feels that Kamala Harris's positions conflict with core biblical principles, particularly on issues like abortion and LGBTQ+ rights.
“If a candidate has three things that align with my beliefs and the other only has one, then I will pick the first candidate,” she said. “The Bible is very clear on what Christians should believe, but many people like to try and twist it."
Gause takes a strong stance against abortion rights. Her beliefs, she said, are based on Psalm 139, in the New Living Translation of the Bible. In her view, these verses value a fetus from conception from God’s omniscient perspective. She also pointed to Roman 1:26-27, which discusses characters in the Bible that lust for same-sex relations. Given this, Gause says Harris's support for LGBTQ+ rights conflict with biblical teachings.
"I used to think you should be able to love who you want to love," she added, "but I’ve learned that you can love the opposite sex in a platonic way, not in the intimate love meant for a spouse."
Gause said, “The Bible is very clear on what Christians should believe, but many people like to try and twist it."
Sonia Christenson is a 20-year-old who attends Voyage Church in Pensacola, Florida. Recently baptized after completing her biblical studies, Christenson is also putting her faith in Trump this election.
“Our country was built on the beliefs of the Bible, and the founding fathers were sure to make biblical principles the foundation of this country,” she said.
She believes the role of the church is to teach the values of Jesus, not politics.
“Jesus is the perfect example of someone who came to serve people, not for His own benefit but for the glory of the Father,” she added.. “I try to look for someone who is for the people themselves as individuals, rather than an agenda or to boost their political power.”
Neither of the two candidates for president fully fit with her values, she said.
“Obviously, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a presidential candidate whose beliefs have aligned perfectly with mine. I just look for someone whose beliefs are closest to mine,” she said, concluding that Trump checks more boxes than Harris.
Pastor Don Karpinen of Victory Church in Boca Raton strives to foster a biblically moral community without turning the church into a political platform. He believes the church has a significant but measured role in these decisions. “We don’t outright support any candidate,” Karpinen explained. “But we advocate for families to make the choice that best fits their biblical morals.”
Craig Agranoff, a political campaign consultant and adjunct professor at FAU, has observed the ways Christian values intersect with political decisions.
"Christian voters often look for candidates who reflect core biblical principles, like the sanctity of life, family values, and religious freedom,” Agranoff said.
He explained that while these voters might share faith, their political priorities can differ depending on their interpretation of Christian teachings. For example, more conservative Christians may focus on issues like religious liberty and opposition to abortion, while progressive Christians might prioritize social justice and caring for the poor.
Agranoff also highlighted how candidates tailor their messages to resonate with Christian values, citing examples from recent campaigns. “Donald Trump in 2016 made religious freedom, pro-life policies, and conservative judicial appointments central to his appeal, especially among evangelicals. In contrast, Joe Biden in 2020 spoke more to progressive Christian voters by focusing on compassion, unity, and service,” he noted, showing how both candidates engaged different segments of the Christian electorate.
Christina Forrester is a representative for the Christian Democrats of America. She explained in an email how the group is focusing on educating their followers about abortion and immigration, two topics they believe are central to this election.
"Abortion is the number one reason many Christians are voting for Trump," Forrester wrote. "We are working to arm our followers and members with education regarding this topic and how to talk about it. Secondly, immigration is a big topic this election for us, as the Trump campaign is so focused on using immigrants as a scapegoat for so many issues.
Forrester also outlined how her group’s members feel about the candidates. “Our members definitely resonate strongly against the values of Trump. The hate that is preached by MAGA against immigrants, and the use of God by the Religious Right is appalling to our members, as well as blasphemous,” she added. “They resonate strongly with Kamala Harris in her plans to help those in need, affordable housing, and protecting freedom and rights.”
The Christian Democrats of America are taking several steps to ensure high voter turnout, engaging their community through newsletters, social media and volunteer opportunities. "We also have over 2,000 who have signed our pledge to pray daily for Harris and the election, so this is a way to keep everyone involved daily and geared towards a spiritual action," Forrester said.
Forrester emphasized that for her community, the primary concerns of this election are how the candidates treat “the least of these,” including the poor, immigrants, and marginalized groups like LGBTQ individuals and minorities. “Trump opposes our values as Christians—the values of Jesus Christ regarding how we treat the least of these, taking away the rights of women and other oppressed groups, and loving our neighbor.”
The group's younger members are also highly engaged, with a Gen Z volunteer group actively participating in video calls and events. Forrester shared that this generation is particularly passionate about using their platforms to share messages of social justice and equality.