Faith and politics converge in Democratic midterm gains

This sentiment appeared to resonate with voters across the nation, contributing to a series of Democratic wins attributed to a rejection of policies such as restrictive immigration enforcement, military actions, efforts to diminish diversity, and economic conditions impacting families.

Experts suggest religion played a significant role in shaping voter choices, influencing shifts in previously Republican-leaning states. Candidates like Talarico incorporated faith into their campaigns, although some faced criticism and, in some instances, were targeted with Islamophobic attacks.

“You did see some rejection of Republicans, especially with Hispanic Catholics in Texas,” said Michael Moreland, director of the Eleanor H. McCullen Center for Law, Religion and Public Policy at Villanova University in Pennsylvania. “Especially along the South Texas border, aspects of the administration’s immigration enforcement alienated a lot of voters. President Trump in 2024 peeled off a lot of those voters, but he lost them Tuesday night.”

Megachurch pastor Adam Hamilton, a Democrat, secured a U.S. Senate seat in Kansas, while Amy Acton, also a Democrat, was elected the first Jewish and female governor of Ohio.

A record seven Muslims were elected to Congress nationwide, including Democrat physician Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan, who became the nation’s first Muslim U.S. senator. The total could reach eight pending the outcome of California Democrat Aisha Wahab’s race for the state’s 14th Congressional district seat.

Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian, drew attention for openly integrating his faith into his campaign, referencing scripture and emphasizing his religious background. He was nicknamed “Talafreako” by President Donald Trump.

During his acceptance speech, Talarico drew a parallel between his race and the biblical story of David and Goliath, portraying Paxton and wealthy supporters like Elon Musk, who spent nearly $230 million to support Paxton’s campaign, as his “Goliath.” “We went up against our own Goliath – the richest man in the world, the most powerful man in the world and the entire D.C. establishment,” Talarico said. “You were my slingshot. The people of Texas were my slingshot. And tonight, we defeated Goliath.”

NBC News exit polls revealed shifts in voter preferences across several religious groups compared to the 2024 election. Support for Republican candidates among Catholics decreased from 59% in 2024 to just under 50% in the midterms. Jewish voters shifted from 78% supporting Kamala Harris in 2024 to 68% supporting Democrats this year.

“Donald Trump said voters should pretend he was on the ballot in the midterms, and Jewish Americans did just that,” stated Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America.

Among religiously unaffiliated voters, support for Republican candidates fell from 27% in 2024 to 20% this fall. Muslim voters overwhelmingly supported Democratic candidates, with 86% backing them in 2026 – a figure not recorded in 2024. Protestant and Christian voters showed a slight decrease in support for Republican candidates compared to 2024.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations attributed the voting patterns to rising Islamophobia, the economy, the Iran war, and Israel’s war in Gaza. “Rising Islamophobia strengthened their motivation to vote,” the council said. “They overwhelmingly backed Democrats, but many remain unconvinced that either party listens to their concerns.”

During his campaign in Michigan, El-Sayed faced accusations of being a “jihadist” and having ties to terrorist groups, claims lacking evidence. He also encountered criticism for perceived insufficient denunciation of antisemitism.

Assistant professor Frank Lacopo of Southeast Missouri State University suggested that El-Sayed’s focus on affordability resonated more effectively than attempts to downplay his religious identity. “What he showed people in Michigan was a vision of an American who happens to be Muslim.”

Approximately 50 million Catholics reside in the U.S., with roughly 53% identifying as Republican, according to the Pew Research Center. Kelsey Reinhardt, president and CEO of Catholic Vote, a conservative advocacy organization, explained that the shift towards Democrats reflected broader concerns among the American electorate. She suggested that some Catholics may have felt let down by Trump’s unfulfilled promises regarding both anti-war efforts and advancing anti-abortion policies.