One of this year's presidential candidates may have more than a prayer when it comes to the support of America's clergy, a new survey finds. reveal.
Nearly all American Protestant pastors (97%) say they intend to vote in this year's presidential election.
Half of those who revealed their preferred candidate said they would vote for former President Donald Trump, an evangelical Christian research group said Tuesday.
Of the remaining pastors, 24% said they would vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, and 23% declined to answer, according to LifeWay Research — roughly six times the 4% who declined to answer four years ago.
Pentecostal, Baptist, Lutheran, Reformed and nondenominational clergy are most likely to say they would vote for Trump, while Harris has received support from Methodist and Presbyterian/Reformed pastors.
Preachers' preference figures reflect the preferences of churchgoers. Another investigation According to an August Pew Research Center survey of likely voters, 61% of Protestants and 52% of Catholics said they would vote for Trump, while 82% of black Protestants and 65% of Hispanic Catholics said they would support Harris.
LifeWay also said that among pastors who identify with a particular party, 85% of Democratic pastors would support Harris, while 78% of Republican pastors would vote for Trump.
Protestant and Catholic support for Trump was a major factor in 2016 and 2020, and the former president is hoping to attract those voting groups this year. Speaking at the National Religious Broadcasters Association convention in February, Trump said, “The radical left… is trying to destroy the cross where they can and cover it with the flag of social justice. No one will touch the cross of Christ under Trump, I swear to you.”
Each campaign has a faith-based outreach program. The Trump campaign appointed Dr. Ben Carson, a prominent Christian surgeon who served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 2017 to 2021, to head its faith programs. Presbyterian Rev. Jen Butler, who served as White House faith director for President Obama, is leading the Harris campaign's program.
Harris, who has been criticized by Pope Francis for her support of abortion, highlighted her faith background and membership of a Baptist church in San Francisco. The pope also blasted Trump as a politician who “kicks out immigrants” and said both candidates were “anti-life.”
But apart from the Pope, many clergy are reluctant to reveal their views on race issues.
“The growing reluctance of pastors to disclose their voting intentions shows how sensitive and divisive politics have become in some churches,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research.
In response to the polling data, Troy Anderson, an evangelical Christian who released a book on Tuesday called “The Trump Code,” said the central issue in this election requires a response from clergy.
“This is a clash of two competing worldviews,” Anderson told The Washington Post. One side “want to move us into this 'Great Reset' plan, some kind of new world order” that he believes will create “an end-time global dictator.”
In contrast, Anderson said Trump “represents the Judeo-Christian foundations of America,” but that many pastors may not understand that.
“He's obviously not a perfect man, but he wants to preserve the freedoms and rights that America has long enjoyed,” Anderson said.
