Democratic Party Sees Surge in White Clergy Candidates Challenging Trump-Aligned Politics
A growing number of white pastors and clergy members are running for office as Democrats, motivated by concerns that Donald Trump’s politics are inconsistent with Christian principles and a desire to counter the rise of Christian nationalism. The trend is unfolding in key races across the country, from Iowa to Arkansas, signaling a potential shift in the political landscape and a challenge to the Republican party’s long-held dominance among white evangelical voters.
In Iowa,state representative Sarah Trone Garriott,an Evangelical Lutheran pastor,is vying for her party’s nomination to challenge Republican incumbent Zach Nunn in a closely watched congressional race.Simultaneously occurring, in Arkansas, Robb Ryerse, a former Republican and Christian pastor, is campaigning against congressman Steve Womack, utilizing the traditionally conservative slogan “Faith, Family & Freedom.”
Ryerse, 50, of Springdale, Arkansas, openly contrasts his faith-based values with those he attributes to Trump. “I joke sometiems that the two people who have changed my life more than any others are Jesus and donald Trump,for very different reasons,” he said.”Donald Trump is absolutely inconsistent with Christian principles of love and compassion, justice, looking out for the poor, meeting the needs of the marginalised.”
He further criticized the relationship between Trump and evangelical leaders, stating, ”He has used them to validate him to their followers and thay have used him to further their agenda, which has been a Christian nationalist culture war on the United States, which I think is bad for both the church and for the country.”
The surge in clergy candidates is partly a response to Trump’s strong support among white evangelicals – a Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) survey found he won 85% of their vote in the 2024 presidential election. Ryerse believes this has led many pastors to feel compelled to act. “We realize hey, our churches and the people in our churches have been duped by this guy and so rather than hope someone else will clean up the problem, what we’ve seen is a lot of pastors respond with, you know what, I’m going to jump in and I’m going to be a part of the solution.”
Beyond opposition to Trump, these candidates also express a desire to translate their faith-based values into public policy.ryerse emphasized the alignment between helping one’s neighbor and advocating for effective public services. “There’s so much alignment between what I believe personally is good for my neighbor, what it means to love my neighbour, and how that aligns with what public policy ought to be.”
