Religion drives split in how Americans view democracy
A new survey finds that while support for Christian nationalism is dipping slightly, it remains a major factor in 2026 midterm voting motivation.
By Grace Anderson ·
Support for Christian nationalism is falling, but the belief continues to shape how Americans assess the health of their government ahead of the November vote. A new analysis of national survey data shows that while the number of strong believers is down, the rhetoric surrounding the issue is more visible in public life than in past cycles.
Andrew Whitehead, a sociology professor at Indiana University Indianapolis and a research fellow at the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, presented the findings from a Gallup poll of more than 23,000 adults. The data indicates that about 14% of the U.S. population strongly embraces Christian nationalism. Just over 16% are at least sympathetic to the ideology, which holds that Christianity defines the nation and that government should actively preserve that status.
The survey reveals sharp demographic divides. Among white Americans, 31% are at least sympathetic to the movement. Men show higher support than women, with one third of men and 28% of women expressing sympathy. Political party is the strongest predictor of belief. More than half of Republicans, specifically 55%, either strongly embrace or sympathize with Christian nationalism.
Whitehead noted that the divide affects how voters perceive the current system. Those who strongly embrace the ideology say democracy is doing great. In contrast, among the nearly 70% of respondents who resist or reject it, very few think democracy is functioning well or even okay. The researchers found that believers are more worried about specific threats to democracy than those who reject the ideology.
This disagreement is driving voter turnout in the 2026 midterm elections. Whitehead said the nearly 70% who reject Christian nationalism are highly motivated to elect members of Congress who will check the power of the executive branch. He stated that this kind of oversight has not happened during the first two years of the current administration.
While Republicans traditionally merge religion and politics, the current ballot includes a notable exception. Five Democrats running for Congress in this cycle are currently clergy members or are in training to become clergy. These candidates are part of a small group attempting to bridge the religious and political gap in the upcoming elections.
