The relationship between Christian nationalism and Americans’ views of democracy

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The number of Americans who identify with Christian nationalism is slightly declining, but religion remains a large part of politics for both candidates and voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

“We see where Americans fall on this spectrum of Christian nationalism, which really tells us a lot about what they think democracy is and how it’s functioning,” said Andrew Whitehead, a professor of sociology at Indiana University Indianapolis and a research fellow for the Charles F. Kettering Foundation.

Whitehead cited data from the Kettering Foundation and Gallup’s annual national survey of more than 23,000 adults. He said around 14% of the U.S. population strongly embraces Christian nationalism, with just over 16% at least sympathetic to it.

Christian nationalism is the belief that Christianity defines the nation and the government should take active steps to keep it that way.

“Even though there are fewer Americans who embrace Christian nationalism, there are Americans in positions of power in federal government and media who will take that rhetoric of Christian nationalism and really make it part of the national discourse,” Whitehead said. “So fewer Americans embrace it strongly, but it is much more a part of our national political discussions than it ever used to be.”

Among white Americans, 31% are at least sympathetic to Christian nationalism. A third of men are at least sympathetic, while 28% of women responded similarly.

Christian nationalism is also strongly associated with political party. More than half of Republicans, 55%, strongly embrace or sympathize with it.

Whitehead said Americans who embrace Christian nationalism and those who reject it view democracy differently.

“They’re more worried about certain threats, quote unquote, to democracy than are Americans who reject Christian nationalism,” he explained. “When we asked them about how democracy is functioning, Americans who strongly embrace Christian nationalism right now say democracy is doing great; for those that reject it, very few think democracy is doing well or even okay.”

Whitehead said the nearly 70% of respondents who resist or reject Christian nationalism are being driven to the polls this midterm cycle.

“Right now, they’re very motivated for Congress to check the power of the executive branch,” he added, “something that hasn’t been happening in these first two years of the Trump administration.”

It is far more common for Republicans to combine religion and politics, but this election cycle, five Democrats are on the ballot in Congressional races who are clergy or in training to become clergy.