Americans head to the polls on Tuesday for Election Day, with voters across the country casting ballots in a pivotal midterm elections. From congressional contests and gubernatorial races to state and local elections, the results will help shape the political landscape and set the direction for the 2028 presidential election.
Read MoreReligion will play a role in Tuesday’s midterm election, from mobilizing participation to seeking precinct integrity to influencing voter decisions. Here are five faith-related questions to watch.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Where do you go to vote on Election Day? I am assuming that all you readers are actually voting. If you don’t, it’s my solemn duty as a classically trained political scientist to tell you that your vote matters and all that. I’ve voted in a bunch of different places in my life, especially when I was in college and graduate school.
Read MoreSharia, often called Islamic law, is a system of religious guidelines that inform how Muslims understand their responsibilities to God, themselves, their families and society. The Arabic word — sharia — is commonly translated as “the way” or “the path.” It refers to a way of life rooted in Islamic teachings rather than simply a collection of laws enforced by a government.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Political shamelessness threatens democracy by weakening leaders’ respect for ethical principles and the rule of law. Drawing on Plato’s Laws, this article explores reverence as a virtue that encourages humility, self-restraint and recognition of human limitations, arguing that responsible leadership requires accountability and respect for principles beyond personal interests.
Read MoreA Lifeway Research study found 93% of U.S. Protestant pastors say they don’t plan to endorse candidates for public office during a worship service, despite the IRS saying it will allow churches to do so without losing their tax-exempt status.
Read MoreA private Christian college in a historically red state isn’t usually a campaign stop for a Democratic candidate. But James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for Senate in Texas, did just that, making it a priority to recently visit Baylor University, the largest Baptist university in the nation. Talarico’s Christian faith — combined with his progressive agenda — has made him an appealing candidate.
Read MoreAcross several of the country’s most competitive congressional contests, religious identity has become a central issue for many voters. Here’s a look the the Senate and House races where faith has become a major issue.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Long considered politically marginal, mainline protestantism is unexpectedly prominent in 2026 Democratic campaigns. Clergy candidates James Talarico in Texas, Adam Hamilton in Kansas and Sarah Trone Garriott and Lindsay James in Iowa are competing in closely watched races, reviving questions about mainline Christianity’s enduring political influence.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Is it conceivable that the 2026 and 2028 election cycles will erode the Democratic Party’s lock on Jewish voters, one of the iron laws of American politics? Or instead, will Jewish Democrats increasingly turn against support for Israel? The results of the upcoming midterm elections could give us a glimpse of what’s to come.
Read MoreThe political time machine has now landed in similar journalism terrain. During this week’s “Crossroads” podcast, we discussed several important news reports, including this Religion News Service feature: “‘They’re not real pastors’: As clergy run as Democrats, Republicans question their faith.”
Read MoreFaith leaders representing more than 1,500 congregations held coordinated events in nine states, calling on election officials to protect voting rights and follow election laws ahead of the 2026 midterms this November. Organizers described the campaign as nonpartisan and focused on election integrity and ballot access.
Read More(ANALYSIS) It’s the “cry more, libs” approach for Republicans. A Democrat will demonize or mischaracterize the other side of the argument because this helps them justify their own voting choices. It really goes both ways. But now that we have data from the 2025 Cooperative Election Study, we can actually dig into how vote choices are relating to approval ratings of Donald Trump.
Read MoreJackson Lahmeyer, the Tulsa pastor endorsed by President Donald Trump in the race for an open Oklahoma congressional seat, suspended his campaign Wednesday shortly after losing the president’s backing.
Read MoreTexas Senate candidate James Talarico's theological views are drawing attention as he campaigns while preparing for Presbyterian ordination. Questions about the resurrection, abortion, sexuality, gender identity and denominational controversies could test whether his blend of progressive politics and Christianity resonates with voters.
Read MoreThe meeting is being held during an election cycle in which rejecting AIPAC support has become a defining issue in Democratic races. It also comes amid concerns from some Jewish Democrats — including ones critical of AIPAC — that the group’s emergence as a bogeyman in American politics is inappropriate or even antisemitic.
Read MoreIn true Trump fashion, Jackson Lahmeyer — founder of Pastors for Trump — is touting a “HUGE Announcement” next week and hinting strongly that he’ll enter the race for Oklahoma’s 1st Congressional District seat.
Read More(ANALYSIS) President Trump’s deportation drive is reshaping the 2026 battle for Congress, but celebrity protests and mass demonstrations show little evidence of moving voters. The real test may come in churches, especially among Catholics, whose leaders condemn mass deportations and whose increasingly fluid voting patterns could decide close races.
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