A Reuters and Ipsos poll released this month indicates that President Trump’s backing among white evangelical Protestant voters has experienced a notable decrease since the start of his second term. The survey found support at 63 percent, representing a 14-point decline from the 77 percent recorded at his January 2025 inauguration. This shift occurs as Trump’s overall approval rating has fallen to 31 percent.
White evangelicals represent a critical constituency for the Republican Party, particularly as the nation approaches midterm elections on November 3. The demographic comprises roughly a third of Trump’s winning coalition from the 2024 presidential election and accounts for approximately 13 percent of the total US population. Despite the recent erosion in support, white evangelicals remain the only demographic group tracked by Reuters to maintain backing above 60 percent for the president during this election cycle.
The timing of this decline carries potential consequences for Republican efforts to maintain control of Congress. Democrats are widely expected to gain the House of Representatives, with Senate control also appearing increasingly competitive amid voter concerns about affordability and foreign policy. Party strategists anticipate that mobilizing the Republican base will be essential to counteracting these headwinds.
Trump has maintained active engagement with evangelical voters, recently campaigning in South Carolina where exit polling indicated six in ten Republican primary voters in 2024 were white evangelicals. During his appearance, he emphasized social policy positions historically prioritized by conservative Christians, including stances on transgender-related issues. The president has retained substantial support from evangelical leadership despite various controversies, including allegations of sexual misconduct that he denies.
While evangelicals in states including Iowa, Kansas, and Texas could prove decisive for Senate races, some Democratic candidates in these regions include faith leaders from mainline Protestant traditions. The distinction between white evangelical voters and other faith-based voting blocs—particularly Black Protestant evangelicals, who remain predominantly Democratic—continues to shape electoral dynamics heading into the midterms.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI