Overview
- Roughly 30 white Christian clergy, including pastors and seminary students, have filed or announced plans to run as Democrats in next year’s midterm elections, according to The Guardian reporting relayed by Alternet.
- Several candidates say they were moved to run after concluding that churches were misled by President Donald Trump and by evangelical leaders seeking political power.
- The group seeks to broaden Democratic appeal among white working-class churchgoers by challenging long-standing partisan and religious alignments.
- Named entrants include Justin Douglas in Pennsylvania, Texas state representative and seminary student James Talarico, Iowa pastor–legislator Sarah Trone Garriott seeking to challenge Rep. Zach Nunn, and Arkansas pastor Robb Ryerse running against Rep. Steve Womack.
- Some candidates highlight conservative roots, including ties to Liberty University, and describe shifting views in response to the Trump era, while the electoral impact of these bids remains uncertain.