Pastor Predicts Harris Could Secure ‘Carter-Level’ Evangelical Voter Support
By Jake Beardslee ·
August 25, 2024
Vice President Kamala Harris may have an opportunity to win over evangelical Christian voters in the upcoming election, according to Minneapolis pastor Doug Pagitt.
Despite Donald Trump's historically strong support among evangelicals, Pagitt, who heads the nonprofit Vote Common Good, believes there's potential for a shift. Jasper Colt/USA TODAY / USA TODAY NETWORK
In an op-ed for MSNBC, Pagitt claims that Trump's behavior has been driving some evangelical voters away.
"On the trail in 2020, 2022 and this year, I've gleaned the reason many evangelical and Christian voters ultimately leave Trump: his obvious lack of kindness," he writes. Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
Paggit points to a successful campaign in 2020 by Vote Common Good in Kent County, Michigan, where they used voter rallies, billboards, and postcards to reach evangelical voters and train local Democratic candidates on how to engage with faith voters. votecommongood.com
Their efforts resulted in a 9-point swing against Trump compared to 2016. Owen Ziliak/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
"I spend a lot of my time traveling the country speaking to voters, particularly evangelical and Catholic voters who are hardwired into voting Republican, working to get them to break out of those patterns. What I’ve learned is that most don’t want or need their elected leader to be like them, but they really do want their leader to like them," Pagitt stated. cottonbro studio / Pexels
With the recent formation of Christians for Kamala, Pagitt sees potential for Harris to make significant inroads with evangelical voters.
He states, "I think it's possible for Harris to receive the highest level of evangelical support since Carter." Jasper Colt-USA TODAY
"What it's going to take is a concerted, grassroots effort to reach these voters, listen to them and bring them along on a journey to help them understand it's OK for them to let concern for the common good, and not allegiance to a political party, determine how they vote," Pagitt explains. cottonbro studio / Pexels
"We won’t give up on them, because they can help save our country from the antidemocratic policies the MAGA movement has been unleashing," Paggit concludes. SHAWN THEW/Pool via USA TODAY NETWORK
