Midterm Flip: Mainline clergy drive Democratic gains in key states

Four mainline Protestant clergy members won U.S. Senate and House seats in the 2026 midterm elections, flipping control of Congress for the Democratic Party. The victories occurred in Texas, Kansas, and Iowa, states that have historically voted Republican.

The winners were seminary student James Talarico in Texas, United Methodist pastor Adam Hamilton in Kansas, and Lutheran and Presbyterian ministers Sarah Trone Garriott and Lindsay James in Iowa. All four candidates campaigned on a platform of "loving your neighbor" and maintaining a separation between church and state. This approach contrasted sharply with the evangelical Christian support for President Donald Trump and Republican candidates.

James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton for the U.S. Senate seat in Texas. This result marked the first time in more than 30 years that Democrats won a statewide race in the state. Talarico, a 37-year-old former state legislator and middle school teacher, cited his Baptist grandfather in his acceptance speech. He described Jesus as a "barefoot rabbi" who flipped tables of injustice. "Texas, it's time to start flipping tables," Talarico said.

Adam Hamilton, pastor of the largest United Methodist congregation in the nation, won the U.S. Senate race in Kansas. He defeated Republican Senator Roger Marshall. Hamilton focused on "decency" in politics during his campaign. He stated that his faith is central to his life, describing it as what he "eats, sleeps, drinks and breathes." However, he noted that one does not need to be religious to follow biblical commands to do justice and love kindness.

In Iowa, Sarah Trone Garriott and Lindsay James flipped two U.S. House seats. Garriott is a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, while James is a chaplain in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Both women emphasized coalition building and their experience connecting with diverse communities. James, who entered politics after the 2016 election, said she spent time bringing people together across differences.

Voting data from The AP Voter Poll showed that white evangelical Protestants continued to support Republicans overwhelmingly. However, about 70% of Protestants who identify as liberal or moderate voted for Democrats. The clergy candidates also received strong support from religiously unaffiliated voters. At least 70% of these voters supported Democratic Senate and House candidates in Texas, Kansas, and Iowa.

Religious demographics professor Ryan Burge of Washington University in St. Louis argued that economic issues and dissatisfaction with Trump were the primary drivers of these wins. He suggested that the candidates benefited from favorable political conditions rather than their faith alone. Burge noted that white evangelicals made up 17% of the electorate in 2026, down from 21% in 2024. He attributed this shift to lower turnout among that group or higher turnout among other demographics.

Not all religious leaders supported the results. Rev. Robert Jeffress, a Southern Baptist pastor in Dallas and longtime Trump supporter, criticized the plurality of the winning candidates. He argued that their beliefs were not true Christianity according to the words of Jesus. Jeffress attributed the Democratic success to inflation, the Iran war, and less than ideal Republican candidates.

Other Democratic victories included Black clergy members Frederick Haynes III and Emanuel Cleaver II, as well as LaKesha Womack in North Carolina. Womack, an ordained deacon in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, said she wanted to reclaim the Christian narrative from white Christian nationalists. She advised Democrats to ensure that any future recruitment of ministers for politics remains authentic.

The elections demonstrated the continued influence of mainline Protestantism despite decades of declining membership. These denominations have historically been part of the civic establishment and the church home of many presidents. The 2026 results showed that moderate and progressive Christians remain a potent force in American politics.