Key facts
- White evangelicals remain Donald Trump's most reliable constituency.
- Trump's support among white evangelicals fell to 63% in October from 77% in January 2025.
- Social and religious issues, such as transgender rights and abortion, are prioritized by many white evangelicals over economic concerns.
- A candidate guide in South Carolina churches favored Republican Darline Graham on social issues over Democrat Annie Andrews.
- White evangelicals comprise about 13% of US adults and a significant portion of Trump's base.
President Donald Trump's support is slipping among many voters, but white evangelical Christians remain his most reliable constituency, according to Reuters/Ipsos polling and interviews. This loyalty, driven by social and religious issues over economic concerns, could prove crucial in the upcoming midterm elections.
At Village Church in Blythewood, South Carolina, Pastor Erik Estep urged his predominantly white parishioners to view politics through a biblical lens, a message that resonated with attendees like Karen Whiting, who plans to vote for Republican Darline Graham. A candidate guide distributed by the Palmetto Family Council also favored Graham on issues like abortion and gender-affirming care.
Democratic candidate Annie Andrews, however, stated that evangelical voters are chiefly concerned about the economy and the cost of living. While Trump's support among white evangelicals has fallen to 63% from 77% in January 2025, it remains higher than his support among the general electorate. Interviews in South Carolina suggested that despite frustrations with the Iran conflict and rising gas prices, most white evangelicals still trust Trump and prioritize social issues, a phenomenon described by Robert P. Jones of the Public Religion Research Institute as a "grand bargain."