Christian nationalism: 14% strongly embrace the view

About 14% of Americans strongly embrace the belief that Christianity defines the nation and the government should keep it that way, according to data cited by Indiana University Indianapolis sociology professor Andrew Whitehead. Just over 16% are at least sympathetic to that view.

Whitehead, a research fellow for the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, drew on the foundation's work and Gallup's annual national survey of more than 23,000 adults. He said he sees where people fall on a spectrum of Christian nationalism, "which really tells us a lot about what they think democracy is and how it's functioning."

The figures break down further along familiar lines. Among white Americans, 31% are at least sympathetic to Christian nationalism. A third of men are at least sympathetic, compared with 28% of women. Among Republicans, 55% strongly embrace or sympathize with the view.

Whitehead said Americans who embrace it and those who reject it read the state of the country differently. He said those who strongly embrace Christian nationalism say democracy is doing great, while very few of those who reject it think democracy is doing well or even okay. He also said people in positions of power in federal government and media take that rhetoric and make it part of the national discourse, so "fewer Americans embrace it strongly, but it is much more a part of our national political discussions than it ever used to be."

Whitehead said nearly 70% of respondents resist or reject Christian nationalism and are motivated this midterm cycle to vote for Congress to check the power of the executive branch, something he said has not happened in the first two years of the Trump administration.

Combining religion and politics is far more common among Republicans, though five Democrats on the ballot in congressional races this cycle are clergy or in training to become clergy. Midterm elections are set for November 2026.