In the intense landscape of American elections, Georgia’s religious voters have emerged as a decisive force that both sides of the political aisle are keen to harness. With deep ties to faith, both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are actively engaging with Georgia’s religious communities to secure a foothold in this critical swing state.
The recent visits by the candidates to prominent Georgia churches – Harris to New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Trump to Christ Chapel in Zebulon – underscore the importance of religious voters in the electoral calculus.
Both Harris and Trump, while approaching faith from starkly different perspectives, recognize that Georgia’s religious electorate, a mix of White evangelical conservatives and Black Christians, could tip the scales. Their appearances offer insight into how each candidate is attempting to bridge the gap between politics and faith, even as they address some of the most pressing issues in the race.
Last Sunday, Kamala Harris stood at the pulpit of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, a predominantly Black megachurch in DeKalb County, Georgia. The church is one of the country’s most influential Black congregations and has long been intertwined with social justice and political engagement. Notable for its vast property holdings and powerful congregation, New Birth wields significant political influence.
Speaking to the nearly 4,000 attendees, Harris expressed gratitude for the opportunity to worship with them and delved into a parable from the Gospel of Luke. Her words struck a chord with the crowd, who attended not to hear campaign rhetoric but a message of spirituality and community.
“You don’t want to give political speeches in a sanctuary, because you’re there to worship God,” said State Senator Emanuel Jones, a Democrat from DeKalb who attended Harris’ service. “It’s not a good use of a sanctuary to politicize – especially on a Sunday – by mixing politics with religion.”
While Harris avoided direct references to her campaign, her emphasis on faith as “a verb” conveyed a clear message. She alluded to faith-based community action, subtly challenging conservative narratives around immigration and social welfare. Harris’ approach to faith resonated with members like Elaine Montgomery, who voiced her frustration with Trump’s public expressions of faith, questioning their sincerity. “If he had faith and believed in Jesus Christ, he wouldn’t be doing the things he does,” she said.
Harris’ approach aligns with the Democratic campaign’s focus on faith as a foundation for social justice, as seen in her remarks that connected faith with advocacy for marginalized communities. This perspective is appealing to many Black voters in Georgia, who often align their spiritual beliefs with social activism.
Meanwhile, Trump visited Christ Chapel, a smaller but equally fervent Christian congregation in Zebulon, Georgia. At the “Believers and Ballots” town hall, Trump’s comments leaned heavily into the themes of religious freedom and a perceived decline in Christian values. Noting the challenges faced by Christians in what he described as a hostile cultural climate, Trump emphasized the need for religious faith as “the glue that holds it all together.”
Trump’s approach to religion, however, was less subtle than Harris’. His comments on immigration, secularism, and the protection of conservative values played well with the largely evangelical audience, who view him as a defender of their beliefs.
