The Resurgence of Mainline Protestant Christianity in Democratic Politics May Outweigh the DSA's Influence
Source: Bill McKibben. "Adam Hamilton and Taking Back Religion from the Right | The New Yorker." August 26, 2026. www.newyorker.com
The Gist
The author argues that while everyone's talking about socialist Democrats, the real political story might be religious progressive Christians—like a Methodist pastor running for Senate in Kansas—making a comeback after decades of the religious right dominating politics. This shift is framed as both electoral (these candidates could win in red states) and theological (a fight over how to interpret the Bible), reignited by backlash to Trump's policies.
Conclusion
The resurgence of mainline Protestant Christianity within the Democratic Party, exemplified by candidates like Adam Hamilton and James Talarico, represents a more significant political trend than the rise of Democratic Socialists, and may reshape what Christianity means in American politics.
Premises
- Multiple mainline Protestant clergy and seminarians (twelve total, seven winning primaries) are running as Democrats in 2026, far outnumbering successful GOP clergy candidates (three, all evangelicals)
- Nearly two-thirds of American adults identify as Christian, making the contest over Christianity's political meaning more consequential than the DSA's hundred-thousand-member movement
- Mainline Protestantism, once the dominant American religious tradition, has been in decline since the 1960s due to political polarization and a well-funded conservative campaign to divide denominations
- Trump's policies on immigration, race, and marginalized groups have galvanized mainline clergy and laity into visible resistance (e.g., Bishop Budde's inaugural plea, clergy protests in Minneapolis, arrests at the airport)
- This political resurgence reflects a deeper theological debate—rooted in figures like Harry Emerson Fosdick—about whether Scripture should be read as evolving and contextual or as static and inerrant
- Candidates like Hamilton and Talarico are competitive in traditionally Republican states (Kansas, Texas), suggesting real electoral viability for this religious-political identity
Assumptions
- The religious identity and framing of political candidates meaningfully influences voter behavior beyond typical partisan identification
- A rise in mainline clergy running for office indicates a broader cultural or theological shift rather than a coincidental cluster of candidacies
- The political mobilization of mainline Protestants is primarily a reaction to right-wing evangelical dominance and Trump-era policies rather than other factors
- Electoral competitiveness in a few high-profile races (Kansas, Texas) is representative of a broader national trend
- The 'meaning of Christianity in American politics' is a coherent, contestable stake that can shift based on which party's candidates embody it