14% of Americans strongly embrace Christian nationalism, survey finds
New data from Kettering Foundation and Gallup shows a slight decline in strong adherence, yet the ideology remains deeply embedded in midterm political rhetoric and voter motivation.
By Andrew Hayes ·
14% of the U.S. population strongly embraces Christian nationalism, according to new data from the Kettering Foundation and Gallup’s annual national survey of more than 23,000 adults. Just over 16% of Americans report being at least sympathetic to the belief system, which holds that Christianity defines the nation and the government should actively maintain that status.
Andrew Whitehead, a sociology professor at Indiana University Indianapolis and research fellow for the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, noted that while the number of strong adherents is slightly declining, the concept remains a dominant force in political discourse. He explained that Americans in positions of power in federal government and media continue to utilize this rhetoric, making it more present in national political discussions than in the past despite the lower percentage of strong supporters.
The data reveals distinct demographic and partisan divides. Among white Americans, 31% are at least sympathetic to Christian nationalism. The sentiment is slightly more common among men, with a third reporting sympathy, compared to 28% of women. Political affiliation strongly correlates with the ideology, as 55% of Republicans strongly embrace or sympathize with Christian nationalism.
Whitehead pointed out that views on democracy differ sharply between those who embrace the ideology and those who reject it. Americans who strongly embrace Christian nationalism currently say democracy is doing great, whereas very few who reject it think democracy is functioning well or even okay. He added that those who embrace the belief are more worried about perceived threats to democracy than those who reject it.
The nearly 70% of respondents who resist or reject Christian nationalism are being driven to the polls for the 2026 midterm cycle. Whitehead stated that these voters are highly motivated for Congress to check the power of the executive branch, a dynamic he noted has not occurred in the first two years of the current administration.
While it remains more common for Republicans to combine religion and politics, the current election cycle sees a shift on the Democratic side. Five Democrats running in Congressional races are clergy or in training to become clergy, according to the report.
The survey data was compiled to analyze how Americans view democracy and how that perception intersects with their religious and political identities ahead of the November elections.
