Whitehead: 14% of Americans Strongly Embrace Christian Nationalism Amid 2026 Midterms
New data shows a slight dip in support for the ideology, yet political leaders continue to integrate religious rhetoric into national debates.
By Ryan Davidson ·
Andrew Whitehead, a sociology professor at Indiana University Indianapolis, released new findings indicating that the share of Americans who strongly identify with Christian nationalism has declined slightly. Whitehead serves as a research fellow for the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, which partnered with Gallup on the survey. The data informs a period when religious identity is increasingly visible in the 2026 midterm election cycle.
The survey covered more than 23,000 adults. Results showed that approximately 14% of the U.S. population strongly embraces Christian nationalism. Just over 16% reported being at least sympathetic to the ideology. Whitehead defined Christian nationalism as the belief that Christianity defines the nation and that the government should take active steps to preserve that status.
Support for the ideology varies by demographic groups. Among white Americans, 31% are at least sympathetic to Christian nationalism. Men are slightly more likely to hold this view than women, with a third of men and 28% of women expressing sympathy. Political affiliation is a strong predictor of opinion. More than half of Republicans, specifically 55%, strongly embrace or sympathize with the movement.
Whitehead noted that while fewer Americans strongly embrace Christian nationalism, political figures in federal government and media continue to use its rhetoric. He stated that this makes the ideology a larger part of national political discussions than in the past. The survey suggests that views on democracy differ sharply between those who embrace the ideology and those who reject it.
Respondents who strongly embrace Christian nationalism generally believe democracy is functioning well. In contrast, very few Americans who reject the ideology think democracy is doing well or even okay. Those who embrace the belief system expressed greater concern about threats to democracy compared to those who reject it.
The nearly 70% of respondents who resist or reject Christian nationalism are highly motivated to vote in the upcoming elections. Whitehead said these voters want Congress to check the power of the executive branch, a role he said has not been prominent in the first two years of the Trump administration. This dynamic contrasts with the Republican side, where combining religion and politics is far more common.
Five Democrats are currently on the ballot in Congressional races as clergy or as individuals in training to become clergy. This presence adds a specific religious dimension to the 2026 contest. The data provides a snapshot of how religious identity intersects with political participation as the election approaches.
