President Trump’s lead among evangelical voters is larger than it was in 2016, according to a recent survey from LifeWay Research.
The news comes as some pundits say the Democrat effort to spend millions to win the Christian vote may have been offset by disgust with rioting, looting and the murder of dozens of police officers across the nation.
The poll of 1,200 Americans conducted Sept. 9-23 found that Trump leads Democratic nominee Joe Biden among evangelical likely voters, 61 to 29 percent. Four years ago, Trump led Hillary Clinton among that group in an October 2016 poll, 45 to 31 percent. Eight percent of evangelical likely voters are undecided; four years ago, it was 15 percent.
Although Trump has made significant inroads among evangelical voters in four years, major divides remain among whites, African Americans and other ethnicities. Trump leads Biden among white evangelicals, 73 to 18 percent, while Biden leads among Black evangelicals, 69 to 19 percent. Trump leads among evangelicals of “other ethnicities,” 58 to 32 percent. In national polling of all Blacks, Trump has polled at over 40 percent, more than four times his support in the 2016 election. On the other hand, support for Biden among Catholics, according to national polls, is threatened by his support for abortion until birth.
Trump’s support among white evangelicals also has increased in four years, from 65 percent in 2016 to 73 percent today. Yet Biden also is receiving more support from white evangelicals than did 2016 nominee Hillary Clinton (18 percent for Biden to 10 percent for Clinton).
“Voting for or against an incumbent president is a more certain situation for voters,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research. “Fewer Americans, including those with evangelical beliefs, are on the fence than at this same point in 2016.”
Meanwhile, 91 percent of evangelicals are registered to vote, according to the survey.
Other results from the survey include answers to these questions:
“In the 2020 presidential election, for whom do you plan to vote?” – Christians who attend at least once a month
● Females who attend at least once a month are more likely to select “Joe Biden” than Males who attend at least once a month (51% v. 40%)
● Males who attend at least once a month are more likely to select “Donald Trump” than Females who attend at least once a month (52% v. 37%)
● African Americans who attend at least once a month (86%) are more likely to select “Joe Biden” than Hispanics (58%), Other Ethnicities (49%), and Whites (30%)
● Whites who attend at least once a month (59%) are more likely to select “Donald Trump” than Hispanics (36%), Other Ethnicities (36%), and African Americans (9%)
● Democrats who attend at least once a month are the most likely to select “Joe Biden” (89%)
● Republicans who attend at least once a month are the most likely to select “Donald Trump” (79%)
“In this presidential election, which characteristics of the candidates are important to you in deciding how to cast your vote? – Ability to protect religious freedom
● Those age 50-64 (39%) and 65+ (39%) are more likely to select than those 18-34 (30%) and 35-49 (22%)
● Whites (35%) are more likely to select than Hispanics (24%)
● Those in the West (38%) are more likely to select than those in the Northeast (28%)
● Those with evangelical beliefs are more likely to select than those without evangelical beliefs (59% v. 26%)
● Christians who attend a worship service once a month or more are more likely to select than Other Americans (45% v. 26%)
● Democrats are the least likely to select (21%)
● Those voting for Donald Trump (49%) are more likely to select than those voting for Joe Biden (20%) or Undecided (31%)
“In this presidential election, which characteristics of the candidates are important to you in deciding how to cast your vote? – Likely Supreme Court nominees
● Males are more likely to select than Females (41% v. 25%)
● Those age 50-64 (45%) and 65+ (51%) are more likely to select than those 18-34 (18%) and 35-49 (24%)
● Whites are the most likely to select (38%)
● Those who are High School Graduates or less are the least likely to select (26%)
● Those with evangelical beliefs are more likely to select than those without evangelical beliefs (39% v. 32%)
● Christians who attend a worship service once a month or more are more likely to select than Other Americans (37% v. 31%)
● Republicans (39%) are more likely to select than Democrats (31%) and Independents (30%)
● Those voting for Donald Trump (42%) are more likely to select than those voting for Joe Biden (31%) and Undecided (13%)
“In this presidential election, which one characteristic of the candidates is most important to you in deciding how to cast your vote?”
● Females are more likely to select “Ability to improve the economy” than Males (31% v. 22%)
● Males are more likely to select “Ability to slow the spread of COVID19” than Females (25% v. 19%)
● Those age 35-49 are the most likely to select “Ability to improve the economy“ (34%) ● Those age 65+ (21%) are more likely to select “Personal character” than those 18-34 (12%) and 35-49 (9%)
● Whites (29%) and Other Ethnicities (38%) are more likely to select “Ability to improve the economy” than African Americans (15%) and Hispanics (19%)
● African Americans (26%) and Hispanics (36%) are more likely to select “Ability to slow the spread of COVID-19” than Whites (18%)
● African Americans are the most likely to select “Ability to address racial injustice” (27%) “In this presidenti
LifeWay Research defines evangelicals as those who strongly affirm four statements: 1) “the Bible is the highest authority for what I believe;” 2) “it is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior;” 3) “Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin;” and, 4) “only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation.”
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice