As the Democratic Party wanders in the post-election wilderness after the bruising defeats of 2024, some of its newer leaders are tapping into an ancient form of connection: religion.
In Texas, a young lawmaker who could run statewide is urging his fellow white progressives to embrace discussions of faith in politics.
In Georgia, a Black pastor and U.S. senator is reclaiming religious language from those on the right who, he suggests, have twisted it to their own ends.
And in Pennsylvania, the Jewish governor’s faith is a central part of his public identity, evident in his campaign advertising and his major speeches — and even at a recent Christmas tree lighting.
“If y’all have not seen ‘National Lampoon Christmas Vacation,’ take it from this Jewish guy,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said as he addressed a holiday celebration in Harrisburg, Pa., this month. “You better go and rent that movie.”
While President Biden is a practicing Catholic who has often carried a rosary and playfully crossed himself, he long stood out in an increasingly secular Democratic Party.
