For the past four decades, the notion that religious beliefs should guide voters' decision-making has been largely monopolized by the Republican Party. But the partisan "God gap" hasn't gone unnoticed by some religious Democrats, who have urged candidate after candidate to make appeals to religious values and beliefs in the hope of turning the "religious left" into a politically relevant force. And as the 2020 Democratic primary ramps up, there's already speculation that the right candidate could tap a long-dormant reserve of religious energy among Democratic voters.
First Cory Booker — who was literally anointed by his pastor ahead of his presidential announcement — was touted as a possible candidate of the "religious left." Then Pete Buttigieg stepped in to claim that mantle, telling reporters that the left "need to not be afraid to invoke arguments that are convincing on why Christian faith is going to point you in a progressive direction." Meanwhile, several other presidential hopefuls, including Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris and Kirsten Gillibrand, are all talking openly about their religion on the campaign trail, even making arguments for why their policy positions — whether it's abortion rights or income inequality — are linked to their faith.
Read Full Article »