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Biden, Joe

The Enduring Grip of White Christian Conservatism on the Republican Party

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Republican Party's consistent rejection of President Biden's legislative priorities and their restrictive voting laws are rooted in the existential dread of White Christian conservatives, who perceive a decline in their influence and a drift away from traditional American values.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Republican Party's opposition to President Biden's $1.9 trillion relief plan is emblematic of the party's defiance of broad public support and growing opposition.
  • White Christians, who represent 54% of the US population, hold unchallenged dominance within the GOP, comprising two-thirds of rank-and-file Republicans and more than 90% of Republican senators, House members, and governors.
  • The most conservative among them, evangelical or born-again Christians, yield significant influence, with 28% of the electorate giving Trump three-fourths of their votes last November.
  • A January survey by the American Enterprise Institute found that White evangelical Republicans are more likely to believe in the QAnon fantasy, the "Deep State" conspiracy, and the falsehood that Antifa, not Trump supporters, staged the January 6 insurrection.
  • 60% of White evangelical Republicans agree that "the traditional American way of life is disappearing so fast that we may have to use force to save it."
  • Fully 75% of White evangelical Republicans believe Biden did not legitimately win the election, while a 56% majority of Republicans accept Biden's victory as legitimate.
  • A PRRI poll found that 68% of White evangelical Republicans expressed resignation over the toll of coronavirus, calling it "inevitable" rather than the result of failure to control the outbreak.

Statistics:

  • 44% of the US population identifies as White Christians, down from 54% in 2008 (PRRI).
  • 28% of the electorate is composed of White evangelical Republicans (exit polls).
  • 68% of White evangelical Republicans believe the media has exaggerated the number of deaths from the pandemic (AEI survey).
  • 60% of White evangelical Republicans agree that "the traditional American way of life is disappearing so fast that we may have to use force to save it" (AEI survey).
  • 75% of White evangelical Republicans believe Biden did not legitimately win the election (AEI survey).
  • 56% of Republicans accept Biden's victory as legitimate (AEI survey).
  • 68% of White evangelical Republicans express resignation over the toll of coronavirus (PRRI poll).

Sources:

  • Jones, R. P. (Director of the Public Religion Research Institute). The End of White Christian America.
  • CNN contributor, Amanda Carpenter (The Bulwark).
  • American Enterprise Institute survey, January.
  • Public Religion Research Institute poll.

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