Harris and Trump lean into their faith in appeals to Christian voters in Georgia

Last week, two Georgia megachurches hosted presidential candidates, highlighting the significant differences in how Kamala Harris and Donald Trump discuss faith and what Georgia’s Christian congregations expect from them.

While Trump and Harris approach their faith communication differently, religious leaders on both the left and right are framing this election in dire, apocalyptic terms. Both candidates understand that religious voters will be crucial to winning key swing states like Georgia.

“It is so good to be here with everyone today and to worship with you,” Harris told thousands gathered at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in South DeKalb County last Sunday. “On this day, I am reminded of the parable from the Gospel of Luke,” she added from the pulpit.

The predominantly Black megachurch outside of Atlanta, one of the most influential Black churches in the U.S., drew a crowd of 4,000. Pastor Jamal Bryant often emphasizes the church’s importance, noting that New Birth owns more land than any other Black church in the country and gave away $83 million in college scholarships last year. Its congregation includes many of Atlanta’s key political figures, from mayors to members of Congress, and it has hosted five U.S. presidents.

However, the people who come to New Birth don’t come for political speeches, and Harris respected that. “You don’t want to give political speeches in a sanctuary; you’re there to worship God,” said state senator Emanuel Jones, a DeKalb Democrat. “To me, it’s not appropriate to mix politics and religion, especially on a Sunday. Harris understands that, and she kept them separate.”

Harris was joined on her campaign stop in Georgia by her pastor, Rev. Dr. Amos Brown of Third Baptist Church in San Francisco, a civil rights leader who worked alongside Martin Luther King Jr. A few days later, during a CNN townhall, Harris shared that her first call after learning Biden would be withdrawing was to Brown. She also spoke about her daily prayer habits, telling Anderson Cooper, “I do pray every day. Sometimes twice a day.”

Though Harris does not shy away from discussing her faith, she does not frame her campaign as religiously motivated. During her time at New Birth, she avoided directly mentioning her campaign or common political issues like abortion rights or inflation. Instead, she emphasized faith, using the word “faith” 16 times in her 14-minute speech, saying, “Faith is a verb. We show it through our actions, deeds, and service.” The message resonated with attendees like Elaine Montgomery, who felt Harris’s comments were a subtle rejection of conservative views on immigration.

Faith is a powerful factor in Georgia politics. White evangelical Christians, who make up about 38% of the state’s population, are among Donald Trump’s strongest supporters, according to Pew Research Center. Black voters, who make up around 30% of Georgia’s electorate, are also more likely to be religious. With 42% of Georgians attending church regularly, the state remains a focal point for faith-driven political engagement.

On the same day as Harris’s visit, 42,694 Georgians voted, many participating in “souls to the polls” efforts, a get-out-the-vote campaign led by churches. Attempts by conservatives to eliminate Sunday early voting after the 2020 election faced strong resistance from pastors, demonstrating the vital role faith plays in mobilizing voters.

Meanwhile, Trump was in Zebulon, Georgia, addressing a faith town hall at Christ Chapel Church. Though he arrived 45 minutes late, thousands attended, filling the hall and spilling into the parking lot. Trump spoke about religion’s role as “the glue that holds it all together,” referencing a decline in religious participation post-pandemic and claiming that Christians, particularly Catholics, face “persecution” in the U.S.

However, much of Trump’s 40-minute appearance was focused on his usual campaign topics, such as illegal immigration and attacks on the Biden administration. Unlike Harris, Trump’s faith references were brief, though he did note, “Faith – when you have faith, when you believe in God, it’s a big advantage.”

The stakes for religious voters were made clear by Ralph Reed, chairman of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, who rallied the crowd before Trump’s arrival. Reed warned that Harris would push for a federal law enforcing abortion access and term limits for Supreme Court justices, removing conservative justices like Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. Trump’s record on appointing conservative justices, which led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, remains a cornerstone of his appeal to anti-abortion voters.

Despite Trump’s less frequent mention of abortion during his current campaign, some supporters, like Sandra Stargel of McDonough, Georgia, believe he is still guided by faith. “God has him here for a reason,” she said, acknowledging the complexities surrounding women’s rights and abortion.

As both Harris and Trump court Georgia’s religious voters, faith continues to play a central role in framing the 2024 election as one of the most consequential in recent history. Whether it’s the rhetoric of Harris’s church visit or Trump’s appeal to conservative Christians, Georgia’s political landscape is deeply intertwined with its faith communities.