2025/04/03 by Samuel L. Perry, Darci K. Schmidgall · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #American Constitutional Law and Politics #Religion and Society Interactions #Race, History, and American Society
paper · doi:10.1080/01419870.2025.2482717
openalex publication_date 2025/04/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/15
Christian nationalism often shapes the political views of Black and White Americans differently, particularly on racial justice issues, inclining White Americans toward more reactionary views while often inclining Black Americans toward more progressive views. In this study, we show Christian nationalism can operate similarly for Black and White Americans on “moral issues,” to the Republican Party’s benefit. Drawing on national data collected before the 2024 Presidential election, and focusing on whether Americans were prioritizing abortion in selecting their 2024 Presidential candidate, analyses show that as Christian nationalism increases, Black and White Americans (even Strong Democrats) became less likely to view protecting abortion access as a priority. We also find evidence Black Republicans became more motivated in the opposite direction. Findings suggest Republican candidates can leverage Christian nationalist rhetoric around issues like abortion to promote “multiethnic coalitions of exclusion,” neutralizing Black Democrats and possibly mobilizing Black Republicans on religiously-coded “moral issues.”