Democracy Corps’ new project on the Trump-GOP began with focus groups with the Evangelical GOP women from the smaller towns outside Raleigh, North Carolina. One-in-four Republicans identify as Evangelical and conservative. They are the quintessential values voters at the core of the GOP and President Donald Trump’s base. Their conservatism is defined by their religious faith, which puts them on the defensive in a country that is increasingly liberal, secular, and politicized. In fact, the moderator intervened to assure them they did not have to be apologetic about their social conservatism.
For all Trump’s unchristian behavior and style, the Evangelical GOP thank President Trump for sticking to his guns and to their social agenda and for appointing socially conservative judges. They welcome his pushing back against liberalism after eight years of Obama and the failure of the GOP establishment.
Because their values are under siege, the stakes for the Evangelical GOP in the off-year election are incredibly high, and they must vote to defend the Trump presidency.