Three progressive Democratic candidates running for U.S. Senate seats have adopted a strategy more commonly associated with Republican campaigns over the past four decades, invoking their Christian faith and comparing their political platforms to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Florida state Rep. Angie Nixon, Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, and Texas state Rep. James Talarico have each made faith a central component of their messaging as they challenge Republican incumbents in what are shaping up to be closely watched midterm races. Their approach mirrors the “Moral Majority” coalition that formed in the late 1970s when Republicans began tying conservative policy positions to Christianity, though the candidates are now using similar rhetoric to advance progressive causes including socialism, transgender ideology, and expansive government programs.

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Nixon, who defeated Alexander Vindman in a primary upset despite his backing from the Democratic establishment, faces Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., in November and has become a target for Republicans over her ties to the Democratic Socialists of America.

From Fox News:

During a sermon last week at the Saint Paul AME Church of Jacksonville, Fla., Nixon, who will face Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., in November, contended that her “radical” positions were akin to those of Jesus Christ.

“They are trying, y’all. They are trying … to label me as this extremist, this radical. But, you know, Jesus was a radical,” Nixon said.

“And Jesus fought for — I mean, he pushed for the same things that I’m fighting for today, right? Right now, we’re literally in a civil rights moment,” she continued. “Whether or not people wanna believe it or not, but we are.”

Nixon joined the DSA in June, prompting immediate backlash from the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which has tied her to socialism despite her denial that she is a Democratic socialist. El-Sayed, who is Muslim and running in Michigan’s closely contested race against former Rep. Mike Rogers, made a similar comparison during a May appearance on the Progressive Christians Podcast, saying Jesus “was considered radical in his time, too” and arguing there is “a radical nature to being willing to stand forthright in a time of corruption.” Of the three candidates, Talarico has displayed his faith most prominently, taking seminary classes to become a Presbyterian minister and blending Christianity with his policy platform since launching his candidacy. He is running against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in what is expected to be a competitive race.

Republicans have seized on Talarico’s use of faith as a point of attack, particularly after he defended transgender children in 2021 by arguing that “God is non-binary” based on his interpretation of the Hebrew words used to describe God in the opening lines of Genesis. The National Republican Senatorial Committee and other GOP groups have cast all three candidates as out of step with mainstream Christian teaching, noting that their policy platforms include support for abortion access, expansive government control, and progressive social policies that contradict traditional biblical interpretations held by millions of American Christians. The candidates’ strategy represents a calculated effort to reach religious voters, particularly in Black and Hispanic communities, who have historically supported Democratic candidates but whose faith traditions often align more closely with conservative positions on social issues.

Christians are called to test every claim against Scripture (1 Thessalonians 5:21), and when political candidates invoke the name of Jesus to justify policy platforms, believers have a responsibility to discern whether those comparisons honor the truth of God’s Word. Jesus Christ came to offer salvation and reconciliation with God through His sacrifice on the cross, not to endorse any political party or economic system. While scripture calls believers to care for the poor, defend the vulnerable, and pursue justice, it does not authorize twisting the gospel to fit a secular political agenda that contradicts biblical teaching on the sanctity of life, the created order of male and female, or the limits of government authority. Let us pray for Americans to wake up and fight back against these lies. Let us pray for the church to remain grounded in scripture rather than being swayed by political rhetoric that misrepresents the heart of the gospel.

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(Excerpt from Fox News. Photo Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images).