With the midterm elections just over a month away, IFA’s October First Friday webcast focused on a sobering reality: Candidates with increasingly radical views are seeking positions of power at every level of government.

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IFA President and CEO David Kubal opened the webcast from Washington, D.C., reminding intercessors that IFA has been calling the Church to fast and pray on the first Friday of every month for more than 50 years. With this First Friday falling immediately before the midterms, Dave encouraged intercessors to consider their responsibility not only to pray for America, but also to actively seek its welfare.

He pointed to Jeremiah 29:7: “Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

Dave focused on the Hebrew word shalom, explaining that it communicates far more than the absence of conflict. It describes completeness, harmony, health, and flourishing.

“Our nation needs not just peace and prosperity,” David prayed. “We need You to bring a dynamic completeness to the governmental and cultural affairs of our nation.”

That theme—actively seeking the welfare of our communities and nation—continued throughout the webcast.

A Critical Midterm Election

Chad Connelly, founder and CEO of Faith Wins, joined Dave to discuss the political landscape heading into November.

Connelly stressed that races across the country could hinge on whether people of faith participate in the election. His organization has focused on dozens of competitive congressional districts, working with pastors and churches to encourage voter registration and turnout.

“It’s not about a party or a person,” Connelly said. “It’s about the policies and principles that line up with a biblical worldview.”

Connelly argued that apathy remains one of the greatest challenges. Rather than assuming elections are already decided, he encouraged Christians to learn where candidates stand and participate in the political process.

“Every generation has a time when we’ve got to show up,” he said. “I believe we’re literally in our Mordecai moment.”

The conversation led into another time of corporate prayer, with intercessors praying for pastors, churches, voters, and the nation as Election Day approaches.

A Mayor on the Front Lines

Dave also shared a prerecorded conversation with El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, who described what he sees happening at the local level in California.

Wells warned that socialist and communist ideas that once seemed politically unthinkable in America are increasingly appearing in local races. He specifically discussed his opponent and the broader importance of local offices and commissions that often receive little national attention.

Wells noted that many elected officials begin their political careers on bodies such as local planning commissions.

“The left has figured this out,” Wells said. “They’re playing the long game.”

The mayor also discussed his involvement in a legal challenge concerning California’s sanctuary policies. Wells said the case centers on conflicting state and federal requirements faced by local law enforcement. He expects the litigation to continue through the courts and potentially reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

But Wells said he views the fight as more than political or legal.

“This is a spiritual battle,” he said.

He recounted a trip to Israel during which he prayed at Shiloh and sensed that God was preparing him for a difficult assignment. Shortly after returning home, he was presented with the opportunity to participate in the lawsuit.

Dave and the intercessors then prayed for Wells, the litigation, and candidates across America who seek to serve God through public office.

Who Is Running for Office?

IFA Chief Program Officer Kris Kubal joined Dave for the webcast’s final segment to unveil IFA’s newest special report, Radicals Running for Office.

Kris explained that the report grew out of IFA’s research into candidates seeking office in the 2026 elections. The goal is to help intercessors look beyond campaign slogans and understand the beliefs, affiliations, and policy positions of candidates seeking authority at the federal, state, and local levels.

“How many people who are running for office really truly have not just left-leaning ideals, but who are all-out radicals?” Kris asked.

Among the trends highlighted in the report are candidates associated with the Democratic Socialists of America, candidates supporting abortion, and the growing number of Muslim candidates seeking public office.

Kris also discussed candidates whose religious rhetoric may obscure positions that conflict with a biblical worldview. She encouraged intercessors to research candidates carefully rather than relying solely on the way politicians describe themselves.

The new report was designed not simply to inform, but to equip intercessors to pray.

“People need to know,” Kris said. “Who are the people in office?”

With Election Day approaching, there is no shortage of reasons to intercede. Let’s pray for discernment among voters, courage among pastors and church leaders, integrity among candidates, and God’s shalom in our communities and nation.

Share your prayers for our upcoming midterm elections in the comments below.

(Photo Credit: Bernd 📷 Dittrich on Unsplash)