Giving Compass' Take:

· Writing for The Conversation, Janelle Wong explains that evangelical Christians are racially diverse and discusses how this influences views on immigration and voting. 

· How does race, religion and other social factors influence political views? What has led to the increasingly diverse group of evangelical Christians?

· Read more about evangelical Christians, politics, and voting


The influence of white evangelicals on American politics is well known. More than 80 percent supported Donald Trump in the 2016 election. But two of the fastest-growing segments of the American population – Latino and Asian-American voters – also are part of evangelical America.

In my book, “Immigration, Evangelicals and Politics in an Era of Demographic Change,” I look at the tenacious hold of white evangelicals on political power, despite a dramatic decline in their numbers over the past decade.

At least 1 out of 4 voters in the past three election cycles has been a white evangelical, even though they currently constitute only 17 percent of the total American population.

Given that white evangelicals account for the largest religious group in some of the states hosting the most competitive house races this November, including Kansas, Virginia and North Carolina, it is important to first consider the role of religiously framed issues such as abortion.

Read the full article about evangelical Christians by Janelle Wong at The Conversation.