In general elections, Southern states often reject Democrats, even those that lean into faith. When Jamie Harrison ran against Senator Lindsay Graham in South Carolina in 2020, he often spoke at churches and foregrounded religion in his advertisements. It wasn’t nearly enough: Harrison lost by 10 points.
In this Nov. 3, 2020, file photo, Democratic Senate candidate Jaime Harrison speaks at a watch party in Columbia, South Carolina, after losing the Senate race. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro, File)
But when Harrison took over as chairman of the Democratic National Committee last year, he remained bullish about the party’s prospects in the South — and the role of faith. “You go to where people are and engage them in things that are of value to them,” he told RNS at the time. “Religion and faith is a huge component of that, particularly in the Sunbelt across the South.”
In a statement to RNS this week celebrating Warnock’s victory, Harrison argued that the Democratic Party’s values are in line with his personal faith, “whether it’s in our support for opportunity and justice or our fight for equality.”
Fronting one’s faith may risk alienating some Democratic voters, as Warnock seemed to acknowledge in his victory speech, assuring those who are “not into … religious language” that “our tent is big.” But Warnock has so far succeeded in politics by being the pastor he is, depending on the overlap in values between the religious left and the broader Democratic Party and the deep faith of his most ardent followers.
“The times are dark, but the light, the Scripture says, shines in the darkness — and the darkness overcometh it not,” he said in his victory speech.
Behind him, some raised their hands and pumped their fists in response. Others shouted from the crowd: “That’s right!”
This article originally appeared here.
