James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, often invokes his faith in countering Republicans. (Eric Gay/AP)
Doug Pagitt, an evangelical pastor and organizer, has heard from his fellow Democrats that they wanted nothing to do with his ilk.
“They’ve said, ‘Yeah, I would rather lose elections than win with those people,’” Pagitt told us of conversations he has had with Democratic strategists in past cycles.
He is part of a vocal contingent of Democrats who think their party has neglected faith-based voters to its detriment. We’ve discussed this in the past with Sen. Raphael G. Warnock (D-Georgia), the only working pastor in the Senate, who said Democrats have “ceded” religion over to Republicans.