Three progressive Democratic candidates running for the Senate have incorporated religious language into their campaigns, invoking Christ's radical teachings to frame their policy positions as aligned with Christian values — a strategy that has drawn sharp criticism from Republicans who say it masks extremist agendas.

Angie Nixon, a Florida state representative who scored an upset primary victory against Alexander Vindman, will face Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., in November. During a sermon at Saint Paul AME Church of Jacksonville, Nixon addressed Republican characterizations of her as extreme.

"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 during the August service.

"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 Democratic Socialists of America in June. The National Republican Senatorial Committee quickly tied her to socialism, which Nixon has denied.

What the Left Is Saying

Progressive Democrats argue that invoking faith is a legitimate response to Republicans' longstanding efforts to claim Christian values as exclusively conservative territory. Supporters say these candidates are reclaiming religious language for economic and social justice causes they contend align with scriptural teachings on caring for the poor and marginalized.

Abdul El-Sayed, a Muslim candidate running in Michigan's toss-up race against former Rep. Mike Rogers, appeared on the Progressive Christians Podcast in May. When asked about being labeled radical, he drew a parallel between himself and Christ.

"Well, you know, Jesus, peace and blessings be upon him, was considered radical in his time, too," El-Sayed said during the interview.

"And there is a radical nature to being willing to stand forthright in a time of corruption, and I think it's important for all of us to realize that popularity and zeitgeist don't make truth. And we live in a time where people are trying to normalize corruption," he continued.

James Talarico, running against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, has taken seminary classes toward becoming a Presbyterian minister. He has been the most explicit about blending Christianity with his policy platform, arguing that conservative religious interpretations miss biblical nuance.

When critics attacked his defense of transgender children, Talarico cited Genesis in response: "The first two lines of the Bible, the first two lines in Genesis, use two different Hebrew words to describe God. One is the masculine Hebrew noun for divinity. The second is the feminine Hebrew noun for spirit. God is both masculine and feminine, and everything in between." "God is non-binary," he said.

Progressive groups have praised these candidates for making moral arguments for their policies rather than apologizing for progressive positions.

What the Right Is Saying

Republicans say Democrats are cynically invoking Christianity to distract from policy proposals they characterize as extreme. The GOP argues that voters understand these candidates' actual agendas and will see through religious framing used as political cover.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee has made Nixon a top target, arguing her DSA membership reveals her true ideology regardless of how she frames her faith. "They're trying to tell people Jesus would support their socialist agenda," said one NRSC spokesperson in a statement provided to reporters.

Conservative commentators have argued that invoking Christ for progressive policies misrepresents Christian teachings. "These candidates cherry-pick Scripture while advocating for policies that contradict traditional Judeo-Christian ethics on economics, family structure, and human dignity," wrote one columnist in a recent analysis of the trend.

Texas Republicans specifically seized on Talarico's comments about God being "non-binary" as evidence he holds views outside mainstream Christian theology. The Texas GOP pointed to his statements when arguing he is unfit for office.

Other Republican strategists have suggested this faith-based messaging could backfire with suburban voters who may be turned off by candidates of any party using religion explicitly on the campaign trail.

What the Numbers Show

Polling indicates mixed views among Americans on whether progressive policies align with Christian values. A 2025 Pew Research Center survey found 47% of Americans say the Republican Party better represents their views on religion and politics, compared to 41% for the Democratic Party.

Among Christians specifically, support varies significantly by denomination: 68% of white evangelical Protestants view Republicans as better representing their religious views, while majorities of Black Protestants (78%) and Hispanic Catholics (54%) say the same about Democrats, according to Pew data.

Faith voters have been a key constituency in Senate battleground states. In Florida's 2024 Senate race, exit polls showed evangelicals comprised 24% of the electorate and voted Republican by a 73%-25% margin.

The three competitive races featuring faith-forward progressive candidates — Florida, Michigan, and Texas — are among the most expensive Senate contests this cycle, with combined advertising spending exceeding $400 million as of late August.

The Bottom Line

These three campaigns represent an explicit Democratic counter-strategy to Republican dominance in framing faith-based politics. Whether invoking Christ's radical message will resonate with voters or be dismissed as political calculation remains to be seen.

Republicans have made combating these candidates a priority, allocating significant resources to define them before they can establish their religious messaging. The outcome in Florida, Michigan, and Texas could shape how both parties approach faith on the campaign trail for years to come.

Voters in those states will ultimately decide whether the progressive argument that Christ would support universal healthcare, expanded LGBTQ rights, and economic redistribution proves persuasive — or whether Republican counter-messaging about socialist agendas prevails.