New voter analysis data shows that the so-called “God gap” between Republicans and Democrats is larger than ever.
According to data from the Cooperative Election Study compiled by political scientist Ryan Burge, a majority of those who voted for President Donald Trump in the 2024 election reported attending a place of worship at least once a year. Burge noted that 35% said they attend a service weekly.
While that represents a significant drop from 2012, when weekly attendance among Republicans stood at around 42%, Burge said the current figures have remained largely unchanged throughout Trump’s three runs for the White House.
By contrast, only 35% of voters who supported then Vice-President Kamala Harris reported attending a religious service at least once a year. Just 17% said they attend weekly, while around two-thirds of Harris voters said they seldom or never attend a place of worship.
“Let me put it to you this way: for every Harris voter who attended church weekly in 2024, there were about four Harris voters who attended less than once a year,” Burge said. “If that’s not the God gap, I don’t know what is.”
Burge’s analysis suggests that the Republican Party remains the political home of Christians, with evangelicals playing a crucial role in the GOP’s electoral success.
“There is no more important voting bloc in the country than evangelicals if you are a Republican,” Burge said. “It’s basically impossible to win any race without their support.”
He added: “The GOP vote is 80% Christian and 17% non-religious. The Democratic vote is 48% Christian and 45% non-religious. That’s the God gap.”
Burge cautioned both parties to take note of the findings, warning that failure to do so could result in “a major structural problem in the future with their respective bases".