Six progressive Christian clergy or lay leaders who ran for office in the 2026 midterm elections won their races Nov. 3.
Headlining that list is Adam Hamilton, founding pastor of Church of the Resurrection, a United Methodist congregation in suburban Kansas City. Hamilton pulled off a stunning defeat of Republican Roger Marshall to win a seat in the U.S. Senate.
Hamilton’s campaign emphasized biblical themes of human decency and compassion.
And James Talarico, the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Texas in more than three decades, is a Presbyterian seminarian who frequently quotes the Bible and cites his Christian faith as guiding his policies.
Rob Sand defeated Zach Lahn in the race for Iowa governor. Sand, who currently is the state auditor, frequently referenced his faith on the campaign trail and used his faith to support various positions.
Sand was raised Lutheran and now attends Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in Des Moines, an open and affirming congregation.
Sarah Trone Garriott, a Lutheran minister, defeated Republican incumbent Zach Nunn to represent Iowa in the U.S. House of Representatives.
She has said, “I think people are realizing that there’s been a vacuum that was created by well-intentioned people not talking about how faith and politics intersect, and the vacuum was filled by the religious right.” Her campaign website identifies her as: “Minister. Mother. Leader.”
Frederick Haynes, pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas, won an open seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He will replace one of his congregants, Jasmine Crockett.
Haynes has a long record of social justice and civil rights advocacy and was a co-founder of the Samuell DeWitt Proctor Conference, one of the foremost social justice education groups within the Black Church.
Lindsay James, a Presbyterian pastor, defeated Republican Joe Mitchell for a seat in Iowa’s statehouse. She told MS NOW: “Folks are exhausted by politics. They’re longing for someone to just be authentically them and lead from a place of conviction.”
One other lost his bid for public office. Robb Ryerse, a progressive Arkansas pastor, was defeated in his U.S. House bid by incumbent Republic Steve Womack.