Political scientist Ryan Burge has highlighted the significant religious composition of Donald Trump's voter base in the 2024 election, underscoring the minimal representation of the "secular right" within the Republican coalition. Burge, an associate professor at Eastern Illinois University and a recognized data analyst on religion and politics, shared his findings, indicating a stark contrast between religiously affiliated and unaffiliated voters.
According to Burge's analysis of 2024 Trump voters, a very small fraction identified as secular: "2% were atheist, 3% were agnostic, [and] 12% claimed no religion in particular." This segment, often referred to as the "nones" when discussing religious affiliation, was significantly overshadowed by religious groups within Trump's support. Burge further emphasized this disparity, stating, "White evangelicals by themselves outnumber the nones 2 to 1 in the Trump coalition."
Broader analyses of the 2024 election confirm the critical role of religious voters in securing Trump's victory. Pew Research Center data indicates that roughly eight-in-ten Trump voters (79%) identified as Christian. Specifically, white evangelical Protestants continued to be a cornerstone of his support, with various reports showing approximately 82% of this demographic voting for Trump.
Conversely, religiously unaffiliated voters predominantly supported the opposing ticket, with 72% casting their ballots for Kamala Harris, according to Pew Research. This continued religious polarization underscores a persistent trend in American politics, where religious identity strongly correlates with partisan alignment. The data from the 2024 election reinforces the notion that the Republican Party, particularly under Donald Trump, remains heavily reliant on a religiously conservative base.
Burge's ongoing research consistently provides insights into the evolving landscape of religion and political behavior in the United States. His findings from the 2024 election demonstrate that despite discussions of a growing secular demographic, the core of the Republican voter base, particularly for Donald Trump, remains firmly rooted in religious adherence, with white evangelicals playing an outsized role.