Evangelicals for Harris is a political advocacy group that supports Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign. It claims to promote Christian religious views to justify its advocacy of left-of-center policies while further claiming that Vice President Harris’ policies align with said evangelical Christian beliefs. 1 2
The group was originally founded in 2020 as “Evangelicals for Biden” to oppose then-President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign during the 2020 presidential elections. It also advocates in favor of left-of-center policies related to election integrity, environmentalism, and economic policies. It was later renamed to “Evangelicals for Harris” after President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race. 3 4
Background
Evangelicals for Harris is a political advocacy group founded in 2020 by Protestant minister Jim Ball to oppose then-President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign. 5 Originally named “Evangelicals for Biden,” it would later be changed to “Evangelicals for Harris” after President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 election. 6 It is a project of the nonprofit group Faith Voters for Good and also operates under the umbrella of Super PAC Evangelicals for America. 7 8
Evangelicals for Harris claims that Vice President Harris’s policy positions align more closely with Christian principles. 9 In addition, it advocates in favor of left-of-center policies regarding the economy, environmentalism, and election reform. 10
Advocacy
Election Integrity
Evangelicals for Harris advocates for election integrity reform such as eliminating the usage of voter ID through passing legislation including the Freedom to Vote Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Enhancement Act. It also advocates in favor of vote-by-mail and same-day voter-registration as well as eliminating voting restrictions for convicts. 11
Economic Reform
In August 2024, Evangelicals for Harris announced its support for Vice President Harris’ proposed entitlement programs, claiming they align with Christian beliefs regarding philanthropy. Such programs include subsidies for first-time homebuyers, increases for the Child Tax Credit, the elimination of medical debt, and implementing price fixing. 12
Gun Control
Evangelicals for Harris claimed to support the Biden administration-backed Safer Communities Act, which included funding for enforcing red flag laws as well as additional processes for background checks. The Safer Communities Act also included additional funding for Medicare and Medicaid to fund behavioral intervention programs and for states to engage in the periodic screening of children enrolled in Medicaid. 13 14
The group also supported Vice President Kamala Harris’ push to ban the sale of AR-15s and other firearms classified as “assault weapons” as well as increasing background-check requirements for firearm purchases. 15
Campaign Ads
“Keep Clear” is a campaign ad created by Evangelicals for Harris showing a sermon by televangelist Billy Graham alongside clips of former President Donald Trump. According to the website, the ad is meant to, “reflect the kind of man Donald Trump is” by categorizing the different media clips of Trump under categories such as him saying “…he’s greedy,” “calling women bad things,” wanting to “punch a protester in the face,” and “having crude conversation[s] about women.” 16
“Repentance” is a campaign ad by the group that includes a sermon by Billy Graham asking, “have you been to the cross and said Lord, I have sinned, I am sorry for my sin, I am willing to change my way of life.” 17 The ad then includes an interview with former president Donald Trump in 2015 at a “Family Leadership Summit” and when asked “have you ever asked God for forgiveness” he responds, “that’s a tough question…I’m not sure I have,” while then including a later clip of him stating “I don’t bring God into that picture.” 18 The ad concludes with text stating “Is there any greater denial of Christ…then to say “I do not need His forgiveness?”” 19
“False Prophets” is the title of an ad by the group that states “Read John 1:4, Choose Christ’s Love” while showing clips of former President Trump making statements including “I alone can fix it” and “they’re poisoning the blood of our country.” 20
Leadership
Jim Ball, a Protestant minister, is the founder and chair of Evangelicals for Harris. 21 He was previously the executive vice president for policy and climate change at the Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN) and the national spokesperson for the Evangelical Climate Initiative. 22
References
- “Continuing the Legacy.” Evangelicals4Harris. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.evangelicalsforharris.com/continuing-the-legacy.
- “Statement from Evangelicals for Harris on Vice President Kamala Harris’ Economic Agenda.” Evangelicals4Harris, August 16, 2024. https://www.evangelicalsforharris.com/post/statement-from-evangelicals-for-harris-on-vice-president-kamala-harris-economic-agenda.
- Celeste Masís Ocampo, María. “The ‘evangelicals for Harris’ Hoping to Sway the Election.” Sojourners, September 18, 2024. https://sojo.net/articles/news/evangelicals-harris-hoping-sway-election.
- “Continuing the Legacy.” Evangelicals4Harris. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.evangelicalsforharris.com/continuing-the-legacy.
- Celeste Masís Ocampo, María. “The ‘evangelicals for Harris’ Hoping to Sway the Election.” Sojourners, September 18, 2024. https://sojo.net/articles/news/evangelicals-harris-hoping-sway-election.
- “Continuing the Legacy.” Evangelicals4Harris. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.evangelicalsforharris.com/continuing-the-legacy.
- Celeste Masís Ocampo, María. “The ‘evangelicals for Harris’ Hoping to Sway the Election.” Sojourners, September 18, 2024. https://sojo.net/articles/news/evangelicals-harris-hoping-sway-election.
- “Continuing the Legacy.” Evangelicals4Harris. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.evangelicalsforharris.com/continuing-the-legacy.
- Matthews, Merrill. “What ‘evangelicals for Harris’ Gets Terribly Wrong .” The Hill, September 9, 2024. https://thehill.com/opinion/4870606-evangelicals-harris-christianity/.
- “Continuing the Legacy.” Evangelicals4Harris. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.evangelicalsforharris.com/continuing-the-legacy.
- “Continuing the Legacy.” Evangelicals4Harris. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.evangelicalsforharris.com/continuing-the-legacy.
- “Statement from Evangelicals for Harris on Vice President Kamala Harris’ Economic Agenda.” Evangelicals4Harris, August 16, 2024. https://www.evangelicalsforharris.com/post/statement-from-evangelicals-for-harris-on-vice-president-kamala-harris-economic-agenda.
- “Continuing the Legacy.” Evangelicals4Harris. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.evangelicalsforharris.com/continuing-the-legacy.
- “S.2938 – 117th Congress (2021-2022): Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.” Library of Congress. Accessed October 7, 2024. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2938.
- “Continuing the Legacy.” Evangelicals4Harris. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.evangelicalsforharris.com/continuing-the-legacy.
- “Our Ads.” Evangelicals4Harris. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.evangelicalsforharris.com/ads.
- “Our Ads.” Evangelicals4Harris. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.evangelicalsforharris.com/ads.
- “Our Ads.” Evangelicals4Harris. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.evangelicalsforharris.com/ads.
- “Our Ads.” Evangelicals4Harris. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.evangelicalsforharris.com/ads.
- “Our Ads.” Evangelicals4Harris. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.evangelicalsforharris.com/ads.
- Ball, Jim. “Why I Am an Evangelical for Harris.” The Hill, September 18, 2024. https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/4885224-why-i-am-an-evangelical-for-harris/.
- “Rev. Jim Ball.” HuffPost. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.huffpost.com/author/rev-jim-ball.