Honors Theses and Capstones

Date of Award

Spring 2025

Project Type

Senior Honors Thesis

College or School

COLA

Department

Political Science and International Affairs

Program or Major

Political Science

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

First Advisor

Dante Scala

Abstract

The relationship between Donald Trump and religious voters is often discussed, but much less attention has been directed to the connection between Trump and young voters, particularly young evangelicals. This paper attempts to provide the reasoning behind why despite his unconventional character, Trump maintains a strong base of support from young evangelical voters. After examining the theories of previous scholars, it hypothesizes that support is shaped by religious elites, who exploit the strong connection that young evangelicals have to their community. The argument is separated into three phases: first, that evangelical leaders and elites have proven to be consistently in support of Trump since 2016. Second, that young evangelicals growing up in a tight-knit community feel a deep, personal connection to their religion. And finally, that young evangelicals receive pro-Trump messaging from their religious circles, which makes them more inclined to support Trump. The combination of these factors explains why even amid an increasingly diverse and young electorate, the GOP continues to see strong levels of support, and evangelical voters continue to play a pivotal role for the party.

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