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===wisconsin===
Christianity in Wisconsin is diverse, with strong Catholic, Lutheran (especially WELS and ELCA), and various Protestant groups, shaped by German, Scandinavian, and other European immigrant histories, making it a "purple" religious landscape where Catholics, mainline Protestants, and non-affiliated people significantly influence politics, alongside strong Evangelical presence, though recent trends show declining religious affiliation compared to other Great Lakes states. Lutheranism is a major force, particularly the conservative Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) and the more liberal Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Catholicism has strong historical roots, especially in areas settled by German immigrants, such as the "Holyland" region. Evangelical Protestants, including Baptists, nondenominational churches, and Pentecostals, forming a significant portion of the religious population, notes Pew Research Center. The state also hosts significant numbers of Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and Eastern Orthodox Christians, represented through organizations like the Wisconsin Council of Churches. German, Scandinavian (Norwegian, Danish), and Eastern European immigration brought distinct Protestant (Lutheran) and Catholic traditions, heavily influencing Wisconsin's religious identity. The WELS, a conservative Lutheran body, has deep roots and a strong presence in Wisconsin, as does the larger ELCA. Wisconsin shows a trend of declining religious affiliation, becoming less religious than many neighboring Great Lakes states, with a notable percentage of unaffiliated adults, says this article from the Wisconsin Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and the Pew Research Center.
The mix of Catholics, mainline Protestants (often divided), and evangelicals makes Wisconsin a crucial "purple" state where these diverse religious communities significantly sway elections, notes The Daily Cardinal
The mix of Catholics, mainline Protestants (often divided), and evangelicals makes Wisconsin a crucial "purple" state where these diverse religious communities significantly sway elections, notes The Daily Cardinal
GOP divided by Capitol Hill visit from Orthodox Christian advocacy group
A trio of House Republicans welcomed an Orthodox Christian delegation that accused Ukraine of religious persecution to Capitol Hill this week. Reps. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) and Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.), headlined an advocacy day Tuesday for Orthodox Christian clergy, some with ties to the Russian Orthodox Church, which has said Moscow’s war against Ukraine is justified. (The Hill; 12/20/25) READMORE>>>>
A trio of House Republicans welcomed an Orthodox Christian delegation that accused Ukraine of religious persecution to Capitol Hill this week. Reps. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) and Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.), headlined an advocacy day Tuesday for Orthodox Christian clergy, some with ties to the Russian Orthodox Church, which has said Moscow’s war against Ukraine is justified. (The Hill; 12/20/25) READMORE>>>>
NEW REPORT MAPPING CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM BY STATE SUGGESTS ELECTION NEED NOT BE PLAYED OUT ON CHRISTIAN NATIONALIST TERMS
Intuitively, this lines up with secular descriptions of the political landscape. Hardcore conservative supporters of Trump are a very small group. Surrounding them is a larger group of traditionalists. Together, those groups make up a majority (55%) of all Republicans. The vast majority of both Democratic voters (83%) and Independents (73%) are Skeptics or Rejecters. The 2024 election will be largely contested over the few Republicans suspicious of Christian nationalism and Independents friendly to it. You can literally map out these differences. Blue states have very low levels of support for Christian nationalism. Red states are just the opposite. And the battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin? They’re all right around the national average. Those numbers are not destiny, however. Conservative Utah has low levels of agreement with Christian nationalism, at just 28%. Meanwhile its solidly Democratic neighbor New Mexico is a bit higher, at 32%. (Religion Dispatches 2/28/24) READMORE>>>>>
Intuitively, this lines up with secular descriptions of the political landscape. Hardcore conservative supporters of Trump are a very small group. Surrounding them is a larger group of traditionalists. Together, those groups make up a majority (55%) of all Republicans. The vast majority of both Democratic voters (83%) and Independents (73%) are Skeptics or Rejecters. The 2024 election will be largely contested over the few Republicans suspicious of Christian nationalism and Independents friendly to it. You can literally map out these differences. Blue states have very low levels of support for Christian nationalism. Red states are just the opposite. And the battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin? They’re all right around the national average. Those numbers are not destiny, however. Conservative Utah has low levels of agreement with Christian nationalism, at just 28%. Meanwhile its solidly Democratic neighbor New Mexico is a bit higher, at 32%. (Religion Dispatches 2/28/24) READMORE>>>>>
‘You better pray’: Christian nationalist groups are mobilizing before the 2024 elections
Now, with the 2024 presidential election less than a year away, Wisconsin’s patriot movement and its allies are fighting for legislation that they believe will protect the state’s electoral process from fraud, and mobilizing supporters to work the polls, observe polling places and spread the word about their concerns – pushing the GOP further to the right and threatening more challenges to the voting process come election day. Patriots of Ozaukee County was created in March 2021 by local activists who were “upset about the election”, said Scott Rishel, who founded the group. He felt there was nowhere he could speak freely about the 2020 election, or things like Covid-19 vaccines and masks. Plus, he said: “We were tired of the GOP, because they’re not really an activist organization.” (Alice Sherman/The Guardian 12/24/23)
READ MORE>>>>>
Now, with the 2024 presidential election less than a year away, Wisconsin’s patriot movement and its allies are fighting for legislation that they believe will protect the state’s electoral process from fraud, and mobilizing supporters to work the polls, observe polling places and spread the word about their concerns – pushing the GOP further to the right and threatening more challenges to the voting process come election day. Patriots of Ozaukee County was created in March 2021 by local activists who were “upset about the election”, said Scott Rishel, who founded the group. He felt there was nowhere he could speak freely about the 2020 election, or things like Covid-19 vaccines and masks. Plus, he said: “We were tired of the GOP, because they’re not really an activist organization.” (Alice Sherman/The Guardian 12/24/23)
READ MORE>>>>>
Aug 4, 2023: WPR: Milwaukee religious leaders denounce the rise of Christian nationalism
An interfaith group in Milwaukee religious leaders representing Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Roman Catholic and Unitarian congregations gathered Thursday to denounce the rise of Christian nationalism and its threat to democracy.
About 75 clergy from the Milwaukee Inner City Congregations Allied for Hope, or MICAH, launched the "We All Belong" campaign with a rally and march. The event kicked off what will be a series of public gatherings leading up to the 2024 election to bring awareness to Christian nationalism, a once fringe point of view that is growing in acceptance.
An interfaith group in Milwaukee religious leaders representing Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Roman Catholic and Unitarian congregations gathered Thursday to denounce the rise of Christian nationalism and its threat to democracy.
About 75 clergy from the Milwaukee Inner City Congregations Allied for Hope, or MICAH, launched the "We All Belong" campaign with a rally and march. The event kicked off what will be a series of public gatherings leading up to the 2024 election to bring awareness to Christian nationalism, a once fringe point of view that is growing in acceptance.
Wisconsin Examiner: Pastor warns about Christian nationalism, preaches alternatives for faith-rooted politics
Pagitt is an evangelical pastor and the founder of the nonprofit organization Vote Common Good. His warning isn’t that religion and politics don’t mix.
Instead, it’s about how they mix — and how, he argues, a particular intersection of politics and religion threatens democracy in the United States.
That intersection is Christian nationalism: a movement to impose particular interpretations of Christian doctrine on public policy, using those doctrines as their own justification and with a willingness to enforce them with violence.
“It’s the belief that the United States of America is fundamentally committed to the Christian understanding and agenda in how it runs society and government,” Pagitt says. “There’s a movement afoot among a number of elected officials who are advocating for Christianity to play a more dominant role in our government — not just in our society, not just in public discourse, but in our government.”
11.8.22
Pagitt is an evangelical pastor and the founder of the nonprofit organization Vote Common Good. His warning isn’t that religion and politics don’t mix.
Instead, it’s about how they mix — and how, he argues, a particular intersection of politics and religion threatens democracy in the United States.
That intersection is Christian nationalism: a movement to impose particular interpretations of Christian doctrine on public policy, using those doctrines as their own justification and with a willingness to enforce them with violence.
“It’s the belief that the United States of America is fundamentally committed to the Christian understanding and agenda in how it runs society and government,” Pagitt says. “There’s a movement afoot among a number of elected officials who are advocating for Christianity to play a more dominant role in our government — not just in our society, not just in public discourse, but in our government.”
11.8.22