More Evangelical Voters Vote in Ohio Democratic Primary

Faith in Public Life, in conjunction with Sojourners and Center for American Progress, instituted an exit poll that asked both Ohio Democratic and Republican voters in last week's election whether they were evangelical Christians. The poll results showed that 43% of white evangelical voters took part in the Ohio Democratic primary and 57% took part in the Republican primary.

This is from a Reuters news article on the exit poll:

The Tuesday poll also found that 42 percent of Ohio’s white evangelical voters ranked jobs and the economy as the most important issue area in deciding how to vote versus 14 percent who ranked abortion and same-sex marriage as the most important issue.

Such a finding may not be surprising in a Rust Belt state like Ohio, which has been shedding manufacturing and other jobs. But the poll also found that 54 percent of white evangelical primary voters surveyed wanted a broader agenda such as ending poverty and protecting the environment.

These voters are voters that Democrats can reach by talking about social justice issues and relating those issues to their faith. What Democrats can't do is decide that they aren't going to talk to such voters or try and address their concerns.