Detroit Pastor Critiques Progressive Candidates' Appeals to Christian Voters

<p>Detroit Pastor Lorenzo Sewell stated that progressive politicians are attempting to appeal to Christian voters, who represent the largest religious voting bloc in the United States. He noted, "It's the largest voting bloc in America. We're celebrating 250 years, where our forefathers — they understood that the God of the Bible, the Lord Jesus Christ, would give them the ability to start this great nation." Sewell acknowledged the nation's imperfections but highlighted its benevolence.</p><p>He remarked, "We've been the nation that's protected Israel. We've been the nation that, quite frankly, has spread Christianity throughout the world to reach hundreds of millions of people in the last 250 years."</p><p>Three progressive Democratic candidates running for the U.S. Senate — Florida state Rep. Angie Nixon, former Michigan health official Abdul El-Sayed, and Texas state Rep. James Talarico — have incorporated their faith into their campaigns. They have positioned themselves as challengers to the Democratic establishment during this midterm cycle.</p><p>Talarico, a Texas lawmaker and theological seminary graduate, has referenced biblical scripture to support progressive policies. He stated, "Imagine a Democratic Party that takes on big money and isn’t captured by it. Imagine a Democratic Party that delivers for people on housing, health care, and education, and actually defeats the right-wing extremists who have taken over this country," according to a report by the Texas Tribune.</p><p>In a sermon, Talarico questioned the fairness of a tax system that favors the wealthy and a health care system that burdens the sick with financial struggles. During remarks at the Saint Paul AME Church in Jacksonville, Florida, Nixon claimed her political views align with those of Jesus Christ, stating, "They are trying, y'all. They are trying ... to label me as this extremist, this radical. But, you know, Jesus was a radical."</p><p>El-Sayed, who is Muslim and running in Michigan's Senate race, also invoked Jesus when discussing his policy positions, noting, "Well, you know, Jesus — peace and blessings be upon him — was considered radical in his time, too."</p><p>Sewell expressed skepticism about the intentions of progressive Democrats, stating, "They know that they need to appeal to Christians. But the question becomes: What is their agenda for the church?" He claimed that former President Donald Trump was the only president with an agenda for the local church, adding, "I'll be preaching at the RNC coming up, and that's because the president honors the church and honors the presence of God. But you won't hear Jesus in the DNC. You won't hear Jesus spoken about through the real Jesus — the God of the Bible."</p><p><i>Fox News' Alex Miller contributed to this report.</i></p>