Faith and the Faithful in the 2022 Midterm Elections: An Election Roundtable on What Happened, Why, and What Does It Mean for 2024?

The November 8 election determined the make-up and control of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, shaping policy and politics for the next two years and beyond. This election roundtable continues the Initiative’s ongoing series of Faith and the Faithful dialogues, which examine the roles and impacts of religious values and voters in U.S. politics. This election has focused on issues of human life and dignity, the economy and democracy, immigration and public safety, candidate character, and political power, with their enormous human, moral, and religious implications. 

Join us for a discussion and reception in person or online for a timely, lively, and informative discussion with five respected reporters and analysts:

  • Susan Crabtree is a White House and national political correspondent for RealClearPolitics. She has previously worked at The Hill, Roll Call, and the Washington Examiner.
  • William Galston is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, the author of nine books, and a weekly columnist for the Wall Street Journal. 
  • Jack Jenkins is a national reporter for Religion News Service covering religion and politics and the author of American Prophets: The Religious Roots of Progressive Politics and the Ongoing Fight for the Soul of the Country (2020).
  • Sabrina Rodriguez is a political reporter for the Washington Post and previously covered politics and Latino communities at Politico.
  • Eugene Scott is a national political reporter at the Washington Post. He previously worked at CNN and recently was a fellow at Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service.
  • John Carr, co-director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life and former director of justice and peace efforts of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, moderated the dialogue.

This roundtable will focus specifically on the religious elements and influences in the 2022 midterm elections, including questions along these lines: 

  • What happened in the 2022 midterms and why?
  • What role did religious voters and values play in this election? On what issues? What was different from previous elections, and what was the same?
  • What roles did Catholic, evangelical, and Latino voters, as well as those among the religious “nones,” play in this election?
  • How do faith and politics play out in diverse Latino communities? How do religion, nationality, economics, geography, and ideology shape Latino voters and votes?
  • How did intense debate on abortion after the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision shape the choices of voters generally, and religious voters specifically? What about the economy, immigration, crime, and other key issues?
  • How do issues of candidate character and integrity influence religious and other voters?
  • What does this mean for the future: politics and policy choices over the next two years, and for the 2024 election?

Those attending the election roundtable in person are invited to a reception immediately following the dialogue.

This Public Dialogue is part of the Initiative’s Faith and the Faithful in U.S. Politics series, is co-sponsored by the Institute of Politics and Public Service, and is supported by Democracy Fund.

Recording and Accessibility​

For those who cannot join us in person, the gathering will be livestreamed and posted online for later viewing.

All in-person accommodation requests should be sent to cathsocialthought@georgetown.edu by November 14. A good-faith effort will be made to fulfill requests.

Public Health Measures

All those who attend must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or attest to having a medical or religious exemption from being vaccinated. Please submit your vaccine documentation using the link in your RSVP confirmation email.