By Betsy Shirley
Editor in Chief, Sojourners

My fervent prayer for Election Day was simple: Dear God, please let it be boring.

By “boring” I meant the normal democratic processes I took for granted a decade ago: voters casting ballots, officials tallying the results, and everyone recognizing the winners—love ’em or hate ’em—as our duly elected leaders.

And hallelujah: That’s exactly what happened on Election Day.

But I no longer take this biennial feat for granted. As we saw this year, conducting a free and fair election—especially amid presidential threats to intervene—takes a lot of effort. People in the faith community volunteered as poll workers, served as poll chaplains, and helped their communities build trust in the electoral process. Others planned for worst-case scenarios and ensured the faith community knew what to expect in the post-election period.

Of course, in other ways, this year’s midterms were not at all boring, especially the unusual number of progressive Christian candidates who talked openly in their campaigns about faith and social justice—and won.

At Sojourners, we’ve long maintained that God is not a Republican or a Democrat. We still believe that’s true, even when sweeping Democratic victories delivered a clear rebuke to President Donald Trump and his MAGA agenda. As Adam Russell Taylor writes, we can be genuinely relieved “the House and Senate will soon be equipped to provide a Constitutional check on Trump’s impulses and abuses of power,” but don’t mistake the so-called “Blue Wave” as a panacea for all that’s broken in our country.

So join me in taking a moment to offer a prayer of thanks for a free, safe, and fair election—and all who helped make it so. And then, whether you’re eager for more midterm coverage or need a break from political news, we’ve got you covered here:

Progressive Christian politicians: This year’s midterms featured a surprising number of candidates who made their progressive Christian faith key parts of their campaigns. We tracked who won and who lost.

What the ‘blue wave’ isn’t: Many political progressives are excited by the results of Election Day, but we can’t confuse electoral victories with Christian hope.

We voted. Now what? There are 61 days between Election Day and the seating of a new Congress. Here’s how people of faith can help it go smoothly.

What James Dobson got right: Ten years after this country first elected Trump to office, Tyler Huckabee finds truth in a 1998 newsletter.

The movement must be trained: Quakers are known for their pacifism. But nonviolence trainer George Lakey, now in his 80s, isn’t afraid to get in your face.

Say hmm? Josina Guess makes a case for a surprisingly spiritual habit—that you may already do unconsciously.

What I’m Praying for After the Midterms

Tuesday’s Midterm election results were a victory for creating a government by, for, and of the people. At a time when many of our political leaders were openly threatening to disrupt or even sabotage our electoral system, voters overwhelmingly chose change and candidates who champion safe, secure, and fair elections.

Read the full article

Community Notes

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Our Latest Stories

A graphic of six progressive Christian candidates

How Progressive Christian Candidates Are Faring (by Mitchell Atencio)

From Texas to Iowa, numerous Christian candidates have campaigned with their commitments to faith and social justice front and center.

People celebrate live results during the Arizona Democrats' election night party in Phoenix on Nov. 3, 2026.

What Should Christians Do With A Blue Wave? (by Ethan Meyers)

I was part of voting in Tuesday night’s blue wave. I voted for Abdul El-Sayed and I woke up to the news that my current member of congress, an eight-term incumbent Republican, had been unseated.

OK, We Voted. Now What? (by Adam Russell Taylor)

There’s a lot of buildup leading up to Election Day—and rightfully so. But in the face of the threats and efforts we’ve seen to disrupt these elections, the work must continue through the post-election period.

Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy delivers remarks during a midterm rally in Swanton, Ohio.

Midterms and Moral Rot in Trump’s America (by Tyler Huckabee)

Love him, hate him, support him, denounce him, or try to strike some sort of nuanced middle ground—he’s impacted you on a spiritual level, almost certainly for the worse.