BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakota Republican voters have strong beliefs about Christian values playing a role in government and U.S. laws, according to a new statewide poll released by the North Dakota News Cooperative. The NDNC poll revealed that 73% of Republican primary voters believe the U.S. won’t be a country anymore if it moves away from Christian foundations. Almost the same amount, 71%, said U.S. laws
should be based on Christian values, and 61% said being Christian is an important part of being American.
“The role of religion in government and politics has been such a topic of debate and seems to have created some divisions within the party, and of course within the country,” said Mary Jo Hotzler,co-leader of the NDNC poll committee. “Now seemed like the right time to check in with North Dakota voters on the issue. The poll found Republicans in the state are split on the direction of the party.
The following are additional highlights from the survey of 500 eligible North Dakota voters likely to vote in the June 11 Republican primary.
Republican Party Direction
Republicans in North Dakota are split on the party’s direction, with 45% believing it is headed in the right direction and 37% feeling it is not. Another 19% are undecided.
In the race for governor, a majority at 49% of those likely voting for Congressman Kelly Amstrong believe the party is headed in the right direction, while a majority at 48% likely voting for Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller thinks the party is going in the wrong direction.
Among candidates for the soon-open U.S. House seat, Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak had the highest percentage of those who feel the party is going in the right direction with 51%. A large segment of potential voters for attorney and former Miss America Cara Mund feel the party is on
the wrong track, with 73%.
Party Identification and Ideology
The poll asked participants about party identification – strong Republican, not-so-strong Republican, and independent – and ideology – very conservative, moderately conservative, and moderate. Among those polled, 39% self-identified as very conservative, 31% as somewhat conservative, and 23% as moderate Republicans.
In the House race, 36% of those who identified as strong Republicans supported Fedorchak, giving her an 11-point lead over Becker and more than 30 points on Balazs and Mund. However, 34% of those who identified as very conservative supported Becker, giving him a 6-point lead over Fedorchak. Fedorchak had more support among those who identified as somewhat conservative – 36% – and moderate – 37% – while Becker grabbed 24% and 15%, respectively. Independents showed more support for Becker than strong Republicans. Becker got 32% of independents versus Fedorchak’s 23%. Mund also did better among independents (17%) and moderates (22%). Balazs was in the single digits for strong Republicans, independents, very conservative votes, and moderates.
Role of Christianity
The poll found that 71% feel U.S. laws should be based on Christian values, and 61% believe being Christian is an important part of being “truly American.” Ultra-conservative Christian ideas, sometimes termed “Christian nationalism,” drew a more mixed response. Prospective GOP voters are less likely to believe that God has called Christians to exercise dominion over all areas of American society, with 42% agreeing with that sentiment, compared to 36% who disagreed. Another 54% believe the U.S. government should officially declare the country a Christian nation, while 30% disagree.
Former state representative Rick Becker appears to garner the most ultra-conservative Christian voters among candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives seat from North Dakota. A total of 83% of Becker voters believe U.S. laws should be based on Christian values, 63% think the country should be declared a Christian nation, 85% feel if the country moves away from Christian values, it will be in peril,
and 65% of his voters tie Christianity with being truly American. Only 48% of Becker voters believe God has called Christians to exercise dominion over American society, but that led all other congressional candidates.
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