Rev. William Barber Calls Black Church to Action Ahead of 2026 Midterm Elections
Rev. William Barber issued a public call to Black churches across the country to mobilize voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Barber warned that voting rights are under threat and said the church has a moral obligation to respond.
Rev. William Barber II issued a direct call to Black churches this month, urging congregations to treat the 2026 midterm elections as a moral emergency.
Barber, co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign and one of the most prominent voices in Black progressive Christianity, said the church cannot stay silent while voting rights are being challenged in multiple states. He pointed to the SAVE Act and other proposed legislation as threats to voter registration drives that have historically relied on church networks.
"The Black church has always been the backbone of democracy in this country," Barber said in a statement. "We are not going to stand by while that legacy is dismantled."
His call comes as several Black-led faith organizations are already building voter mobilization infrastructure. Pastor Mike McBride, founder of the nonprofit Live Free, is organizing Sunday dinners in 10 U.S. cities where church and community leaders can discuss political concerns and sign a pledge to defend democracy. The dinners are designed to build relationships and trust before the election season intensifies.
The Rev. Traci Blackmon's Faith Out Loud project is operating in 15 Southern cities, working with anchor churches and faith-based organizers to move congregations from discussion to action. Blackmon has said the work is rooted in the gospel, not partisan politics.
The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, a predominantly Black faith organization, held a voter mobilization strategy session at its February annual meeting. The group is developing a civic literacy curriculum called "Moving the Needle" for pastors to share with their congregations.
Barber's statement specifically named the killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent as an example of the injustices the church must address. He said solidarity cannot be selective.
The midterm elections are scheduled for November 2026. Several key Senate and House seats are considered competitive, and turnout among Black voters is expected to be a deciding factor in multiple states.
