In Jacksonville and surrounding Duval County, Black churches are once again serving as the hub of civic engagement. Pastors and clergy are leading intensive voter‑registration drives and offering transportation to early‑voting sites as the 2026 gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races approach.
Pastors on the front lines
Jarrett Washington, pastor of Saint Stephen African Methodist Episcopal Church in Springfield, says his congregation sees voting as a core part of community stewardship. “As a pastor, we work tirelessly to get people registered to vote,” Washington said. He added that the biggest challenge for the Black community is turning registration into a concrete plan to cast ballots.
Rev. Christopher McKee of the Church of Oakland on Jacksonville’s Eastside echoed the sentiment, noting that the upcoming elections give voters a chance to make history. “We need to ask candidates where they stand on policy, love of neighbor, and how they will lift people,” McKee said. He highlighted the affordability crisis and widening disparities as issues that cut across party lines.
Historical context and turnout trends
Black voter participation in Duval has fluctuated over the years. In the 2022 midterms, 40.8% of registered Black voters turned out, compared with 59.2% of white voters. The 2024 presidential election saw a dip, with 66.4% Black turnout versus 79.1% of white voters, despite the historic presence of a Black woman on a major party ticket.
When Black candidates lead the ticket, turnout typically rises. This year’s governor’s race pits Democrat David Jolly, a white candidate, against Republican Byron Donalds, who would become the first Black Republican governor in the nation if elected. The U.S. Senate contest features Democrat Angie Nixon, also a Black candidate, against a Republican challenger. Either Donalds or Nixon could become the first Black person elected to statewide office in Florida’s 181‑year history.
Faith‑based voter outreach
The Interfaith Alliance’s “The Vote is Sacred” bus tour stopped at McKee’s church this month, part of a 16‑state effort to encourage faith communities to vote. Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, the alliance’s CEO, said the tour aims to “bring together diverse faith communities and inspire local leaders to affirm that democracy belongs to all of us.”
Local clergy are also coordinating with civil‑rights groups to address logistical barriers. “We’re being thoughtful about where we’re going to go on Sunday and working with partners to determine which urban‑core voting sites need the most attention,” McKee explained.
Duval County currently operates 24 early‑voting sites, with fourteen located inside the I‑295 beltway. Key sites include the Legends Center in Sherwood, the Bradham and Brooks Branch Library in Moncrief, and Edward Waters University’s Schell‑Sweet Center in New Town.
Community events and next steps
Faith‑based groups are planning “souls to the polls” drives in Nassau, Clay and St. Johns counties on Oct. 25, and early‑voting sites in Duval will be open on Oct. 25 and Nov. 1 after a second Sunday was added at the urging of the Jacksonville NAACP and other civil‑rights organizations.
On Oct. 24, the True Southern Christian Leadership Conference Florida National Inc. will host a celebration at Lonnie Miller Park in Sherwood, encouraging early voters to head to the nearby Legends Center.
While Black churches refrain from endorsing candidates due to tax‑code restrictions, they continue to provide nonpartisan education, transportation, and literature to help congregants make informed choices. As the election season intensifies, these faith communities remain a vital conduit for civic participation in Northeast Florida.
Original reporting: Jacksonville Today — read the source article.
