Nine candidates pioneer ‘political humanism’ in Arizona

Serah Blain and Evan Clark operate Spectrum Experience, a communications firm representing nine openly humanist-atheist candidates running for office in Arizona. Photo courtesy of Jim Hesterman

By Kimberly Winston | August 25, 2016

MESA, Ariz. (RNS) Conventional wisdom says atheism is the third rail of American politics — the candidate who admits to not believing in God will drop in the polls like a rock.

Except in Arizona; except in the current election.

While there have always been a few states where voters don’t blink at candidates with unconventional religious beliefs (think California, Oregon and Washington), Arizona has long been a bastion of Republican Party conservatism where Christian voters hold sway and tend to vote for their own.

But as Arizona voters head for the primary on Aug. 30, they will have nine openly atheist or humanist candidates before them — more than in any other state. Most have run — and lost — before. But this year, a couple have a fighting chance, at least at the local level or state level, and await the voters’ first judgment.

http://religionnews.com/2016/08/25/nine-candidates-pioneer-political-humanism-in-arizona/

http://www.spectrumexperience.com/