Ted Cruz Losing Evangelical Votes to Donald Trump

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz may have started his U.S. presidential race with a message encouraging America's evangelicals to vote, but it is his Republican rival Donald Trump who seems to be gaining surprising momentum among evangelicals in recent weeks.

Last week, Donald Trump powered home over Ted Cruz in the Nevada caucuses with 45.9 percent of votes. The billionaire's recent victory comes on the heels of his triumphs in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Aside from Trump's victory in the caucuses, the real estate mogul's win among evangelicals is also a source of worry for Ted Cruz. Trump clinched 40 percent of the evangelical vote, delivering a disappointing blow to Cruz's vision.

Trump overpowering Cruz in this department is an odd outcome. In the past elections, evangelicals have supported candidates openly known for their Christian values, such as Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum.

In an interview with MSNBC, The Federalist senior contributor Nicole Russell explained that the word "evangelical" no longer describes the strict conservatives of America. Rather, it now includes a diverse group of individuals who consider themselves "very Christian." Cruz may have mistakenly confined the term to its old-school definition, neglecting the young "hipster" evangelicals who now support Trump, she said.

"Cruz, when he went after that old guard segment of evangelicals, overestimated their influence and power," said Russell.

In addition, Trump is able to connect to a group of people that Cruz and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio are seemingly unable to reach, according to The King's College associate professor of religious studies Dr. Anthony Bradley.

"These are evangelicals who don't read a lot of books, they're not too interested in evangelism having a big impact on America. They're most likely working class, very middle class, they drink Bud Light," said Bradley. "So Trump is communicating to them in a very 'Bud Light' sort of way, and they get him."