Replication Data for: Who Leads the Flock? Religion and the Radical Right among Brazilian Migrants

Brazilians in the United States voted overwhelmingly for right-wing populist Jair Bolsonaro in 2022. What effect did religion, an important part of many migrants' day-to-day lives, have on their voting behavior? Based on exit polling of Brazilian expatriate voters, focus groups, and observation of local Brazilian churches, this paper explores how conservative Christianity drives support for right-wing populism among Brazilian migrants to the Boston area, who stand out for their bolsonarista tendencies. Christians, and especially evangelicals, are significantly more likely than other Brazilian migrants to vote for Bolsonaro, and the priests and pastors of Brazilian migrant churches are particularly willing to discuss parties and candidates. Yet neither clergy endorsements nor explicit conversation about politics at church explains this religious effect. I argue that indirect influence within congregations, which reinforces a conservative worldview in ways that are not overtly political, helps explain why observant evangelicals tend to favor Bolsonaro.