The US Republican Party has for many years now been devoted to turning the USA into the sort of medieval theocracy common in places like Iran and Saudi Arabia, because the Party knows there are votes to be had by doing this. People who otherwise wouldn't vote for a theocracy still vote Republican either because "I've always voted Republican and I ain't gonna change now" or because they are gulled by false claims about "sticking up for democracy 'n' freedom" or "protecting the hard-working little guy."

And so the USA continues its slide into illiberalism because that's where the votes are.