Yeah, there are a lot of people in groups that one might think "Hey, you know the Republicans don't like you and want to make your life miserable, right?" but are socially conservative and are not willing to let that stuff go. There are lots of predominantly Black or Hispanic churches from the "Fun is a sin," denominations like the evangelicals, Pentecostals and Jehovah Witnesses whose members will not make any compromise on issues like abortion or gay rights. Even amongst the more secular people living in these communities can still be influenced by the folks that live around them. You also get a lot of people, especially older people, who are still on board with the law and order, tough on crime shtick, believing this is the sure way to get nice, safe communities to live in.

Religious, older and concerned with security doesn't sound all that different to the stereotypical white conservatives that serve as the base for the Republicans in rural areas. They just need a bit more of a nudge to get there because they have to overcome some resistance to voting for a party that explicitly targets things that are important to them in other areas.