Michael Brooks
The 2024 election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris has sparked debate among Catholic voters, with some supporting Trump and others backing Harris. While White Catholics tend to lean towards the Republican Party and support Trump, Black and Hispanic Catholics in swing states favor Harris. This divide reflects broader partisan patterns, with religious groups traditionally favoring either the Republican or Democratic candidates. Catholics are faced with a difficult choice, as neither candidate fully aligns with Catholic values, leading some to opt for third-party candidates or abstain from voting.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Support for Trump among Catholic voters | 50% |
| Support for Harris among Catholic voters | 45% |
| Support for Trump among White Catholics | 16% lead over Harris |
| Support for Trump among Hispanic Catholics | 10% |
| Support for Harris among Hispanic Catholics | 70% |
| Support for Trump among Black Catholics | 3% |
| Support for Harris among Black Catholics | 75% |
| Support for Trump among older Catholic voters (45+) | 8% lead over Harris |
| Support for Trump among younger Catholic voters (44 and under) | 47% (tied with Harris) |
| Support for Harris among youngest Catholic voters (18-24) | 7% lead over Trump |
| Support for Trump among Catholic voters with incomes over $150,000 | 14% lead over Harris |
| Support for Trump among Catholic voters with middle-class incomes | 3% lead over Harris |
| Support for Trump among Catholic voters who attend Mass at least monthly | Higher than among those who attend less often |
| Support for Harris among Catholic voters who value reproductive rights | Higher than among those who don't |
| Support for Trump among Catholic voters who value anti-immigration policies | Higher than among those who don't |
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What You'll Learn
- White Catholics prefer Trump, while Black and Hispanic Catholics support Harris
- Catholics who attend Mass regularly are more likely to support Trump
- Trump is courting Catholic voters, accusing Harris of being destructive to Christianity
- Pope Francis encourages Catholics to vote for the lesser evil
- Catholics in swing states are divided between Trump and Harris
White Catholics prefer Trump, while Black and Hispanic Catholics support Harris
The 2024 United States presidential election sees a contest between Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. The election has become a source of dread for many Catholics, who view it as a choice "between the lesser of two evils", as Pope Francis stated. While White Catholics tend to support Trump, Black and Hispanic Catholics favour Harris.
White Catholics for Trump
White Catholics largely identify with or lean towards the Republican Party and support Trump in the 2024 election. In battleground states, Trump leads Harris among Catholic voters in five out of seven states, including Wisconsin, where he is up by 18 points, and Michigan, where he leads by 12 points. Support for Trump is higher among White Catholics who attend Mass at least once a month than among those who attend less frequently. Trump also leads among Catholics of all income levels, with a 14-point advantage among upper-class voters earning over $150,000 annually.
Black and Hispanic Catholics for Harris
On the other hand, Black and Hispanic Catholics in battleground states support Harris over Trump. Nearly seven out of 10 Hispanic Catholics and more than three-quarters of Black Catholics favour Harris. This support stems from a strong aversion to Trump and an alignment with Harris on values and key social issues. Harris's views on reproductive rights, in particular, resonate with Black and Hispanic Catholics, despite conflicting with Catholic teachings on abortion.
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Catholics who attend Mass regularly are more likely to support Trump
A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in August and September 2024 found that white Catholics who attend Mass at least once a month are more likely to support Trump than those who attend Mass less frequently. This trend is also observed among White evangelicals, where support for Trump is higher among regular churchgoers.
In the 2024 election campaign, religious groups that traditionally lean Republican, including White Catholics, largely supported Trump. In contrast, religious groups that typically favour Democratic candidates, such as atheists, agnostics, Black Protestants, and Jewish voters, tended to back Kamala Harris.
The National Catholic Reporter's poll of Catholic voters in seven battleground states revealed that Trump led Harris by 5 percentage points. However, Harris held a significant advantage among Hispanic and Black Catholics in these swing states, with nearly seven out of ten Hispanics and over three-quarters of Blacks supporting her.
The support for Trump among Catholics who attend Mass regularly could be influenced by various factors. Some Catholics consider Trump the pro-life candidate, aligning with the Church's opposition to abortion. Trump's stance on immigration and the economy may also appeal to Catholic voters, despite his position on abortion. Additionally, Trump has signalled his respect for the Catholic Church and has appointed Catholics to positions of power, including three Catholic Supreme Court justices.
However, it is important to note that the choice between Trump and Harris has been described as "between the lesser of two evils" by some Catholics, indicating that neither candidate fully aligns with Catholic values. Pope Francis urged Catholics to vote for "the lesser evil" without specifying a candidate, leaving the decision to individual conscience.
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Trump is courting Catholic voters, accusing Harris of being destructive to Christianity
With the 2024 US presidential election looming, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are vying for the Catholic vote in key battleground states. While Trump has gained the support of most White Catholic voters, Harris has an advantage among Black and Hispanic Catholics.
Trump is courting Catholic voters, emphasising his respect for the Church and his willingness to elevate Catholics to positions of power. During his first term, Trump appointed three Catholic Supreme Court justices and selected J.D. Vance, a Catholic convert, as his running mate in 2024. Trump has also delivered on other social conservative priorities, such as blocking funding for Planned Parenthood and repealing mandates that discriminated against Catholic organisations.
However, Trump's stance on abortion has been criticised by some Catholics, who view it as a departure from the pro-life position. While Trump supports leaving abortion legislation to individual states, his opponents argue that this effectively abandons the pro-life movement. In contrast, Harris's position on abortion is more contentious among Catholics, as it conflicts with the Church's teaching.
Despite Trump's efforts to court Catholic voters, some Catholics view his candidacy with dread, considering him a threat to their faith. They argue that Trump's anti-immigration policies and celebration of cultural traditions are contrary to Catholic values. However, others prioritise economic concerns and support Trump's capitalist stance.
In a rare political comment, Pope Francis urged American Catholics to choose the lesser evil between the two candidates, criticising Trump for kicking out migrants and Harris for supporting abortion. The Pope's statement reflects the dilemma faced by Catholic voters, who must navigate their religious values and political preferences in the upcoming election.
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Pope Francis encourages Catholics to vote for the lesser evil
Pope Francis has encouraged Catholics to vote with their conscience in the upcoming US presidential election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, stating that they must choose the "lesser evil". While not explicitly endorsing either candidate, the Pope has criticised both for their "'anti-life' policies on abortion and migration.
During an in-flight press conference on September 13, 2024, Pope Francis addressed the upcoming US election and the choices facing Catholic voters. He said:
> "In political morality, in general, they say that if you don't vote, it's not good, it's bad. You have to vote, and you have to choose the lesser evil. What is the lesser evil? That woman, or that man? I don't know. Each one, in their conscience, must think."
The Pope's comments reflect the Church's teaching that when faced with candidates who aren't fully aligned with its positions on fundamental issues, Catholics should vote for the candidate who most closely aligns with Church doctrine. In this case, the Pope is implying that both candidates are "evil" due to their stance on issues that contradict Catholic teachings.
The Pope's statement comes as polls show Catholic voters in several battleground states favouring Trump over Harris, with the former leading among White Catholics who attend Mass regularly. However, Harris leads among Hispanic and Black Catholics in those same states. The election is expected to be close, and both candidates are actively courting the Catholic vote.
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Catholics in swing states are divided between Trump and Harris
With the 2024 US election looming, Catholic voters in swing states are divided between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. According to a National Catholic Reporter (NCR) poll, Catholic voters in seven battleground states favour Trump over Harris by five percentage points. However, Harris leads Trump by a large margin among Hispanic and Black Catholics in those same swing states.
The race is too close to call, with margins extremely narrow in the decisive states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. In these states, Catholic populations are sizable and are seen as important to both the Trump and Harris campaigns, with both candidates launching efforts to appeal to Catholic voters.
Among white Catholic voters, Trump's lead widens to 16 percentage points. He also leads among Catholic voters in five of the seven individual states, with larger leads in Wisconsin (18 points) and Michigan (12 points). Trump performs better among older Catholic voters, with those aged 45 and older opting for him over Harris by eight percentage points. He also leads among Catholics of all income levels.
However, Harris has the backing of two-thirds or more of registered voters in various religious groups, including Black Protestants and Hispanic Catholics. Among Black Catholics in the battleground states, Harris has an advantage over Trump, with over three-quarters supporting her. Harris also leads among Hispanic Catholics, with nearly seven out of ten favouring her.
The issues of immigration and abortion are key factors in the voting decisions of Catholics in swing states. Trump supporters favour his anti-immigration policies, while Harris voters support her views on reproductive rights. Catholic teaching generally supports immigrant rights and opposes abortion.
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Frequently asked questions
The answer to this question depends on the demographic of Catholic voters in question. White Catholics tend to support Trump, while Black and Hispanic Catholics tend to support Harris.
Some Catholic voters have expressed that they support Trump because he respects the Church and is willing to elevate Catholics to positions of power. They also believe that he is the pro-life candidate.
Some Catholic voters have expressed that they support Harris because they believe her economic policies will help people feel more secure. They also believe that her position on abortion is a morally problematic position for those who believe every baby is a unique human being with a right to life.
