Michael Brooks
In the 2024 presidential election, former President Donald Trump won the Catholic vote by a large margin, with exit polls showing him receiving between 52% and 56% of the Catholic vote compared to Vice President Kamala Harris's 41% to 45%. This represents a significant shift towards the Republican Party among Catholic voters, with Trump's percentage of the Catholic vote increasing by 3 to 10 points since 2020. While Trump's support among Catholic voters was notable, it is important to note that the religious composition of voters has shifted modestly since 2016, with a smaller share of voters identifying as Catholics in 2024.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic vote in 2020 | 50% for Trump, 49% for Biden |
| Catholic vote in 2024 | 54% for Trump, 44% for Harris |
| White Catholic vote in 2024 | 60% for Trump, 37% for Harris |
| Latino Catholic vote in 2024 | 60% for Harris, 40% for Trump |
| Catholic voters' reasons for supporting Trump | Opposition to abortion rights, support for immigration policies |
| Catholic voters' reasons for opposing Harris | Support for abortion rights, lack of interest in social justice issues |
| Catholic vote in key swing states in 2024 | 56% for Trump, 41% for Harris |
| Catholic voters as a percentage of total voters in swing states | 22% |
| White Catholics as a percentage of voters in swing states | 15% |
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What You'll Learn
- Trump's support among Catholic voters increased from 50% in 2020 to 54% in 2024
- White Catholics supported Trump, while Latino Catholics supported Harris
- Catholic voters were divided over abortion rights, immigration, and social-justice issues
- Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, courted Catholic voters in the 2024 election
- Catholics have been shifting towards the Republican Party since the 1990s
Trump's support among Catholic voters increased from 50% in 2020 to 54% in 2024
In the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump's support among Catholic voters increased to 54%, up from 50% in 2020. This shift was particularly notable in North Carolina, Florida, and Texas, and it contributed to his victory over Kamala Harris.
The Catholic vote is one of the biggest religious blocs in the United States, and it has been closely contested between the two major parties in recent years. In 2020, the Catholic electorate was almost evenly split between Trump and Biden, with 50% backing Trump and 49% favoring Biden, a longtime member of the Catholic faith.
There are several factors that may have influenced the increase in Trump's support among Catholic voters in 2024. One factor could be the Democratic Party's staunch support for abortion rights, which some conservative Catholics opposed. Trump's focus on economic issues may also have resonated with Catholic voters, particularly in working-class communities. Additionally, Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, actively courted the Catholic vote in the final weeks of the campaign, with Vance accusing Harris of "prejudice against Catholics."
On the other hand, some Catholic voters criticized Trump's demonization of migrants and his disinterest in social justice issues. The Catholic Church has a long history of involvement in social justice and migrant support, which may have caused some Catholics to view Trump's positions unfavorably.
It is worth noting that there were variations within the Catholic community. For example, about 6 in 10 white Catholics supported Trump, while about 6 in 10 Latino Catholics supported Harris. These differences highlight the diverse perspectives and priorities within the Catholic electorate.
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White Catholics supported Trump, while Latino Catholics supported Harris
In the 2024 presidential election, Catholic voters were divided in their support for Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. According to AP VoteCast, a survey of over 120,000 voters, 54% of Catholic voters supported Trump, while 44% backed Harris. This represents a shift from the 2020 election, where Catholic voters were almost evenly split between the two major parties, with 50% backing Trump and 49% favoring Biden.
When examining the racial divide among Catholic voters, a notable contrast emerges. About 6 in 10 white Catholics supported Trump, while around 4 in 10 backed Harris. Conversely, approximately 6 in 10 Latino Catholics supported Harris, with about 4 in 10 favoring Trump. This shift among Latino Catholics is part of a broader trend of Hispanic Catholics moving away from the Democratic Party, although a majority still voted for Harris in 2024.
The reasons for the differing support between white and Latino Catholics are multifaceted. Some conservative white Catholics opposed Harris due to the Democratic Party's staunch support for abortion rights. They viewed Trump, despite his preference for state-by-state abortion laws, as a better alternative. On the other hand, some liberal Catholics found Trump's demonization of migrants and disinterest in social justice issues unworthy of their support.
White Catholics have historically been majority Republican, and this trend has continued, with growing support for the Republican Party among this demographic. In contrast, Latino Catholics have traditionally been solidly Democratic, but this has shifted over time, with an increasing number moving towards the GOP.
The 2024 election highlights the diverse and complex factors influencing the voting preferences of Catholic voters. While white Catholics leaned towards Trump, Latino Catholics favored Harris, reflecting the multifaceted nature of religious voting blocs in American politics.
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Catholic voters were divided over abortion rights, immigration, and social-justice issues
Catholic voters have been divided over abortion rights, immigration, and social-justice issues. In the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump won the Catholic vote by a large margin, with exit polls showing he received between 52% and 56% of the Catholic vote compared to 41% to 45% for Kamala Harris. This represents a significant shift towards the Republican Party among Catholic voters, with Trump's share of the Catholic vote increasing by 10 points since 2020.
Abortion rights were a key issue for Catholic voters, with 61% saying it should be legal in all or most cases, while 38% said it should be illegal. Despite this, Trump won 90% of voters who believed abortion should be illegal in all or most cases, while Harris won 9% of these voters. Some conservative Catholics opposed Harris due to the Democratic Party's staunch support for abortion rights. However, Trump's preference for state-by-state abortion laws rather than a national ban disappointed some Catholic voters who oppose abortion.
Immigration was another divisive issue, with Catholic voters trusting Trump more on immigration by a 25-point margin (57% to 32%). Trump's campaign promises of mass deportations and hardline stance on immigration were criticized by some Catholic leaders, who highlighted the negative impact on migrant families and communities. However, Trump's economic messaging may have resonated with working-class Hispanic Catholics, contributing to their shift towards the Republican Party.
Catholic voters were also divided along racial lines, with about 6 in 10 white Catholics supporting Trump, while about 6 in 10 Latino Catholics supported Harris. The Democratic Party's traditional support among Hispanic Catholics has been eroding, with Trump making gains in counties with large Hispanic Catholic populations, such as Maverick County, Texas.
Overall, Catholic voters were sharply divided in the 2024 election, with social issues, abortion rights, immigration, and racial dynamics influencing their voting choices. The shift towards Trump among Catholic voters reflects a broader trend of increasing support for the Republican Party within this demographic.
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Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, courted Catholic voters in the 2024 election
In the 2024 election, Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, heavily courted Catholic voters. In late October, Trump claimed that Harris was "destructive to Christianity" and that Catholics are "treated worse than anybody". In the same week, Vance published an op-ed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, accusing Harris of "prejudice against Catholics".
Trump's support among Catholic voters increased in 2024 compared to 2020. According to AP VoteCast, 54% of Catholic voters supported Trump, while 44% backed Harris. This shift was notable in North Carolina, Florida, and Texas. A racial divide was also observed, with most white Catholics supporting Trump and most Latino Catholics supporting Harris.
Catholic voters were divided over volatile social issues, such as abortion rights and immigration policies. Some conservative Catholics opposed Harris due to the Democratic Party's support for abortion rights. On the other hand, some liberal Catholics disapproved of Trump's stance on immigration and social justice issues.
Vance, a Catholic himself, has acknowledged the influence of Catholic theology on his sociopolitical positions. He has taken conservative stances on abortion, same-sex marriage, and gun control. He has also been an outspoken critic of childlessness, suggesting higher taxes for childless people.
The selection of Vance as Trump's running mate was intended to energize Trump's loyal base and appeal to Catholic voters. However, it also presented a challenge in terms of diversifying Trump's support, as two white men now led the Republican ticket.
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Catholics have been shifting towards the Republican Party since the 1990s
Catholics have been a key voting bloc in US elections, with their support often being courted by both parties. Since the 1960s, the Catholic vote has become bipartisan, with Catholics representing one of the nation's largest swing groups. While Catholics traditionally affiliated with the Democratic Party, this began to shift in the 1960s and 1970s, with a notable increase in Catholic support for Nixon in the 1972 election.
This trend continued in the 1990s, with Catholics becoming "the largest swing vote in American politics" by the end of the decade. White non-Hispanic Catholics, in particular, voted consistently Republican. This shift towards the Republican Party among Catholics has continued in recent years, with around half of Catholic registered voters describing themselves as Republicans or leaning towards the Republican Party, according to polls conducted in 2018 and 2019.
In the 2016 presidential election, 52% of Catholics backed Republican Donald Trump, while 44% voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton. This trend persisted in the 2020 election, with Trump and Biden splitting the Catholic vote almost evenly, 50%-49%. Notably, there was a racial divide among Catholic voters, with white Catholics more likely to support Trump and Latino Catholics more likely to support Biden.
In the 2024 election, Trump further boosted his support among Catholic voters, winning 54% of their votes compared to 44% for Harris, according to AP VoteCast. This shift was particularly notable in several states, including North Carolina, Florida, and Texas. Abortion was a key issue for Catholic voters, with many opposing Harris's staunch support for abortion rights. Additionally, Catholic voters trusted Trump more than Harris on immigration and the economy.
While Catholics have been shifting towards the Republican Party since the 1990s, it is important to note that they remain a divided group, with a significant portion still identifying with or leaning towards the Democratic Party.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, according to AP VoteCast, 50% of Catholics voted for Trump in 2020, while 49% voted for Biden.
Yes, in 2024, Trump received 54% to 56% of the Catholic vote, while Harris received 41% to 45%.
Catholic voters were divided over various social issues. Some conservative Catholics opposed Harris due to the Democratic Party's support for abortion rights. Trump's stance on immigration and the economy also influenced Catholic voters.
