Ethan Walker
In the 2024 election, Catholic voters were split between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. While Trump won the Catholic vote, several polls indicated that Catholic voters were concerned that both candidates were too extreme. Issues such as abortion and immigration influenced Catholic voters' choices, with Trump winning 90% of voters who believe abortion should be illegal and Harris winning 9% of voters who held that view.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic voters' preference in the 2024 election | Trump |
| Catholic voters' preference in the 2020 election | Split between Trump and Biden |
| Catholic voters' preference in the 2024 election in swing states | Trump |
| Catholic voters' preference in the 2024 election in Wisconsin | Trump |
| Trump's support among White Catholics | Higher |
| Trump's support among White Catholics who attend Mass at least monthly | Higher |
| Trump's support among White Catholics who are evangelicals | Higher |
| Trump's support among Catholics who believe abortion should be illegal | Higher |
| Trump's support among Catholics on the issue of immigration | Higher |
| Trump's support among Catholics on the economy | Higher |
| Trump's support among Latino Catholics | Lower |
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What You'll Learn
- Catholics voted for Trump over Harris in the 2024 election
- White Catholics supported Trump, Hispanic Catholics backed Harris
- Catholics trusted Trump more on immigration and the economy
- Trump's support higher among Catholic regular churchgoers
- Catholics split on abortion, but Harris lost Catholic vote on abortion
Catholics voted for Trump over Harris in the 2024 election
Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, actively sought the support of Catholic voters in the lead-up to the election. In late October, Trump claimed that Harris was "destructive to Christianity" and that Catholics are "treated worse than anybody." Vance reinforced this message by publishing an op-ed accusing Harris of "prejudice against Catholics." This strategy appears to have been effective, as exit polls showed that 59% of Catholics felt that Harris was too extreme, compared to 58% who felt the same about Trump.
The issue of abortion was a key factor in the decision-making of Catholic voters. While Harris, an outspoken supporter of abortion rights, won the support of Catholic voters who trusted her more on abortion policy, Trump's stance on abortion also resonated with many Catholics. Trump won 90% of voters who believe abortion should be illegal in all or most cases, while only 9% of voters with this view supported Harris. This divide highlights the complex dynamics within the Catholic community, as some conservative Catholics prioritized their opposition to abortion, while others were influenced by Trump's controversial positions on immigration and social justice issues.
The shift in Catholic voting preferences had a significant impact on the election outcome, particularly in key swing states. In 10 swing states polled by NBC, Trump won among Catholic voters by a 15-point margin, with 56% of the vote compared to 41% for Harris. Trump's lead was even larger among white Catholic voters, with 60% support. This swing in Catholic votes contributed to Trump's surprise blowout victory, as he successfully mobilized a religious voting bloc that was previously thought to be divided between the two parties.
The Democratic Party's struggle to connect with Catholic voters extends beyond the 2024 election. Some analysts attribute this challenge to fundamental differences between Democratic policies and Catholic moral teachings. Issues such as abortion, religious freedom, and the treatment of migrants have created a perception of animosity towards Catholics within the Democratic Party, providing an opportunity for Republican candidates like Trump to make inroads with this significant religious group.
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White Catholics supported Trump, Hispanic Catholics backed Harris
In the 2024 US presidential election, Catholic voters were divided in their support for Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. According to exit polls, Trump won the Catholic vote by a significant margin, with 56% of Catholics supporting him compared to 41% for Harris. However, this margin varied among different ethnic groups within the Catholic community.
White Catholics showed a strong preference for Trump, with around 60% supporting him, while around 37% backed Harris. This support for Trump among White Catholics was even more pronounced in certain key swing states, such as Wisconsin, where he won over Catholic voters by a 16-point margin. Trump's commitment to conservative social values and his stance on issues like abortion and immigration resonated with many White Catholics.
On the other hand, Hispanic Catholics, or Latino Catholics, largely supported Harris. Approximately 60% of Latino Catholics voted for Harris, while around 40% supported Trump. This support for Harris among Hispanic Catholics was also reflected in the increased support for Biden among this group in 2020 compared to previous years.
The religious dynamics of the election highlighted the partisan patterns among religious groups. White Catholics, along with White evangelicals, predominantly identified with the Republican Party and supported Trump. In contrast, Black Protestants, atheists, agnostics, and Jewish voters tended to align with the Democratic Party and supported Harris.
While Catholic voters as a whole leaned towards Trump, there were nuances within this voting bloc. The Catholic vote was heavily influenced by social issues, with abortion and immigration being key factors in their decision-making. Some Catholic voters expressed concern that Harris was too extreme, while others felt that Trump's positions on these issues were incompatible with their religious values.
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Catholics trusted Trump more on immigration and the economy
In the 2024 US presidential election, Catholic voters favored Trump over Harris, both nationally and in swing states, according to exit polls. Trump won the Catholic vote with about 52% to Harris's 45%, according to an Associated Press VoteCast exit poll. Another poll by the Washington Post put Trump's Catholic support at 56% to Harris's 41%.
Catholic voters trusted Trump more on immigration and the economy, by margins of 25 and 19 percentage points, respectively. This is despite Trump's immigration policies being criticized by Catholic leaders and bishops, who have called for a more humane approach that respects the dignity of migrants and refugees. Trump's policies have been described as "incompatible with Catholic teaching" and "morally repugnant."
The Catholic Church teaches that countries, particularly wealthier ones, should try to welcome migrants, and Catholic bishops in the US have advocated for comprehensive immigration reform. They have criticized Trump's use of "sweeping generalizations" to describe immigrants and his focus on enforcement-only policies.
However, it is important to note that the support for Trump among Catholics is higher among those who attend Mass regularly than among those who do not. Trump's campaign heavily courted the Catholic vote, with Trump claiming that Harris was "destructive to Christianity" and that Catholics were "treated worse than anybody."
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Trump's support higher among Catholic regular churchgoers
According to a survey by the Pew Research Center, White Catholics mostly identify with or lean toward the Republican Party and support Trump in the 2024 election. The survey also found that support for Trump is higher among White Catholics who attend Mass at least monthly than among those who attend less frequently.
The survey also revealed that immigration is a key issue for Catholic voters, with 72% saying it will be a significant factor in their voting decision. This is reflected in the finding that Catholic voters trust Trump more than Harris on immigration by a 25-point margin (57% to 32%).
In addition to immigration, Catholic voters also trust Trump more on the economy, with a 19-point margin (55% to 36%) in favor of Trump.
When it comes to abortion, however, the poll showed that 46% of Catholic voters trusted Harris more on abortion policy, while only 36% trusted Trump more. Despite this, Trump won 90% of voters who believe abortion should be illegal in all or most cases, while Harris won only 9% of these voters.
Overall, the 2024 election results show that Trump had strong support among Catholic voters, with 55% casting their vote for him compared to 43% for Harris. This represents a notable shift from 2020, when the Catholic vote was almost evenly divided between the two candidates.
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Catholics split on abortion, but Harris lost Catholic vote on abortion
Catholics are split on abortion, but Kamala Harris lost the Catholic vote in the 2024 US presidential election. Former President Donald Trump won the Catholic vote by a large margin, both nationwide and within swing states. According to the Washington Post's exit poll, Trump won 56% of the Catholic vote compared to Harris's 41%. This is a significant increase in Catholic support for Trump compared to the 2020 election, where he led Biden by only 5%.
The 2024 election saw Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, court the Catholic vote heavily in the final weeks of the campaign. Trump called Harris "destructive to Christianity", saying that Catholics are "treated worse than anybody". Vance published an op-ed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, accusing Harris of "prejudice against Catholics". These tactics seem to have been successful in winning over Catholic voters.
However, Catholic voters are divided on the issue of abortion. While Trump won 90% of voters who believe abortion should be illegal in all or most cases, Harris won 9% of voters with this view. A poll found that 46% of Catholic voters trusted Harris more on abortion policy, while only 36% trusted Trump more. This suggests that Catholic voters are not entirely united in their views on abortion and that other factors may have influenced their voting decisions.
The religious dynamics of the US presidential campaign reflect broader partisan patterns. White evangelicals and White Catholics mostly identify with or lean toward the Republican Party and supported Trump, while most atheists, agnostics, Black Protestants, and Jewish voters identify with or lean toward the Democratic Party and supported Harris.
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Frequently asked questions
Exit polls show that Catholic voters favored Trump over Harris in the 2024 election, both nationally and in swing states.
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 running mate, JD Vance, also accused Harris of "prejudice against Catholics".
Yes, there was a racial divide among Catholic voters. A higher proportion of White Catholics supported Trump compared to Latino Catholics.
