Sarah Mitchell
Catholics represent one of the largest and most diverse religious groups in the United States. In the 2016 election, 52% of Catholics voted for Republican Donald Trump, while 44% voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton. In 2020, the Catholic vote was almost evenly split, with 50% backing Trump and 49% favoring Biden. In 2024, Trump increased his support among Catholic voters, winning 52% to Harris' 45%, according to AP VoteCast. This shift was particularly notable in North Carolina, Florida, and Texas. The Catholic vote has been sharply divided over volatile social issues, with some conservative Catholics opposing Harris' support for abortion rights, while liberal Catholics criticized Trump's immigration policies and disinterest in social justice issues.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholic voters in 2024 | 54% supported Trump, 44% backed Harris |
| Catholic voters in 2020 | 47%-52% supported Trump, 48%-50% supported Biden |
| Catholic voters in 2016 | 50%-52% supported Trump, 44%-46% supported Clinton |
| Catholic voters in 2012 | Divided votes almost exactly in half |
| Catholic voters in 2008 | 54% supported Obama, 45% supported McCain |
| Catholic voters in 2004 | Narrowly backed Bush over Kerry |
| Catholic voters in 2000 | Divided votes almost exactly in half |
| Catholic voters' political leanings | 47% identify with the Democratic Party, around half describe themselves as Republicans |
| Catholic voters' views on abortion | 62% say it should be legal in all or most cases, 38% say it should be illegal in all or most cases |
| Catholic voters' views on immigration | 91% of Catholic Democrats oppose expanding the wall along the US-Mexico border, 81% of Catholic Republicans favor expanding the wall |
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What You'll Learn
- In 2020, 52% of Catholic voters backed Biden, 47% Trump
- In 2016, 52% of Catholics backed Trump, 44% Clinton
- In 2024, Trump's anti-immigration stance was a concern for Catholic voters
- In 2024, 56% of Catholic voters supported Trump, 44% Harris
- In 2024, Catholic men were more likely to vote for Trump than Catholic women
In 2020, 52% of Catholic voters backed Biden, 47% Trump
In the 2020 US presidential election, 52% of Catholic voters backed Joe Biden, while 47% voted for Donald Trump. This was a notable shift in voting behaviour compared to 2016, when 52% of Catholics supported Trump, with only 44% voting for Hillary Clinton.
Catholics, one of the largest and most diverse religious groups in the US, have swung back and forth between Republican and Democratic candidates in recent elections. While Biden, a lifelong member of the faith, enjoyed increased support from Catholic voters in 2020, Trump also maintained a solid base of Catholic voters.
The voting preferences of Catholics are influenced by a range of factors, including their political leanings, views on social issues, and perceptions of the candidates' religiousness and morality. According to surveys, around half of Catholic registered voters identify as Republicans, while 47% align with the Democrats. There are also notable differences between White and Hispanic Catholics, with White Catholics more likely to identify as Republicans and Hispanic Catholics leaning more Democratic.
The issue of abortion has been a significant factor in Catholic voting behaviour. Some conservative Catholics opposed Kamala Harris due to the Democratic Party's strong support for abortion rights, while Trump's stance on immigration and social justice issues caused concern among more liberal Catholics.
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In 2016, 52% of Catholics backed Trump, 44% Clinton
In the 2016 United States presidential election, 52% of Catholic voters backed Republican candidate Donald Trump, while 44% voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton. This data comes from a Pew Research Center survey of validated voters. Edison exit polls from the same year report a slightly different result, with 50% of Catholics voting for Trump and 46% for Clinton.
The Catholic vote has swung back and forth between the Republican and Democratic candidates in recent presidential elections. In 2004, Catholics narrowly backed Republican George W. Bush over Democrat John Kerry, according to exit polls. In 2008, Catholics chose Democrat Barack Obama over Republican John McCain by a margin of 54% to 45%. In 2012, Catholics divided their votes almost exactly in half when Obama defeated Republican Mitt Romney.
The Catholic vote in the United States is one of the largest and most diverse religious voting blocs. Around half of Catholic registered voters describe themselves as Republicans, while 47% identify with the Democratic Party. However, Catholic voters are not solely driven by religious beliefs when choosing a candidate. About six-in-ten Catholics say it is very important to them to have a president who personally lives a moral and ethical life.
In the 2020 election, Catholic voters were sharply divided over various volatile social issues, including abortion rights and immigration. The Edison exit polls from that year estimated that 52% of Catholic voters went for Biden, while 47% voted for Trump. AP VoteCast, meanwhile, estimated an almost even split, with 49% of Catholics voting for Biden and 50% for Trump.
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In 2024, Trump's anti-immigration stance was a concern for Catholic voters
In 2024, Donald Trump's anti-immigration stance was a concern for some Catholic voters. Trump's pledge to conduct the largest mass deportation in the nation's history was described as a "nightmare scenario" by Catholic immigration advocates. Some Catholic voters believed that Trump's demonization of migrants and disinterest in social-justice issues made him unworthy of their support.
Trump's anti-immigration stance was a notable concern for Catholic voters who worked closely with migrant and refugee communities. Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami, for example, expressed cautious optimism about a second Trump term, believing that the reality of migrants' contributions to the US economy would matter more than the "hyperbole" about mass deportations.
Despite these concerns, Trump's level of support among Catholic voters increased in 2024 compared to 2020. According to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters, 54% of Catholic voters supported Trump in 2024, while 44% backed his opponent, Kamala Harris. This shift was particularly notable in North Carolina, Florida, and Texas.
Trump's improved performance among Catholic voters was partly due to a shift in Latino and white Catholic voters. According to a Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) survey, Trump won 59% of the white Catholic vote, compared to 39% for Harris, and 43% of the Latino Catholic vote, compared to Harris' 55%. This represented a significant increase in support among Latino Catholics compared to 2020, when Trump received only 31% of their vote.
Trump's anti-immigration stance and its potential impact on immigrant communities continued to be a concern for Catholic voters following the 2024 election. Catholic organizations, such as Jesuit Relief Services, urged the incoming Trump administration to reject anti-immigration stances and honor the United States' history as a nation of immigrants. Catholic immigration advocates feared the negative consequences of Trump's immigration policies and his track record on the issue.
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In 2024, 56% of Catholic voters supported Trump, 44% Harris
In the 2024 United States presidential election, Donald Trump received more votes from Catholic voters than his opponent, Kamala Harris. According to exit polls, 56% of Catholic voters supported Trump, while 44% supported Harris. This represents a significant shift from the 2020 election, where Trump and Biden were nearly tied among Catholic voters.
Trump's improved performance among Catholics was driven by several factors. One notable factor was his increased support from Latino and Hispanic Catholics, who made up a significant portion of the Catholic electorate. Trump's campaign messaging resonated with these voters, particularly on issues such as abortion, immigration, and social justice. Some conservative Catholics were also concerned about the Democratic Party's strong support for abortion rights, which may have influenced their voting decisions.
Additionally, Trump's gains among Catholic voters were partly due to defections from the Democratic Party. Some Catholic voters who had previously supported Biden in 2020 switched to Trump in 2024. This shift was influenced by perceptions that Harris was "destructive to Christianity" and that Catholics were "treated worse" by the Democratic Party. Vice President-elect JD Vance, a convert to Catholicism, also appealed to Catholic voters by accusing Harris of having a prejudice against Catholics.
The 2024 election highlighted the diverse political leanings within the Catholic community in the United States. While Trump gained support among white Catholics and Latino Catholics, Harris maintained strong support among Hispanic Catholics, particularly women. The divide among Catholic voters also reflected broader ideological differences, with Catholic voters split over various volatile social issues.
Overall, the 2024 election results demonstrated the continued influence of religious groups, including Catholics, in shaping the political landscape in the United States. The shift in Catholic voting patterns underscores the complexity of religious voting blocs and the dynamic nature of electoral politics.
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In 2024, Catholic men were more likely to vote for Trump than Catholic women
In the 2024 United States presidential election, Catholic men were more likely to vote for Donald Trump than Catholic women. This was despite Trump's hardline immigration policy and his promotion of mass deportations, which the Catholic Church has condemned.
Trump's victory in 2024 over Kamala Harris saw an increase in support from Catholic voters compared to his 2020 victory over Joe Biden. In 2024, 54% of Catholic voters supported Trump, compared to 44% who backed Harris, according to AP VoteCast. This was a shift from 2020, when the Catholic electorate was almost evenly split, with 50% backing Trump and 49% favouring Biden.
The increase in Catholic support for Trump in 2024 may be attributed to several factors. Firstly, Trump's focus on promoting policies designed to increase support among White evangelical Christians may have influenced Catholic voters. Additionally, the Democratic Party's staunch support for abortion rights may have driven some conservative Catholics away from Harris.
However, it is important to note that Catholic voters are not a monolithic bloc, and their voting preferences vary. While White Catholics were more likely to vote for Trump, Hispanic Catholics preferred Harris. Similarly, Catholic men were more likely to support Trump, while Catholic women were evenly split between the two candidates.
The 2024 election highlighted the diverse political views among Catholic voters, with some prioritising social issues, such as abortion and immigration, while others focused on economic concerns. Understanding the complexities of Catholic voters and their impact on elections is crucial for comprehending the United States' religious and political landscape.
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Frequently asked questions
Trump won the Catholic vote over Clinton in 2016, with 50% of Catholics voting for Trump and 46% voting for Clinton, according to Edison exit polls.
White Catholics supported Trump over Clinton by a wide margin (60% to 37%), while Hispanic Catholics backed Clinton over Trump by a 41-point margin (67% to 26%).
In 2008 and 2012, Catholics supported the Democratic candidates, Obama and Kerry, respectively. In 2004, Catholics narrowly backed Republican George W. Bush over Kerry.
Catholics, like members of other religious groups, seek a president who lives a moral and ethical life, rather than solely focusing on religious beliefs. Policy issues, such as immigration, also play a role, with Catholic Democrats and Republicans holding differing views on Trump's proposed border wall.
Catholic support for Trump has been mixed since 2016, with some sources indicating an increase in support among White Catholics in particular. In 2020, the Catholic vote was split between Trump and Biden, and in 2024, Trump received 66% of the Latter-day Saint vote.
