Trump's Catholic Support: How Many Voted For Him?

how many american catholics voted for trump

The 2024 US election saw Donald Trump defeat Kamala Harris to become the next president. Trump's victory was influenced by his strong support among several religious groups, including White Protestants and Catholics. According to exit polls, Trump won the Catholic vote by a significant margin, with 54-56% of Catholic voters supporting him, compared to 41-44% for Harris. This represented an increase in support for Trump among Catholic voters compared to the 2020 election, when the Catholic vote was almost evenly split between Trump and Biden. The shift towards Trump among Catholics was particularly notable in states like North Carolina, Florida, and Texas. The addition of Ohio senator JD Vance, an unapologetic Catholic, as Trump's running mate, was also seen as a factor that appealed to Catholic voters. However, Trump's support among Catholics was not universal, with Latino Catholics showing more support for Harris, and some Catholic voters expressing concerns about Trump's stance on abortion and other issues.

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Trump's stance on abortion

In 2024, Donald Trump received the support of a majority of Catholic voters, with 54% voting for him and 44% for Kamala Harris. This was a notable shift from 2020, when Catholic voters were almost evenly split between Trump and Biden, a longtime member of the Catholic faith. Trump's improved performance among Catholic voters in 2024 can be attributed to various factors, including the addition of Ohio senator JD Vance, a Catholic politician, to the ticket.

Now, regarding Trump's stance on abortion, it is evident that he opposes abortion and has actively worked to restrict abortion access and reproductive rights, both domestically and internationally. Here are some key points outlining Trump's stance on abortion:

  • Supreme Court Nominations: During his first presidential campaign in 2016, Trump promised to appoint Supreme Court justices who would overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that established a federal right to abortion. In 2022, the Supreme Court, including three Trump-appointed justices, voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, resulting in a devastating civil liberties and public health crisis.
  • State Abortion Bans: Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Trump celebrated his role in ending legalized abortion, and 14 states have since banned abortion altogether, while others have severely restricted access. Trump has expressed support for state-by-state abortion laws rather than a national ban.
  • Criminal Prosecution: Trump-appointed Supreme Court justices have approved the criminal prosecution of those who assist pregnant individuals in obtaining abortion care, even in medical emergencies where the pregnant person's health and life are at risk.
  • Funding Restrictions: Trump has taken steps to restrict federal funding for abortion, both domestically and internationally. He signed an executive order to end the use of federal taxpayer dollars to fund or promote elective abortion, known as the Hyde Amendment. Additionally, he reinstated and expanded the Mexico City Policy, ensuring that U.S. taxpayer money does not fund foreign organizations that perform or promote abortion in other nations.
  • Geneva Consensus Declaration: Trump led a coalition of countries in signing the Geneva Consensus Declaration, which declares that there is no international right to abortion and commits to protecting women's health. However, critics argue that this declaration undermines reproductive rights as human rights.
  • Global Gag Rule: The Trump administration reinstated the Global Gag Rule, which disrupts vital health services by cutting funding for organizations that provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive healthcare, including contraception, maternal care, and treatment for various infectious diseases.

In summary, Trump's stance on abortion is strongly aligned with the anti-abortion movement, and his actions as president have significantly impacted abortion access and reproductive rights in the United States and worldwide.

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Catholic voters' trust in Harris

In the 2024 US presidential election, Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris and won the Catholic vote by a significant margin. However, this does not mean that Catholic voters did not trust Harris at all. While Trump won 54% of Catholic voters, Harris secured 44% of their votes, according to AP VoteCast. This indicates that a substantial number of Catholic voters did trust and support Harris.

The level of support for Harris among Catholic voters is notable, especially when compared to previous elections. In 2020, Joe Biden, a longtime member of the Catholic faith, won the Catholic vote by just 5%, with 50% of Catholics backing him and 49% favouring Trump. This suggests that Catholic voters' trust in Harris may have been higher than in Biden, despite her not being a member of the Catholic faith.

One key issue that influenced Catholic voters' trust in Harris was abortion. While Trump won the majority of Catholic voters who opposed abortion, a significant number of Catholics who supported legal abortion trusted Harris more on abortion policy. According to a poll, 46% of Catholic voters trusted Harris on abortion, while only 36% trusted Trump. This indicates that Catholic voters who prioritised abortion as an important issue were more likely to trust and support Harris.

Another factor that may have influenced Catholic voters' trust in Harris was her running mate, Joe Biden. Biden, a Catholic himself, may have helped to boost Harris's support among Catholics. Additionally, the presence of Ohio Senator JD Vance, an unapologetic Catholic, on Trump's ticket may have also influenced Catholic voters' decisions.

While Trump ultimately won the Catholic vote, it is important to note that Catholic voters were not unanimous in their support for him. The racial dynamics among Catholic voters also played a role, with White Catholics more likely to support Trump and Latino Catholics more likely to support Harris. Furthermore, Harris garnered more support from Black Protestants and Hispanic Catholics than Biden did in April 2024, indicating a shift in religious dynamics.

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Catholic voters' views on immigration

In 2024, Donald Trump's victory over Kamala Harris saw increased support from Catholic voters, with 54% of Catholic voters supporting him, compared to 49% in 2020. This shift was notable in states like North Carolina, Florida, and Texas. The support from Catholic voters was influenced by several factors, including abortion, immigration, and the inclusion of Ohio senator JD Vance, an unapologetic Catholic, on the Republican ticket.

The impact of immigration on specific aspects of American life was assessed in the CARA survey. A notable 56% believed immigration negatively impacted crime, while 50% thought it worsened taxes. Additionally, 48% felt it adversely affected the economy, and 38% believed it harmed social and moral values. However, 39% acknowledged that immigration improved food, music, and arts in the US.

Catholic voters' perspectives on immigration are influenced by their faith to varying degrees. While 19% of respondents in the CARA survey stated that their Catholic faith significantly informs their opinions on immigration, a larger group (35%) said it somewhat influences their views. Notably, Hispanic Catholics are more supportive of allowing undocumented immigrants to remain in the country (91%) compared to non-Hispanic white Catholics (70%).

Cardinal McElroy, known for advocating for the inclusion of migrants, women, and the LGBTQ+ community in the Catholic Church, opposes mass deportations. He criticizes inhumane policies that break up families and cause fear and hardship among undocumented populations. Tom Homan, Trump's immigration czar and a lifelong Catholic, disagrees with Pope Francis's criticism of the Trump administration's deportation policies.

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Catholic voters' views on the economy

Catholics, like members of many other religious groups, do not necessarily seek a president who shares their religious beliefs. Instead, they want a president who lives a moral and ethical life. A February 2020 survey revealed that about six in ten Catholics (62%) consider it very important to have a president who personally lives a moral and ethical life, a view shared by similar shares of White and Hispanic Catholics.

In 2024, Catholic voters were split 56% to 41% in favour of Donald Trump. This was a notable shift from 2020, when Catholic voters were almost evenly split between Trump and Biden, with 50% backing Trump and 49% favouring Biden. The 2024 election also saw a racial divide among Catholic voters, with 6 in 10 White Catholics supporting Trump, compared to 4 in 10 Hispanic Catholics.

While Catholic voters' views on the economy are not explicitly mentioned, it can be assumed that economic concerns play a role in their voting decisions. For example, in the 1930s, priests encouraged their parishioners to join unions and improve their economic status. Additionally, Catholic voters have been influenced by issues such as abortion laws and immigration policies, which may impact their economic situation.

In terms of specific economic policies, Catholic voters have differing views. On immigration, for example, Catholic Democrats and Catholic Republicans hold opposing views, with 91% of Catholic Democrats opposing the expansion of the wall along the US-Mexico border, while 81% of Catholic Republicans favouring it. These differences reflect a general political polarisation among the US public, with Catholics holding a diverse range of political opinions, even on topics where the Catholic Church has taken a clear stance.

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Catholic voters' views on Trump and Harris as candidates

In the 2024 presidential election, Catholic voters were divided over their support for Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. According to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters, 54% of Catholic voters supported Trump, while 44% backed Harris. This shift in support for Trump was particularly notable in states like North Carolina, Florida, and Texas.

The division among Catholic voters was influenced by various factors, including social issues, abortion laws, and immigration policies. Some conservative Catholics opposed Harris due to the Democratic Party's support for abortion rights, while some liberal Catholics found Trump's stance on immigration and social justice issues unworthy of support. Trump's promise to veto a national ban on abortion and his stance on state-by-state abortion laws appealed to some Catholic voters, despite his controversial personal history.

Racial and ethnic differences also played a role in Catholic voting preferences. About 6 in 10 white Catholics supported Trump, while 6 in 10 Latino Catholics favored Harris. Harris enjoyed strong support from Catholic women, with polls indicating that Trump trailed among women voters. Harris's unwavering support for legalized abortion without restrictions was expected to create problems for her with Catholic voters, but her stance on other issues, such as social justice and immigration, may have influenced Catholic voters' decisions.

Additionally, Harris's lack of engagement with Catholic voters may have impacted her support within this bloc. She broke with tradition by skipping the Al Smith Dinner and not responding to interview requests from Catholic media outlets, which could have contributed to her lower support among Catholics compared to Trump, who actively courted this voting group.

In summary, Catholic voters' views on Trump and Harris as candidates were mixed, with Trump ultimately receiving more support in the 2024 election. The division among Catholic voters was influenced by social issues, abortion laws, immigration policies, and the candidates' engagement with the Catholic community.

Frequently asked questions

54% of American Catholics voted for Trump, according to AP VoteCast.

In 2020, 50% of Catholic voters backed Trump, showing a 4% increase in 2024.

About 6 in 10 white Catholics supported Trump, while about 6 in 10 Latino Catholics supported Harris.

Many Catholic voters were concerned that Harris was too extreme and believed that she was "destructive to Christianity."

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