Grace Thompson
Catholics represent one of the largest and most diverse religious groups in the United States. While there is no Catholic vote in the sense of a bloc that predictably votes for one party, the percentage of Catholics who identify as Democrats has remained largely unchanged over the last decade, with 33% identifying as Democrats in 2023. However, the percentage of Catholic Republicans has increased from 21% in 2013 to 28% in 2023. In terms of specific policy issues, Catholic Democrats and Republicans often diverge from church teachings, with 77% of Catholic Democrats supporting legal abortion and 91% opposing a border wall, while 63% of Catholic Republicans oppose abortion and 81% support a border wall.
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What You'll Learn
- Hispanic Catholics are more likely to be Democrats than White Catholics
- Catholic voters are split between Democrats and Republicans
- Catholic views on abortion differ by political affiliation
- Catholic voters' perceptions of Trump and Biden's religiousness are influenced by partisanship
- Catholic voters' choices are influenced by candidates' views on specific issues
Hispanic Catholics are more likely to be Democrats than White Catholics
Catholics in the United States, who make up about one-fifth of the population, are split down the middle politically. While about half of Catholic voters identify as Republicans or lean toward the Republican Party, the other half identify as Democrats or lean Democratic. However, there is a racial and ethnic divide between White Catholics and Hispanic Catholics, with the latter being more likely to be Democrats.
According to data collected in 2018 and 2019, two-thirds of Catholic registered voters are White, while a quarter are Hispanic. While nearly six-in-ten White Catholic registered voters (57%) identify with or lean toward the Republican Party, most Hispanic Catholic voters (68%) identify as Democrats or lean Democratic. This share has remained fairly stable in the past decade, although it has declined slightly over the past 15 years.
The political views of White and Hispanic Catholics differ significantly, particularly on issues such as immigration and abortion. On immigration, 91% of Catholic Democrats, including many Hispanic Catholics, oppose expanding the wall along the US-Mexico border, while 81% of Catholic Republicans favor it. This divide reflects the Catholic Church's opposition to the wall, with Pope Francis describing the desire to build it as "not Christian."
Additionally, Hispanic Catholics are more likely than White Catholics to prioritize having a president who shares their religious beliefs. While only 9% of White Catholics say this is important, 22% of Hispanic Catholics feel it is important. This may contribute to their preference for Democratic candidates, as they perceive figures like Joe Biden as more religious than his Republican counterparts.
In summary, while US Catholics are divided in their political affiliations, Hispanic Catholics are more likely to identify as Democrats than their White Catholic counterparts. This difference in political leanings is influenced by varying perspectives on social and policy issues, as well as the importance placed on shared religious beliefs with their preferred candidates.
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Catholic voters are split between Democrats and Republicans
Catholics represent one of the largest and most diverse religious groups in the United States, with over one-fifth of Americans identifying as Catholic. They are also the largest single religious denomination in the country.
Catholic voters in the US are split between Democrats and Republicans, with a slight majority of Catholics identifying as Republicans or leaning towards the Republican Party. According to polls from 2018 and 2019, around half of Catholic registered voters (48%) describe themselves as Republicans or lean towards the GOP, while 47% identify with or lean towards the Democratic Party. This is a shift from 2009, when Catholic voters were evenly divided between the two parties.
The percentage of Catholics who identify as Democrats has remained largely unchanged over the last decade, with 33% identifying as Democrats in 2023. However, the percentage of Catholic Republicans has increased from 21% in 2013 to 28% in 2023.
When it comes to specific policy issues, Catholic voters tend to align more with their political parties than with the teachings of the Catholic Church. For example, on the issue of abortion, Catholic Democrats largely support its legality, while Catholic Republicans mostly oppose it, despite the Catholic Church's formal opposition to abortion. Similarly, on immigration, Catholic Democrats overwhelmingly oppose expanding the wall along the US-Mexico border, while Catholic Republicans largely favor it.
The Catholic vote has been split between Democratic and Republican candidates in recent presidential elections. In 2020, Catholic voters were divided between Biden and Trump, and in previous elections, they chose Obama over McCain and Romney, and Trump over Clinton.
White and Hispanic Catholics differ politically, with nearly six in ten White Catholics identifying with or leaning towards the Republican Party, while most Hispanic Catholics identify as Democrats or lean Democratic. Cuban Americans are predominantly Republican, while Puerto Ricans are predominantly Democratic. Mexican Americans in Texas are more likely to vote Republican, while those in California tend to vote Democratic.
While there is no single "Catholic vote," the support of Catholic voters is crucial in key industrial states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio, and can play a significant role in determining the outcome of elections.
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Catholic views on abortion differ by political affiliation
Catholics make up about one-fifth of the US population and have a diverse range of political opinions. About half of Catholic voters identify as Republicans or lean toward the Republican Party, compared to 44% who identify as Democrats or lean Democratic. However, Catholic views on abortion are influenced by their political affiliation, with Catholic Republicans holding more conservative views than Catholic Democrats.
According to a 2019 survey, 77% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning Catholic adults believe that abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 63% of Republican and Republican-leaning Catholics say that abortion should be illegal in all or most cases. This divide persists despite the Catholic Church's formal opposition to abortion, teaching that human life is sacred "from conception to natural death" and that unborn children have a "right to life".
The Catholic Church in the United States has been a staunch opponent of legal abortion, but Catholic individuals hold varying views. Many Catholics, particularly those who attend Mass regularly, align with the Church's stance and strongly oppose legal abortion. However, a significant number of Catholics, especially those who attend Mass less frequently, support abortion rights or believe that abortion should be legal in certain cases.
Political affiliation plays a significant role in shaping these differing views within the Catholic community. Catholic Republicans tend to be more conservative on abortion issues and strongly advocate for the illegality of abortion. On the other hand, Catholic Democrats are more likely to support abortion rights and believe that abortion should be legal in most or all cases.
The abortion debate within Catholicism is not limited to the United States. In Poland, for example, where the Catholic Church is influential, there are varying views on abortion, with some supporting restrictions on reproductive rights while others favor more liberal abortion laws. Similarly, in Northern Ireland, Catholics hold more conservative views on abortion compared to those in Britain.
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Catholic voters' perceptions of Trump and Biden's religiousness are influenced by partisanship
Catholics in the United States, who make up about one-fifth of the population, are split down the middle politically. According to Pew Research Center polls from 2018 and 2019, around half of Catholic registered voters (48%) describe themselves as Republicans or lean toward the Republican Party, while roughly the same proportion (47%) identify with or lean toward the Democratic Party. However, the GOP has recently gained a slight advantage among Catholics, with about half of Catholic voters (50%) identifying as Republicans or leaning Republican compared to 44% who identify as Democrats or lean Democratic.
When it comes to perceptions of Trump and Biden's religiousness, partisanship plays a significant role in shaping Catholic voters' views. Overall, a majority of Catholics (59%) believe Biden is "very" or "somewhat" religious, according to a February 2020 survey. While White and Hispanic Catholics share similar opinions about Biden's religiousness, there is a stark divide between Democratic and Republican Catholics, with 72% of Democratic Catholics considering Biden religious, compared to only 46% of Republican Catholics. On the other hand, only 37% of Catholics overall believe Trump is at least somewhat religious, highlighting a substantial gap between Republicans (63%) and Democrats (10%) on this issue.
The political divide among Catholics is further evident in their voting preferences. In the 2016 election, Trump received 52% of Catholic votes, while Clinton received 45%. Among White Catholics, Trump's support was even higher, with 64% voting for him, while 78% of Hispanic Catholics supported Clinton. These differences persist in more recent polls, with 59% of White Catholic registered voters saying they would vote for Trump or lean toward him, compared to 65% of Hispanic Catholic registered voters who preferred Biden.
Catholics' voting decisions are often influenced by their alignment with specific policy issues rather than the teachings of their church. For example, on the issue of abortion, Catholic Democrats and Republicans hold opposing views, with 77% of Catholic Democrats supporting legal abortion and 63% of Catholic Republicans opposing it. Similarly, on immigration, 91% of Catholic Democrats oppose expanding the wall along the US-Mexico border, while 81% of Catholic Republicans favor it. These differences reflect the broader political polarization among the American public, where Catholics seek a president who leads a moral and ethical life rather than one who shares their religious beliefs.
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Catholic voters' choices are influenced by candidates' views on specific issues
Catholics make up about one-fifth of the US population and represent one of the country's largest and most diverse religious groups. While Catholic voters in the US are split down the middle politically, with roughly half identifying as Republicans and the other half as Democrats, their voting choices are influenced by more than just party affiliation.
Catholics are often more aligned with their political party than with the teachings of their church on specific policy issues. For example, on abortion, 77% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning Catholic adults say they think abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 63% of Republican and Republican-leaning Catholics say abortion should be illegal in all or most cases. This divide exists despite the Catholic Church’s formal opposition to abortion. Similarly, on immigration, 91% of Catholic Democrats oppose expanding the wall along the US-Mexico border, while 81% of Catholic Republicans favor it.
Race and ethnicity also play a role in influencing Catholic voters' choices. White Catholics are more likely to identify as Republicans, while Hispanic Catholics mostly identify as Democrats. In the 2020 presidential election, 54% of White Catholics approved of Trump's performance as president, while 69% of Hispanic Catholics disapproved.
Catholics are also influenced by the candidates' religiousness. In a February 2020 survey, 59% of Catholics said they thought Biden was "very" or "somewhat" religious, while only 37% said the same for Trump. Democratic Catholics (72%) were much more likely than Republican Catholics (46%) to view Biden as religious.
Ultimately, Catholic voters should be guided more by their moral convictions than by attachments to a political party or interest group. If a candidate’s position promotes an "intrinsically evil act," such as legal abortion or racist behavior, a voter may legitimately disqualify that candidate from receiving support. These decisions should consider a candidate’s commitments, character, integrity, and ability to influence a given issue.
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Frequently asked questions
54% of Catholics voted for Obama in 2008.
68% of Hispanic Catholics identify as Democrats or lean Democratic.
Catholics tend to vote for the winner, yes.
