Ethan Walker
In the 2024 election, former President Donald Trump received the majority of the Christian vote, with about 80% of his voters identifying as Christian. Among Catholic voters, Trump's support increased compared to the 2020 election. According to various polls and studies, Trump won between 52% and 56% of the Catholic vote, with some sources placing that number as high as 70%. This increase in support among Catholic voters was influenced by various factors, including abortion rights, immigration, and economic concerns.
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What You'll Learn
Trump's improved performance among Catholic voters in 2024
In the 2024 election, Donald Trump improved his performance among Catholic voters, with about 22% of those who voted casting their ballots for him being Catholic. This was an increase from 2020, when the Catholic electorate was almost evenly split between Trump and Joe Biden. Trump's improved performance among Catholics in 2024 was driven by a combination of factors, including gains among Latino and white Catholic voters, as well as those who prioritized social issues such as abortion and immigration.
According to a survey by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), a large portion of Trump's improved performance among Catholics came from Latino voters, with a smaller portion coming from white voters. Trump's support from Latino Catholic voters was significantly higher than that of previous Republican nominees. This shift among Latino Catholics was also evident in the narrowing of Harris' margin of victory within this demographic compared to Biden in 2020, suggesting a notable change in voting preferences over a short period.
Trump's performance among white Catholics also improved in 2024. According to the PRRI survey, Trump won 59% of the white Catholic vote, compared to Harris' 39%. This represented a five-point increase in Trump's margin of victory within this demographic since the 2020 election. Trump's gains among white Catholics contributed to his improved performance among Catholic voters overall.
Beyond ethnic divisions, Trump's improved performance among Catholic voters in 2024 was influenced by social issues. Some conservative Catholics opposed Harris due to the Democratic Party's support for abortion rights, while others criticized Trump's stance on immigration and social justice issues. Trump's stance on abortion appealed to many Catholic voters, with 90% of those who believe abortion should be illegal in all or most cases voting for him. Additionally, Trump's campaign message on immigration and his promise of mass deportations resonated with some Catholic voters, despite concerns about family separation and community destabilization.
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Catholic voters' views on abortion
In the 2024 election, about 22% of those who voted for Donald Trump were Catholic. Trump received the majority of the Christian vote—about 80% of his voters identified as Christian. Trump's victory was boosted by his increased support among Catholic voters. In 2020, the Catholic vote was almost evenly split between Trump and Biden, but in 2024, Trump received 54-56% of the Catholic vote, with 44-45% voting for Harris.
Some conservative Catholics opposed Harris due to the Democratic Party's staunch support for abortion rights. Kristan Hawkins, a Catholic convert and president of Students for Life of America, was disappointed in Trump's preference for state-by-state abortion laws rather than a national ban, but still supported him. She said, "My choice, either way, is voting for a sinner... You vote for the person who will limit the amount of evil in the world." Hawkins also stated that Harris, an outspoken supporter of abortion rights, "is not going to be a friend to American Catholics."
On the other hand, some more liberal Catholics were opposed to Trump due to his demonization of migrants and disinterest in social justice issues. The Rev. Sam Sawyer, editor-in-chief of the Jesuit news magazine America, wrote, "Mr. Trump campaigned on the promise of mass deportations, which would tear families apart and destabilize communities across the country... Our immigrant brothers and sisters will need voices raised up in their defense, and the Catholic Church especially must be a champion of solidarity with them."
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Catholic voters' views on immigration
In the 2024 election, about 22% of those who voted for Donald Trump were Catholic. Trump received the majority of the Christian vote—about 80% of his voters identified as Christian. A large portion of Trump's improved performance among Catholics came from Latino voters, while a smaller part came from white voters.
Catholic voters are divided on immigration. While the Catholic Church has clear teachings on immigration, only 19% of Catholics say that their faith informs their opinions on immigration "very much." A survey of 1,342 self-identified Catholics conducted in December 2023 found that 43% said that current immigration levels should be decreased, 23% said they should be increased, and 34% said they should remain the same. Older Catholic Republicans tended to view immigration more negatively, while younger Democrats were more likely to see it as having a positive impact or making little difference.
Some conservative Catholics opposed Kamala Harris due to the Democratic Party's support for abortion rights and supported Trump despite his stance on immigration. Trump campaigned on the promise of mass deportations, which many Catholics saw as inhumane and contrary to Catholic social teaching. However, other Catholics supported Trump's stance on immigration, believing that it is not inconsistent with Catholic doctrine to enforce immigration laws and control borders.
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Catholic voters' views on the economy
According to various sources, Catholic voters in the United States make up a significant portion of the electorate and have diverse political views. In the 2024 election, about 22% of those who voted for Donald Trump were Catholic, with 55% of Catholic voters casting their vote for him. This marks an increase in support for Trump among Catholic voters compared to his 2020 campaign, where he received 50% of the Catholic vote.
When it comes to Catholic voters' views on the economy, there are a few key perspectives to consider. Firstly, Catholic voters have historically been concerned with labour issues and improving the economic status of workers. In the 1930s, priests encouraged parishioners to join unions, and some even served on regional labour boards. This tradition continued with the Catholic Worker Movement, which sought to put Catholic social teaching into action.
In recent years, Catholic voters in battleground states have identified the economy as the most important issue influencing their vote. In a poll, three out of four respondents cited the economy as their top priority. This preference for economic issues may be influenced by Catholic social teaching, which emphasizes the dignity of work and the importance of just wages.
Additionally, Catholic voters' views on the role of government in the economy may vary. Some Catholic voters, like Jason O'Connell, prefer less government intervention and a more capitalist economy. They believe that the government should not have too much influence on economic matters. However, Catholic voters have also supported government intervention to promote social reform and improve workers' rights.
It is worth noting that Catholic voters' views on the economy may be influenced by their other priorities, such as immigration, abortion, and national security. These issues often intersect with economic policies, and Catholic voters may weigh these factors together when making their voting decisions.
In conclusion, while Catholic voters in the United States may have diverse economic views, they consistently identify the economy as a critical issue. Their perspectives are shaped by a combination of religious values, social teachings, and personal beliefs, resulting in a range of opinions on the role of government and the importance of economic issues in elections.
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Catholic voters' views on socialism
In the 2024 election, about 22% of those who voted for Donald Trump were Catholic. This was an increase from the 2020 election, where the Catholic vote was almost evenly split between Trump and Biden. In 2024, Trump won the Catholic vote by a 15-point margin according to the Washington Post, and by a smaller 7-point margin according to AP VoteCast.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, promulgated by Pope John Paul II, states that the Church rejects "the totalitarian and atheistic ideologies associated in modern times with 'communism' or 'socialism.'" This stance is further reinforced by Pope Pius XI's declaration that "religious socialism, Christian socialism, are contradictory terms; no one can be at the same time a good Catholic and a true socialist."
However, it is important to note that there have been differing interpretations within Catholicism. Some Catholic theologians and scholars have explored the potential compatibility between Catholicism and socialism, particularly through movements like liberation theology, which synthesizes Christian theology with Marxian socio-economic analysis. Additionally, some Catholics have advocated for a form of "democratic socialism," believing that it aligns with Catholic social teaching by prioritizing the poor and the right of laborers to form unions.
In summary, while Catholic voters may hold varying perspectives on socialism, the official position of the Catholic Church has traditionally been skeptical of socialist ideologies due to their perceived incompatibility with Catholic doctrine and values.
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Frequently asked questions
22% of Trump voters in the 2024 election were Catholic.
In 2020, Catholics were almost evenly split between Trump and Biden, with 50% backing Trump and 49% favoring Biden.
Catholic voters were divided over various volatile social issues. Some conservative Catholics opposed Harris due to the Democratic Party's support for abortion rights, while some more liberal Catholics were put off by Trump's views on immigration and social justice issues.
Yes, Trump won the Catholic vote by a large margin. According to different polls, Trump won 52-56% of the Catholic vote, compared to 41-45% for Harris.
