In the 2024 election, Catholic voters in the United States played a significant role in Donald Trump's unexpected landslide victory. The shift in Catholic voter support was notable, with a substantial swing towards Trump compared to the 2020 election. In 2020, Catholics were evenly split between Trump and President Joe Biden, with 50 percent supporting each candidate. However, according to exit polling data from the recent election, there was a nine-percentage-point swing in favor of Trump among Catholic voters, resulting in Trump winning the Catholic vote by a margin of 10 points.
Bill Donohue, the president of the Catholic League, attributed this shift to what he described as a rejection of Vice President Kamala Harris due to perceived animosity towards Catholics. Donohue highlighted concerns about extremism in politics and emphasized that such views were not aligned with the values of the American people.
With approximately 52 million Catholic adults in the U.S., the Catholic community represents the largest religious denomination in the country. The previous perception that Catholic voters were evenly divided between political parties has been challenged by the outcome of the recent election. Brian Burch, the president of CatholicVote, noted that the election results indicated a new trend among Catholic voters that could have implications for future elections.
Burch suggested that Republicans should pay attention to this emerging trend and adapt their strategies accordingly. The significant shift in Catholic voter support towards Trump in the 2024 election has sparked discussions about the influence of the Catholic voting bloc and its potential impact on political outcomes. As the largest religious group in the country, the Catholic community's evolving political preferences are likely to be closely monitored in future elections.
