Catholic voters were critical to Donald Trump’s blowout victory: ‘Harris snubbed us’
Catholic voters across the country played a pivotal role in Donald Trump’s surprise blowout victory in the 2024 election. In a massive swing from the 2020 election, where Catholics were evenly split between Trump and Biden, the former president managed to win over a significant majority of Catholic voters.
According to exit polling collected by Fox News, Trump saw a nine percentage point swing in his favor among Catholic voters, ultimately winning them by a 10-point margin. This shift was a crucial factor in his victory, as Catholics make up the largest religious denomination in the U.S. with approximately 52 million adult adherents.
Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, attributed this swing to a rejection of Vice President Kamala Harris, whom he accused of displaying a clear animus against Catholics. He pointed to Harris’ association with extremism and hostility towards people of faith as key reasons for her rejection by Catholic voters.
CatholicVote, a conservative activism group, played a significant role in mobilizing Catholic voters for Trump. The group issued its first presidential endorsement in history for Trump and invested heavily in advertising, education, and canvassing efforts targeting Catholic voters in critical swing states.
Brian Burch, president of CatholicVote, highlighted the emerging electoral trend among Catholic voters and emphasized the growing influence of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, which he claimed is openly hostile to people of faith. He noted that Trump’s message of improving the economy and restoring law and order resonated with working-class Catholics who felt left behind by their government.
In key swing states like Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan, and Wisconsin, Catholic voters overwhelmingly favored Trump, delivering critical electoral votes to the former president. The CatholicVote memo pointed to specific moments in the campaign where Harris lost the Catholic vote, including her dismissive response to protestors shouting “Jesus is Lord” and her opposition to religious exemptions for doctors providing abortions.
Burch described a new synthesis of populist social justice and America-first economic policies that resonated with everyday Catholics, ultimately leading to Trump’s victory. He emphasized the importance of the Catholic vote and his close communication with Trump’s policy advisors on issues important to Catholic families.
In conclusion, the 2024 election demonstrated the significant impact of Catholic voters in determining the outcome, with their overwhelming support for Trump proving decisive in his victory. The rejection of Harris and the embrace of Trump’s policies by Catholic voters underscored the shifting dynamics within the Catholic electorate and the growing influence of faith-based considerations in political decision-making.
