Staff Reports
Catholic voters have once again flexed their political muscle, ensuring President-elect Donald Trump’s triumph in the 2024 election. By leveraging their substantial voter block, this devout demographic offered Trump an impressive 18-point lead over his opponent. With approximately one-quarter of the electorate arising from Catholic ranks, the early exit polls reveal a testament to Trump’s ability to resonate with these voters, much to the chagrin of Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.
Harris found herself in hot water as Catholic voters remained unimpressed with her unabashed support for abortion and her less-than-friendly comments regarding their faith. Unlike Biden’s 2020 campaign, where he could claim a cohesive identity with some Catholic voters, Harris struggled with this connection. Insights shared by the founder of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, who commented on the political landscape, indicated that Harris’ lack of religious affiliation made it hard for her to garner support from a group that traditionally prizes shared values.
‘Numbers are shocking’: Catholic voters played key role in sinking Kamala Harris’ presidential bid https://t.co/eYNn5JntqY
— BPR (@BIZPACReview) November 7, 2024
In 2020, Biden managed to maintain some favor among Catholics, winning in a narrow margin of 52 to 47, but that stronghold has disintegrated in 2024 amid changing tides. With a team composed of neither Harris nor her running mate Tim Walz identifying as Catholic, the Democrats put themselves at a disadvantage. Enter Trump’s Catholic running mate J.D. Vance, who undoubtedly served as an asset to rally the faithful.
The Democratic party seems to have forgotten that faith matters, especially to voters who practice it regularly. Reliably Republican, the Protestant and evangelical communities did not hesitate to back Trump with a robust 63 to 36 margin. This mirrored sentiment extends beyond mere political policies, as Harris’ tepid approach to Israel amid the war in Gaza drew ire, contrasting sharply with the GOP’s strong stance on defending religious liberties that many voters uphold.
Voters were also reminded of Biden’s complicated relationship with Catholicism, marked by incidents such as being denied Holy Communion due to his pro-abortion stance. Biden’s administration, meanwhile, has been criticized for its spending on facilitating military members to obtain abortions – a move that has caused many practicing Catholics to rethink their allegiance. Additionally, the Biden administration’s attempts to force religious institutions to undergo radical reforms, like requiring them to perform transgender surgeries, have rubbed the devout the wrong way.
The backlash against Harris’ apparent disrespect for Catholic values didn’t stop there. Her choice to skip the Al Smith charity dinner, an occasion spotlighting charity for children, caused eyebrows to raise, especially since this marked the first time a major party candidate had snubbed the dinner since the 1984 election cycle when Mondale took a beating from Ronald Reagan. The decisions made by Harris and the Democratic party seem to be a textbook case of how not to connect with a critical voting bloc. The voter data is not just shocking; it points to a seismic shift in Catholic support that could spell doom for Democrats if they don’t mend their ways.
