The Catholic vote seems to be leaning towards former President Donald Trump as Vice President Kamala Harris competes for support from various key demographics.
According to a survey conducted by the National Catholic Reporter, Catholic voters in battleground states such as Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin are leaning towards Trump, with 50% supporting him compared to 45% for Harris.
In the 2020 election, Trump managed to secure a narrow victory over President Joe Biden, who is also Catholic, in terms of the Catholic vote nationwide, with a margin of 50% to 49%, as reported by the Pew Research Center.
According to the survey, Trump is currently ahead of Harris among Catholic voters in several states. Trump leads in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, while Harris leads in Nevada and Pennsylvania.
The largest lead for Trump is in Wisconsin with a 57% to 39% advantage. On the other hand, the margins are much narrower in North Carolina where Trump leads by 47% to 46%, and in Pennsylvania where Harris leads by 49% to 48%.
According to Pew, approximately a quarter of adults in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Nevada are Catholics, while in Arizona and Michigan, almost a fifth of adults identify as Catholic.
However, in North Carolina and Georgia, only 9% of adults are Catholic. Recognizing the significance of this sizable group, both campaigns have made efforts to appeal to Catholic voters by establishing their own dedicated groups.
In terms of racial groups, Trump maintains a strong advantage over Harris among white Catholics, leading with 56% to 40%. However, Harris holds a significant lead over Trump among Hispanic Catholics, with 67% to 28%.
In a recent statement, Pope Francis expressed his uncertainty regarding the two presidential candidates, Trump and Harris, stating that he does not know which of them could be considered the “lesser of two evils.”
The Pope emphasized that both candidates hold positions that are opposed to life, citing Trump’s immigration policies and Harris’s stance on abortion.
Both candidates identify as Christians, but neither of them identifies as Catholic. In 2020, Trump stated that he is nondenominational, having previously identified as Presbyterian for many years. On the other hand, Harris has stated that she is Baptist.