Catholic Voters in Swing States: The Results of the NCR Poll

Ethical Dilemmas and Signs of Hope Among Young Adults

The US election is only a week away, and according to the polls, the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is neck and neck, with the outcome likely hinging on only a few thousand votes in a small handful of swing states. As I discussed with

Paul Fahey

in a recent interview, not only is the race unbelievably close, but it also raises complex issues for Catholic voters. As Pope Francis pointed out in remarks on the election last month, Harris and Trump have staked out positions on the issues of abortion and immigration, respectively, that Catholic teaching considers “anti-life.” Trump’s involvement in the attempt on January 6, 2021 to overturn the results of the 2020 election and his efforts to undermine confidence in this year’s elections certainly ought to play a role in Catholics’ voting decisions, as well. Every four years the US Catholic bishops publish a voting guide, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, intended to help Catholic voters think through the issues facing the country in light of our faith. As Fahey and I discussed, however, despite the document’s real strengths, it doesn’t really prepare Catholics for our current political moment.

Earlier this month, the National Catholic Reporter released the results of a poll of Catholic voters in seven swing states (Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin). Since the poll only includes Catholics in those seven states, its results are not necessarily representative of US Catholic voters as a whole. Still, the results of the poll demonstrate the failure of the bishops to persuade, or even to reach, many Catholic voters, although they also show signs of hope among younger Catholics. The poll’s findings on young adult Catholics are quite interesting, so be sure to read to the end!