Palgrave Studies in Religion, Politics, and Policy

This book examines the evolution of the Catholic vote in the US and the role of Catholic voters in the 2024 national elections. There is a paucity of academic books on Catholic voters, even though they comprise nearly one-quarter of the US national popular vote (known as the “swing vote”). Understanding the intersection of religion, politics, and election outcomes in the US requires an analysis of the role played by Catholics. Catholic voters had a powerful influence on the re-election of Donald Trump and this volume untangles how the swing vote swung Right in 2024.The key topics are whether Trump’s Catholic outreach and commitment to social issues were key to his achieving a majority of the Catholic vote; the role of the Catholic bishops in US elections; the important role of the Catholic Latino vote in US elections; the conservative Catholic and evangelical alliance in US politics; and the distinctive politics of social justice Catholics and socially conservative Catholics.