Catholic Voters May Influence United States Midterm Elections

a bathroom with a toilet and a window — Lucas de Moura / Unsplash

Catholic voters in the United States may mobilize to limit the power of President Donald Trump during the upcoming midterm elections.

Support for the Republican Party among Catholics has declined significantly due to concerns over the war in Iran, the struggle against immigrants, and a loss of purchasing power. While nearly two thirds of practicing Catholics voted for Donald Trump in 2024, confidence in him has since collapsed. A January 2026 Pew Research Center poll found that trust in the ethics of Donald Trump fell to 34 percent among white Catholics and 14 percent among Hispanic Catholics. This decline occurred even before a public dispute between the president and Pope Leo XIV, after which a majority of American Catholics preferred the pope over the president.

If the midterm elections result in Democratic majorities in the Senate and the House of Representatives, it could allow for limits on the power of Donald Trump by blocking Republican legislative initiatives and presidential nominations. Stephen Schneck, president of Catholics for the Future, stated that the Catholic vote is crucial because it is not currently tied to either political party. He noted that Catholic voters, who represent about one third of the electorate, are undecided and feel a weariness toward Donald Trump.

Several organizations are targeting Catholic voters. Catholics for the Future is focusing on moderate white Catholics in key House districts in Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. Catholics Vote Common Good, the Catholic branch of the progressive evangelical group Vote Common Good, is reaching out to Generation Z Catholics through posters and postcard campaigns. Denise Murphy McGraw, national co-president of the group, noted that believers are concerned with international conflicts, cuts to the social safety net, and the violent repression of immigration.

Other initiatives include the See. Love. Vote project by the Advocates for Catholic Social Justice network, which works with over sixty partners to provide voter information and candidate comparisons focused on social justice. The Ignatian Solidarity Network is encouraging civic engagement among college and high school students through its Voting Is an Act of Love project, which includes prayer services and mail-in voting events.

Church leaders are also becoming involved. Bishop Daniel Garcia of Austin, Texas, issued a statement expressing the support of American bishops for the right to vote, noting concerns among communities of color regarding fair representation. Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami, who is active in supporting migrants, has urged Catholics to vote. Additionally, Catholics in Communion, which previously focused on immigrant detention centers, is now turning its attention to the midterm elections.