Survey: White evangelicals backed Trump
President, Biden split Catholic vote, AP VoteCast says
who favor the Republican agenda, Burge said.
Among voters with no religious affiliation, Biden took 72% while Trump took 26%. And VoteCast found several other religious voting blocs going overwhelmingly for Biden, WASHINGTON — Preslargely in line with their ident Donald Trump won previous preference for support from about 8 in 10 Democrats. white evangelical Christian Jewish voters made up voters in his race for reelec3% of the electorate and tion, but Catholic voters went overwhelmingly for split almost evenly beBiden, with 68% backing tween him and Democratic the Democrat compared opponent Joe Biden, a lifewith 31% backing Trump. long member of the faith, Among Muslim voters, according to AP VoteCast. 64% supported Biden and
Trump’s hold on white 35% supported Trump. In a evangelical voters illus2017 survey from Pew Retrates the GOP’s enduring search Center, about twosuccess with a bloc of thirds of U.S. Muslims religious conservatives identified as Democratic or who have been a linchpin leaned to the Democratic of the president’s political Party. base since his 2016 victory. One bright spot for
AP VoteCast showed Trump among religious 50% of Catholics backing port for abortion rights, 2016 did.” “The election results Catholics weren’t the voters was his performance Trump and 49% favoring while Biden backers said Michael New, an aborshow that the Catholic only religious group vocally among The Church of JeBiden, reflecting the faith’s Trump is too divisive and tion opponent who teaches Church is as divided as our courted by the Biden camsus Christ of Latter-day longstanding role as a has failed to elevate social social research at Catholic nation, but the real divide is paign, which also sought to Saints members. In 2016, closely contested vote in justice issues that are part University of America, said race and ethnicity, not thecut into Trump’s advantage Trump won the state of presidential elections — of Catholic teaching. Trump’s opposition to ology,” said David Gibson, with certain segments of Utah — with its sizable particularly in Rust Belt Michael Wear, a past abortion likely attracted director of Fordham Unithe white evangelical elecpopulation of church membattleground states such as faith adviser to former some Catholic voters even versity’s Center on Religion torate. Yet the president’s bers — with less than 50% Michigan and Wisconsin. President Barack Obama, if they disagreed with him and Culture. commanding performance support as third-party canTrump won both of those said he saw signs that the on other issues. He said the gap between with that bloc raises quesdidate Evan McMullin, a states by less than 1 perBiden campaign’s focused This year, Catholic votthe white Catholic vote for tions about whether future church member himself, centage point in 2016, but outreach to religious voters ers accounted for 22% of Trump and the Latino vote Democratic campaigns won more than 20% of the Biden prevailed in both this had paid off. the electorate, and there for Biden poses a challenge would make similar efforts. vote. year. Biden, the presumptive was a sharp rift within their for church leaders, espeRyan Burge, a political While 67% of members
The survey of more than president-elect, would be ranks by race and ethnicity. cially if the Republican scientist at Eastern Illinois of the faith voted for Re110,000 voters nationwide just the second Catholic Among white Catholics, Party continues to woo University who focuses on publicans in the 2018 was conducted for The president after John F. 57% backed Trump and white voters with anti-imreligious voting patterns, midterms, according to Associated Press by NORC Kennedy. 42% backed Biden, accordmigrant rhetoric. said white evangelicals “are VoteCast, only 56% said at the University of Chi“Biden’s political aping to VoteCast. In 2016, “If the Republican Party as red as red can get” and then that they approved of cago. proach has been vindicated Trump won 64% of white continues to try to amplify suggested that future Trump’s handling of his job.Aheadoftheelection,intheseresults,”saidWear,CatholicsandClintonwoncallstowhitegrievanceandDemocratichopefulspay the rival campaigns tarwho helped lead a biparti31%, according to a Pew fear of immigrants in order more attention to white But this year, with no geted Catholics with fersan super PAC this fall that Research Center analysis of to rally the white Catholic Catholics and Hispanic third-party candidate on vent appeals to vote based aimed to undercut Trump’s voters. vote, that could create furevangelicals. the ballot, Trump got the on their faith. Trump supChristian support. “He ran Among Hispanic Cathother problems for the Cath“There’s no way to peel backing of 71% of Latterporters said faithful Cathobecause he believed he lics, VoteCast shows 67% olic Church itself as it seeks anybody off, because day Saints nationwide, lics should not vote for would not lose the Rust backed Biden and 32% unity,” Gibson said via there’s no wedge there” while 24% supported BidBiden because of his sup- Belt, when the nominee in backed Trump. email. among white evangelicals en.