Vice President Kamala Harris is encountering significant backlash from Catholic voters, a demographic crucial to electoral success, following years of perceived hostility. According to GOP strategist Ryan Girdusky, Harris is polling worse among Catholics than President Joe Biden, with a recent Pew Research Center survey indicating only 47% support for Harris compared to 52% for former President Donald Trump.
The Catholic vote, representing the largest single church in America, is particularly influential in battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Michigan, where Catholic populations range from 18% to 25%. Harris's decision to skip the Archdiocese of New York's annual Al Smith Dinner, a traditional event for presidential candidates, has further fueled disappointment among Catholic leaders, including Timothy Cardinal Dolan.
Harris's contentious relationship with Catholicism has roots in her Senate tenure, where she questioned judicial nominees about their affiliations with the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic organization. This scrutiny has drawn criticism from Republican senators, who argue that it reflects a broader trend of targeting traditional Catholic values.
Reports from the House Judiciary Committee allege that the Biden-Harris administration has weaponized federal law enforcement against pro-life and pro-family Catholics, raising concerns about the treatment of religious beliefs in political discourse. Chad C. Pecknold, a professor at The Catholic University of America, suggests that this conflict illustrates a deeper ideological divide within the Democratic Party regarding Catholic teachings.
The implications of this rift could be significant as the 2024 presidential election approaches, with Catholic voters likely to play a pivotal role in determining the outcome.