Democrats made shocking gains with religious voters — but not everywhere

The 2026 midterms appear to have unsettled long-standing patterns in how Americans vote by religion. Catholics shifted sharply towards Democrats after backing Donald Trump in 2024, while religious voters also contributed to a broader Democratic coalition; the changes could make some groups more politically competitive.

The article says the results are early and incomplete, and a historic Democratic wave makes it difficult to separate religious identity from factors such as race, class and views on affordability or immigration. Exit polls put Catholic support for Trump at 59 per cent in 2024, compared with 39 per cent for his opponent; in 2026, Catholics swung left by more than 20 points. Jewish voters remained strongly Democratic overall, though some signs pointed to lower support, while evangelical turnout appeared weaker.