2026 Midterms: the party platforms and Church teaching

On Tuesday, Nov. 3, the United States votes in the midterm elections. Pope Leo XIV, a U.S. citizen, has also voted by mail in Chicago. We compared, issue by issue, the two parties' official platforms with Church teaching. The most recent platforms adopted by Democrats and Republicans are the 2024 ones; where a platform is silent, we cite documented government actions. This is not voting advice: the Church does not endorse parties or candidates.

Life. On abortion, the Democratic platform aims to "restore the right to choose" in every state; the Republican platform leaves the decision to the states, by "a vote of the People", and opposes late-term abortion. The Catechism calls it gravely wrong from conception (CCC 2270-2271), and the U.S. bishops call it the "preeminent priority." On the death penalty, the 2024 Democratic platform is silent, but in 2024 Biden commuted 37 of the 40 federal death sentences; on Jan. 20, 2025, Trump signed an executive order restoring federal capital punishment. Since the 2018 revision, the Catechism calls the death penalty "inadmissible" (CCC 2267).

Migrants and the poor. Democrats propose border security and a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers; Republicans want to "seal the border" and the "largest deportation operation" in American history. The Church recognizes a nation's right to regulate entry and asks that the stranger be welcomed (CCC 2241); on Nov. 12, 2025, the U.S. bishops wrote: "We oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people." On welfare, Democrats point to the Child Tax Credit, a $15 minimum wage and paid leave; Republicans to permanent tax cuts, no tax on tips and no cuts to Social Security or Medicare. Catholic social teaching speaks of a preferential love for the poor (Compendium 182) and a just wage (CCC 2434).

Family and religious freedom. Both platforms support IVF, which the Catechism calls "morally unacceptable" (CCC 2377). Republicans invoke the "sanctity of marriage" and school choice; Democrats paid leave and child care. On religious freedom, Democrats stress free exercise for all and church-state separation, Republicans religious liberty in everyday life and a federal task force on anti-Christian bias. For the Church it is a right rooted in human dignity (Dignitatis humanae 2; CCC 2106).

Creation and peace. Democrats speak of the "climate crisis" and clean energy; Republicans of unleashing energy production "from all sources." The Church calls for care for our common home (Laudato si'; CCC 2415). On war, Democrats in 2024 backed Ukraine, NATO and a Gaza ceasefire; Republicans "peace through strength." The Catechism allows legitimate defense only under strict conditions (CCC 2309).

Artificial intelligence. Democrats propose new safety standards and privacy protection; Republicans want to repeal Biden's AI order and development "rooted in Free Speech." For the Church, AI must serve human dignity (Antiqua et nova, 2025), a theme Leo XIV has placed at the center of his pontificate.

What they say about the Pope. Politicians' reactions to Leo XIV do not always follow party lines. In April, according to Roll Call, Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin said the Pope had been "clear and within his bounds," and Sen. Peter Welch said he was with "Team Pope." On the Republican side, Donald Trump said "I'm not a big fan of Pope Leo," and Vice President JD Vance said it was "very, very important for the pope to be careful when he talks about matters of theology"; Senate Majority Leader John Thune instead asked: "Isn't that the [pope's] job?" On Sept. 30, 2025, Leo XIV had said: "Someone who says, 'I'm against abortion but I'm in favor of the death penalty,' is not really pro-life."

What we don't know. We don't know whom the Pope voted for: the ballot is secret. The 2024 platforms are the latest official ones, and not every midterm candidate shares every point.

Sources: 2024 Democratic platform (https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/2024-democratic-party-platform), 2024 Republican platform (https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/2024-republican-party-platform), Catechism of the Catholic Church, Compendium of the Social Doctrine, USCCB (https://www.usccb.org/news/2025/us-bishops-issue-special-message-immigration-plenary-assembly-baltimore), National Catholic Reporter (https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/wading-durbin-controversy-pope-leo-shows-himself-attuned-us-debates), Roll Call (https://rollcall.com/2026/04/15/theological-squabble-distracts-from-tax-day-messaging/), NBC News (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/pope-leo-requested-absentee-ballot-illinois-vote-midterms-rcna606468)

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