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Today, most Irish Catholic politicians are associated with the Democratic Party, although some have become Republican leaders, such as former GOP national chairman [[Ed Gillespie]], New York Congressman [[Peter T. King]] and retired Illinois Congressman [[Henry Hyde]].   

Today, most Irish Catholic politicians are associated with the Democratic Party, although some have become Republican leaders, such as former GOP national chairman [[Ed Gillespie]], New York Congressman [[Peter T. King]] and retired Illinois Congressman [[Henry Hyde]].   

Historically, Irish Catholics controlled many city machines and often served as chairmen of the Democratic National Committee, including [[County Monaghan]] native [[Thomas Taggart]], Vance McCormick, [[James Farley]], [[Edward J. Flynn]], [[Robert E. Hannegan]], [[J. Howard McGrath]], William H. Boyle, Jr., [[John Moran Bailey]], [[Larry O'Brien]], [[Christopher J. Dodd]], and [[Terry McAuliffe]]. The majority of Irish Catholics in Congress are Democrats; currently [[Susan Collins]] of Maine is the only Irish Catholic Republican senator.  

Historically, Irish Catholics controlled many city machines and often served as chairmen of the Democratic National Committee, including [[County Monaghan]] native [[Thomas Taggart]], Vance McCormick, [[James Farley]], [[Edward J. Flynn]], [[Robert E. Hannegan]], [[J. Howard McGrath]], William H. Boyle, Jr., [[John Moran Bailey]], [[Larry O'Brien]], [[Christopher Dodd]], and [[Terry McAuliffe]]. The majority of Irish Catholics in Congress are Democrats; currently [[Susan Collins]] of Maine is the only Irish Catholic Republican senator.  

Exit polls show that in recent presidential elections Irish Catholics have split about 50-50 for Democratic and Republican candidates; large majorities voted for Ronald Reagan.<ref>[George J. Marlin, ''The American Catholic Voter'' (2004), pp 296-345</ref> The pro-life silent majority in the Democratic party includes many Irish Catholic politicians, such as senator [[Bob Casey, Jr.]], who defeated Senator [[Rick Santorum]] in a high visibility race in Pennsylvania in 2006. <ref>Prendergast, William B. ''The Catholic Voter in American Politics: The Passing of the Democratic Monolith'' (1999)</ref>

Exit polls show that in recent presidential elections Irish Catholics have split about 50-50 for Democratic and Republican candidates; large majorities voted for Ronald Reagan.<ref>[George J. Marlin, ''The American Catholic Voter'' (2004), pp 296-345</ref> The pro-life silent majority in the Democratic party includes many Irish Catholic politicians, such as senator [[Bob Casey, Jr.]], who defeated Senator [[Rick Santorum]] in a high visibility race in Pennsylvania in 2006. <ref>Prendergast, William B. ''The Catholic Voter in American Politics: The Passing of the Democratic Monolith'' (1999)</ref>

Many major cities have elected Irish Catholic mayors. [[Chicago]], [[Boston]], and [[Jersey City]] have breen especially prominent. New York City has had at least three Irish-born mayors and over eight Irish Catholic mayors. The most recent one was [[County Mayo]] native [[William O'Dwyer]], elected in 1949.

Many major cities have elected Irish Catholic mayors. [[Chicago]], [[Boston]], and [[Jersey City]] have breen especially prominent. New York City has had at least three Irish-born mayors and over eight Irish Catholic mayors. The most recent one was [[County Mayo]] native [[William O'Dwyer]], elected in 1949.

 

===Catholic Church===

===Catholic Church===

By the 1890s the Irish largely controlled the Catholic Church in the U.S. Most bishops and college presidents were Irish.  Sometimes this involved battling other ethnic groups, such as the Germans (who outnumbered the Irish), the Poles and the French Canadians.<ref>  The Poles grew so angry that a minority faction in 1897 split off from the Roman Catholic Church and set up the Polish National Catholic Church in America, which today has about 150,000 members.</ref>

By the 1890s the Irish largely controlled the Catholic Church in the U.S. Most bishops and college presidents were Irish.  Sometimes this involved battling other ethnic groups, such as the Germans (who outnumbered the Irish), the Poles and the French Canadians.<ref>  The Poles grew so angry that a minority faction in 1897 split off from the Roman Catholic Church and set up the Polish National Catholic Church in America, which today has about 150,000 members.</ref>