Americans overwhelmingly support pro-life pregnancy centers: Poll

Years of Democratic attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers have failed to put a dent in their popularity, as evidenced by a newly released survey.

The 2026 Knights of Columbus-Marist Poll found that backing for the centers is an 80/20 issue: Fully 84% of U.S. adults said they “support” or “strongly support” the facilities, which provide free goods and services before and after pregnancy, but do not refer clients for abortions.

The annual poll commissioned by the Catholic men’s organization tracking U.S. attitudes on abortion and related issues was released Thursday, a day ahead of the National March for Life.

The survey had both encouraging and worrisome findings for pro-life advocates. Polling showed 67% favor legal limits on abortion access, as opposed to 32% who said that abortion should be available to a woman “any time she wants one during her entire pregnancy.”

That hefty two-thirds majority in favor of restrictions came with a caveat. The 32% cohort who believe in no-limits abortion represents the largest percentage since the poll began asking the question in 2008.

Just 8% were in favor of no gestational limits on abortion in 2008, a figure that had climbed by 2025 to 27%, as shown in the poll’s crosstabs.

Of those who support restrictions, 20% favored limiting abortion to the first three months of pregnancy, while 21% said the procedure should only be allowed in cases of rape, incest and to save the life of the mother.

The poll also found that 63% agree that healthcare workers with religious objections to abortion should not be required to perform them, and 88% believe it is possible to have laws that “protect both the health and well-being of a woman and the life of the unborn.”

A majority of respondents continue to oppose public funding for abortion. The poll found 54% opposed taxpayer dollars being used to cover abortion, while 70% were against U.S. funding for abortions in other countries.

The Food and Drug Administration abolished the requirement for an in-person medical visit before dispensing the at-home abortion pill in 2021, yet 59% of those surveyed said such a visit should be compulsory.

Barbara Carvalho, director of the Marist Poll, said the polling showed that views on abortion have remained consistent since the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson, which overturned Roe v. Wade and sent decision-making on abortion to the states.

“Once again, most Americans are steadfast in their belief that abortion should be significantly limited, yet laws should include exceptions for rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother,” said Ms. Carvalho in a statement. “This clear trend found in the annual Knights of Columbus-Marist Poll has continued, nearly two years after the Supreme Court’s landmark Dobbs decision.”

Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly said he was encouraged by the strong support for pro-life pregnancy centers.

“The Knights of Columbus-Marist Poll continues to show that a majority of Americans support legal restrictions on abortion,” he said. “At the same time, a growing majority support pregnancy resource centers, which provide assistance to mothers and their children in their time of greatest need.”

The national survey of 1,408 adults was conducted Jan. 12-13, with data balanced to ensure a representative sample by region, age, gender, education, income and race/ethnicity. The results are statistically significant within +/-3.3%

The National March for Life is scheduled to begin with a rally and concert at 11 a.m. EST Friday on the National Mall, followed by a march to the Supreme Court.

Headlining the rally are Vice President J.D. Vance, who spoke in person at last year’s event, and House Speaker Mike Johnson.