Aqueous cathodic electrocoating compositions, methods for preparing aqueous cathodic electrocoating compositions, and methods for electrodepositing coatings from aqueous cathodic electrocoating compositions are provided. An aqueous cathodic electrocoating composition having a binder resin and a crosslinking agent is provided. In the aqueous cathodic electrocoating composition, a bismuth-sugar solution is used to provide a catalytic amount of a bismuth compound dispersed in the electrocoating composition.