Editing Democratic Party (United States)

{{Short description|American political party}}
{{for|the 1792–1834 party|Democratic-Republican Party}}
{{pp-dispute|small=yes}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{pp-move}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox political party
| name             = Democratic Party
| logo             = US_Democratic_Party_Logo.svg
| symbol           = [[File:Democratic Disc.svg|100px]]
| logo_alt         = A blue circle with a capital "D" inside
| colorcode        = {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}<!-- Please DO NOT change or remove. Thank you. -->
| chairperson      = [[Jaime Harrison]]
| governing_body   = [[Democratic National Committee]]<ref>{{cite news |title=About the Democratic Party |url=https://democrats.org/who-we-are/about-the-democratic-party/ |newspaper=Democrats|date=March 4, 2019|access-date=April 15, 2022 |quote=For 171 years, [the Democratic National Committee] has been responsible for governing the Democratic Party |archive-date=April 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406235005/https://democrats.org/who-we-are/about-the-democratic-party/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=Democratic Party |title=The Charter & The Bylaws of the Democratic Party of the United States |url=https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/DNC-Charter-Bylaws-03.12.2022.pdf#page=5 |access-date=April 15, 2022 |page=3 |date=March 12, 2022 |quote=The Democratic National Committee shall have general responsibility for the affairs of the Democratic Party between National Conventions |archive-date=March 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327022920/https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/DNC-Charter-Bylaws-03.12.2022.pdf#page=5 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| leader1_title    = [[U.S. President]]
| leader1_name     = [[Joe Biden]]
| leader2_title    = [[U.S. Vice President]]
| leader2_name     = [[Kamala Harris]]
| leader3_title    = [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Senate Minority Leader]]
| leader3_name     = [[Chuck Schumer]]
| leader4_title    = [[Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives|House Minority Leader]]
| leader4_name     = [[Hakeem Jeffries]]
| founders         = {{plainlist|
* [[Andrew Jackson]]
* [[Martin Van Buren]]
}}
| founded          = {{start date and age|1828|1|8}}<ref>{{cite book |title=Jacksonian Democracy in New Hampshire, 1800–1851 |last=Cole |first=Donald B. |date=1970 |publisher=Harvard University Press |page=69 |isbn=978-0-67-428368-8}}</ref><br />{{nowrap|[[Baltimore|Baltimore, Maryland]], U.S.}}
| predecessor      = [[Democratic-Republican Party]]
| headquarters     = 430 [[South Capitol Street|South Capitol St.]] SE,<br />Washington, D.C., U.S.
| student_wing     = {{ubl|[[High School Democrats of America]]|[[College Democrats of America]]}}
| youth_wing       = [[Young Democrats of America]]
| womens_wing      = [[National Federation of Democratic Women]]
| wing2_title      = Overseas wing
| wing2            = [[Democrats Abroad]]
| ideology         = <!-- Do not change without consensus at talk page. -->
{{unbulleted list|class=nowrap|
 |'''Majority:'''
 | [[Modern liberalism in the United States|Liberalism]]<ref name="sarnold" /><ref name="Harry Enten"/><!-- Concise list of factions below. -->
 |'''[[Factions in the Democratic Party (United States)|Factions]]:'''
 | [[Centrism]]<ref name="Bacon">{{Cite news|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-six-wings-of-the-democratic-party/|title=The Six Wings Of The Democratic Party|first=Perry Jr.|last=Bacon|work=[[FiveThirtyEight]]|date=March 11, 2019|access-date=October 21, 2021|archive-date=August 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815092648/https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-six-wings-of-the-democratic-party/|url-status=live}}</ref>
 | [[Progressivism in the United States|Progressivism]]<ref name="SteinCornwellTanfani2018">{{Cite news |last1=Stein |first1=Letita |last2=Cornwell |first2=Susan |last3 =Tanfani |first3 =Joseph |date=August 23, 2018 |title=Inside the progressive movement roiling the Democratic Party |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-progressives-specialrepo/inside-the-progressive-movement-roiling-the-democratic-party-idUSKCN1L81GI |access-date=June 13, 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220613163545/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-progressives-specialrepo/inside-the-progressive-movement-roiling-the-democratic-party-idUSKCN1L81GI|archive-date=June 13, 2022}}</ref>

<!-- Do not add socialism or democratic socialism as per multiple talk page discussions. -->
 }}
| position         = [[Centre-left politics|Center-left]]{{cref|A}}{{refn|
<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Rae |first1=Nicol C. |date=June 2007 |title=Be Careful What You Wish For: The Rise of Responsible Parties in American National Politics |journal=Annual Review of Political Science | publisher=[[Annual Reviews (publisher)|Annual Reviews]] |language=en |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=169–191 |doi=10.1146/annurev.polisci.10.071105.100750 |issn=1094-2939 |quote=What are we to make of American parties at the dawn of the twenty-first century? ... The impact of the 1960s civil rights revolution has been to create two more ideologically coherent parties: a generally liberal or center-left party and a conservative party.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Cronin|first1=James E.|last2=Ross|first2=George W.|last3=Shoch|first3=James|date=August 24, 2011|title=What's Left of the Left: Democrats and Social Democrats in Challenging Times|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9O15MzNKMuoC|chapter=Introduction: The New World of the Center-Left|publisher=[[Duke University Press]]|isbn=978-0-8223-5079-8|quote-pages=17, 22, 182|quote=Including the American Democratic Party in a comparative analysis of center-left parties is unorthodox, since unlike Europe, America has not produced a socialist movement tied to a strong union movement. Yet the Democrats may have become center-left before anyone else, obliged by their different historical trajectory to build complex alliances with social groups other than the working class and to deal with unusually powerful capitalists ... Taken together, the three chapters devoted to the United States show that the center-left in America faces much the same set of problems as elsewhere and, especially in light of the election results from 2008, that the Democratic Party's potential to win elections, despite its current slide in approval, may be at least equal to that of any center-left party in Europe ... Despite the setback in the 2010 midterms, together the foregoing trends have put the Democrats in a position to eventually build a dominant center-left majority in the United States.|access-date=August 7, 2024|archive-date=August 20, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240820005545/https://books.google.com/books?id=9O15MzNKMuoC|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=https://digitalcommons.law.uga.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2192&context=fac_artchop |last=Bruner |first=Christopher |title=Center-Left Politics and Corporate Governance: What Is the 'Progressive' Agenda? |journal=[[Brigham Young University Law Review]] |date=January 1, 2018|pages=267–338|quote=While these dynamics have remained have remained important to the Democratic Party's electoral strategy since the 1990s, the finance-driven coalition described above remains high controverisal and unstable, reflecting the fact that core intellectual and ideological tensions in the platform of the U.S. center-left persist.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hacker |first1=Jacob S. |last2=Malpas |first2=Amelia |last3=Pierson |first3=Paul |last4=Zacher |first4=Sam |date=December 27, 2023 |title=Bridging the Blue Divide: The Democrats' New Metro Coalition and the Unexpected Prominence of Redistribution |journal=[[Perspectives on Politics]] |volume=22 |issue=3 | publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] on behalf of the [[American Political Science Association]] |language=en |doi=10.1017/S1537592723002931 |issn=1537-5927 |page=3|quote=We conclude by considering why Democrats have taken this course, why they are not perceived as having done so, and why, at this fraught juncture for American democratic capitalism, political scientists could learn much from closer examination of the rich world's largest center-left party.|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name="Polarization of the Rich: The New Democratic Allegiance of Affluent Americans and the Politics of Redistribution">{{cite journal |last1=Zacher |first1=Sam |title=Polarization of the Rich: The New Democratic Allegiance of Affluent Americans and the Politics of Redistribution |journal=[[Perspectives on Politics]] |date=June 2024 |volume=22 |issue=2 |pages=338–356 |doi=10.1017/S1537592722003310 |quote=It is clear that the Democratic Party—the center-left United States political party—does enact some forms of a redistributive economic policy agenda.|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="What Today's Working Class Wants from Political Leaders">{{cite journal |last1=Galston |first1=Willim |title=What Today's Working Class Wants from Political Leaders |journal=International Journal of Comparative Studies in International Relations and Development |date=November 30, 2023 |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=105–109 |doi=10.48028/iiprds/ijcsird.v9.i1.07 |quote=The exit of the working class from the Democratic Party is a long saga that began in the late 1960s and culminated in Donald Trump's takeover of the Republican Party with themes that resonated among working class voters. During this period, Democrats along with center-left parties through Western democracies who have encountered similar difficulties have struggled to understand the sources of working-class disaffection and to craft remedies for it.}}</ref>
}}
| affiliation1_title = [[Congressional caucuses|Caucuses]]
| affiliation1     = [[Blue Dog Coalition]]<br />[[New Democrat Coalition]]<br />[[Congressional Progressive Caucus]]
| international    = <!--- Please do not re-insert "Progressive Alliance" unless you can find a reliable published source for the oft-repeated, never-documented assertion that the Democrats are part of the organization, other than a listing on that organization's website (see [[WP:SPS]]). --->
| colors           = {{color box|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Blue]]<!-- Please DO NOT change the HTML color formatting in this field or in any of the below fields. Thank you. -->
| seats1_title     = [[United States Senate|Senate]]
| seats1           = <!--Keep at 45, as the Independents caucus with the Democrats-->{{composition bar|45|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}|ref={{Efn|There are 45 senators who are members of the party; however, two [[Independent Democrat|independent]] senators, [[Angus King]] and [[Bernie Sanders]], caucus with the Democrats.|name=|group=}}}}
| seats2_title     = [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
| seats2           = {{composition bar|215|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
| seats3_title     = [[List of current United States governors#State governors|State Governors]]
| seats3           = <!--Don't change numbers until terms begin--> {{composition bar|23|50|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
| seats4_title     = [[State legislature (United States)|State upper chambers]]
| seats4           = <!--Don't change numbers until terms begin--> {{composition bar|839|1973|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
| seats5_title     = [[State legislature (United States)|State lower chambers]]
| seats5           = <!--Don't change numbers until terms begin--> {{composition bar|2403|5413|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
| seats6_title     = [[List of current United States governors#Territory governors|Territorial Governors]]
| seats6           = <!--Don't change numbers until terms begin--> {{composition bar|2|5|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
| seats7_title     = Seats in [[Territories of the United States#Governments and legislatures|Territorial upper chambers]]
| seats7           = <!--Don't change numbers until terms begin--> {{composition bar|21|97|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
| seats8_title     = Seats in [[Territories of the United States#Governments and legislatures|Territorial lower chambers]]
| seats8           = <!--Don't change numbers until terms begin--> {{composition bar|9|91|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
| website          = {{Official URL}}
| country          = the United States
| footnotes        = {{cnote|A|''The Oxford Companion to American Politics'' observes that the terms "progressive" and "liberal" are "often used interchangeably" in political discourse regarding "the center-left".<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-last1=Coates |editor-first1=David |encyclopedia=The Oxford Companion to American Politics |title=Liberalism, Center-left |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780199764310.001.0001/acref-9780199764310 |doi=10.1093/acref/9780199764310.001.0001|date=2012 |pages=68–69 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|isbn=978-0-19-976431-0 }}</ref>}}
}}

The '''Democratic Party''' is one of the [[Two-party system|two]] [[Major party|major]] contemporary [[political parties in the United States]]. Since the late 1850s, its main political rival has been the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]].

The Democratic Party was founded in 1828. [[Martin Van Buren]] of New York played the central role in building the coalition of state organizations that formed a new party as a vehicle to elect [[Andrew Jackson]] of Tennessee. The Democratic Party is the world's oldest active political party. It initially supported [[Centralized government|expansive presidential power]], [[agrarianism]], and geographical [[expansionism]], while opposing [[Bank War|a national bank]] and high [[tariff]]s. It won the presidency only twice{{efn|[[Grover Cleveland]] in 1884 and 1892}} between 1860 and 1912, although it [[List of United States presidential elections in which the winner lost the popular vote|won the popular vote]] two more times in that period. In the late 19th century, it continued to oppose high tariffs and had fierce internal debates on the [[gold standard]]. In the early 20th century, it partially (not all factions) supported [[Progressivism in the United States|progressive]] reforms and opposed [[American imperialism|imperialism]], with [[Woodrow Wilson]] winning the White House in [[1912 United States presidential election|1912]] and [[1916 United States presidential election|1916]].

Since [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] was elected president in 1932, the Democratic Party has promoted a [[Modern liberalism in the United States|liberal]] platform that includes support for [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] and [[Unemployment insurance in the United States|unemployment insurance]].<ref name="sarnold">{{cite book|last=Arnold|first=N. Scott|title=Imposing values: an essay on liberalism and regulation|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2009|page=3|isbn=9780495501121|quote=Modern liberalism occupies the left-of-center in the traditional political spectrum and is represented by the Democratic Party in the United States.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xGNRRwkZFysC|access-date=April 28, 2020|archive-date=October 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002180929/https://books.google.com/books?id=xGNRRwkZFysC&hl=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Geer |first=John G. |date=1992 |title=New Deal Issues and the American Electorate, 1952–1988 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/586295 |journal=Political Behavior |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=45–65 |doi=10.1007/BF00993508 |jstor=586295 |s2cid=144817362 |issn=0190-9320 |access-date=August 23, 2022 |archive-date=December 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229012045/https://www.jstor.org/stable/586295 |url-status=live |hdl=1803/4054 |hdl-access=free}}</ref><ref name="egrigsby">{{cite book|last=Grigsby|first=Ellen|title=Analyzing Politics: An Introduction to Political Science|publisher=Cengage Learning|year=2008|pages=106–107|isbn=9780495501121|quote=In the United States, the Democratic Party represents itself as the liberal alternative to the Republicans, but its liberalism is for the most part the later version of liberalism—modern liberalism.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xGNRRwkZFysC|access-date=April 28, 2020|archive-date=October 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002180930/https://books.google.com/books?id=xGNRRwkZFysC&hl=en}}</ref> The [[New Deal]] attracted strong support for the party from recent European immigrants but diminished the party's pro-business wing.<ref>{{cite book|last=Prendergast|first=William B.|date=1999|title=The Catholic Voter in American Politics: The Passing of the Democratic Monolith|location=Washington, D.C.|publisher=Georgetown University|isbn=978-0-87840-724-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B9nFwo5B1BQC|access-date=July 25, 2018|archive-date=October 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009095426/https://books.google.com/books?id=B9nFwo5B1BQC|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Marlin|first=George J.|date=2004|title=The American Catholic Voter: 200 Years of Political Impact|location=South Bend, Indiana|publisher=St. Augustine|isbn=978-1-58731-029-4|url=https://archive.org/details/americancatholic0000marl_2006|access-date=April 28, 2020|url-access=registration}}</ref><ref>Michael Corbett et al. ''Politics and Religion in the United States'' (2nd ed. 2013).</ref> From late in Roosevelt's administration through the 1950s, a minority in the party's [[Southern Democrat|Southern wing]] joined with conservative Republicans to slow and stop progressive domestic reforms.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zeitz |first=Joshua |date=October 16, 2023 |title=The 'Unprecedented' House GOP Meltdown Isn't as Novel as You Think. And There Is a Way Out. |language=en |url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/10/16/broken-congress-history-00121564 |access-date=October 16, 2023 |archive-date=October 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016094650/https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/10/16/broken-congress-history-00121564 |url-status=live}}</ref> Following the [[Great Society]] era of progressive legislation under [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], who was often able to overcome the [[conservative coalition]] in the 1960s, the core bases of the parties shifted, with the [[Southern strategy|Southern states becoming more reliably Republican]] and the Northeastern states becoming more reliably Democratic.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=February 15, 2015 |title=How Medicare Was Made |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/medicare-made |access-date=August 23, 2022 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |url-access=limited |last=Zelizer |first=Julian E. |archive-date=March 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304221801/https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/medicare-made |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="gallup2010">{{cite web |date=June 12, 2009 |title=Women More Likely to Be Democrats, Regardless of Age |url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/120839/Women-Likely-Democrats-Regardless-Age.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614010429/http://www.gallup.com/poll/120839/Women-Likely-Democrats-Regardless-Age.aspx |archive-date=June 14, 2010 |access-date=June 17, 2010 |publisher=Gallup}}</ref> The party's [[Labor unions in the United States|labor union]] element has become smaller since the 1970s,<ref name="Kullgren-2020">{{Cite web |last=Kullgren |first=Ian |date=November 10, 2020 |title=Union Workers Weren't a Lock for Biden. Here's Why That Matters |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/union-workers-werent-a-lock-for-biden-heres-why-that-matters |access-date=November 3, 2022 |website=[[Bloomberg Law]] |language=en |archive-date=November 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103045842/https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/union-workers-werent-a-lock-for-biden-heres-why-that-matters |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Frank |first=Thomas |url=https://archive.org/details/listenliberalorw0000fran |url-access=registration |title=Listen, liberal, or, What ever happened to the party of the people? |date=2016 |isbn=978-1-62779-539-5 |edition=First |location=New York |publisher=Henry Holt and Company |oclc=908628802}}</ref> and as the American electorate shifted in a more conservative direction following the [[presidency of Ronald Reagan]], the election of [[Bill Clinton]] marked a move for the party toward the [[Third Way]], moving the party's economic stance towards market-based economic policy.<ref name="Hale-1995" /><ref name="Wills-1997" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Edsall |first=Thomas B. |date=June 28, 1998 |title=Clinton and Blair envision a 'Third Way' international movement |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1998/06/28/clinton-and-blair-envision-a-third-way-international-movement/0bc00486-bd6d-4da4-a970-5255d7aa25d8/ |access-date=November 1, 2022 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=November 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127213150/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1998/06/28/clinton-and-blair-envision-a-third-way-international-movement/0bc00486-bd6d-4da4-a970-5255d7aa25d8/ |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Barack Obama]] oversaw the party's passage of the [[Affordable Care Act]] in 2010. During his and [[Joe Biden]]'s presidency, the party has adopted an increasingly [[Economic progressivism|progressive economic agenda]]<ref name="Hacker-2024"/><ref name="Gerstle2022">{{cite book |last=Gerstle |first=Gary |author-link=Gary Gerstle |date=2022 |title=The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order: America and the World in the Free Market Era |url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-neoliberal-order-9780197519646?cc=us&lang=en& |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |quote=The most sweeping account of how neoliberalism came to dominate American politics for nearly a half century before crashing against the forces of Trumpism on the right and a new progressivism on the left. |isbn=978-0197519646 |access-date=August 1, 2024 |archive-date=June 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626220259/https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-neoliberal-order-9780197519646?cc=us&lang=en& |url-status=live }}</ref> and more [[left-wing politics|left-wing views]] on [[cultural liberalism|cultural and social issues]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Burn-Murdoch |first1=John |title=Trump broke the Democrats' thermostat |url=https://www.ft.com/content/73a1836d-0faa-4c84-b973-554e2ca3a227 |website=[[Financial Times]] |access-date=November 15, 2024 |date=November 15, 2024}}</ref>

In the 21st century,<ref>{{Cite web|website=The American Prospect|url=https://prospect.org/politics/2024-12-02-what-is-democratic-party/|title=What Is the Democratic Party?|quote=The statistic that best defines our politics over the past 20 years is this: Nine of the past ten national elections have resulted in a change in power in at least one chamber of Congress or the White House. (The sole outlier is 2012.) Several of those elections were considered at the time to be realignments that would lead to a sustained majority for one of the major parties.|first1=David|last1=Dayen|date=December 2, 2024}}</ref> the party is strongest among [[Urban–rural political divide|urban voters]],<ref name="McGreal">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/10/democrats-iowa-kansas-rural-votes-scholten-king|title=Can Democrats ever win back white, rural America?|first=Chris|last=McGreal|date=November 11, 2018|access-date=March 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308080818/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/10/democrats-iowa-kansas-rural-votes-scholten-king|archive-date=March 8, 2019|url-status=live|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref name="cities">{{cite web |last1=Thompson |first1=Derek |title=How Democrats Conquered the City |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/09/brief-history-how-democrats-conquered-city/597955/ |website=The Atlantic |date=September 13, 2019 |access-date=March 13, 2020 |archive-date=March 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307075726/https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/09/brief-history-how-democrats-conquered-city/597955/ |url-status=live}}</ref> [[African Americans]], [[American Jews]],<ref name="Blacks and the Democratic Party">{{cite web |last=Jackson |first=Brooks |date=April 18, 2008 |title=Blacks and the Democratic Party |url=http://www.factcheck.org/2008/04/blacks-and-the-democratic-party/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103050026/http://www.factcheck.org/2008/04/blacks%2Dand%2Dthe%2Ddemocratic%2Dparty/ |archive-date=November 3, 2011 |access-date=October 30, 2011 |publisher=FactCheck.org}}</ref><ref name="Bositis">{{Cite web |last=Bositis |first=David |title=Blacks and the 2012 Democratic National Convention; page 9, table 1: black votes in presidential elections, 1936 - 2008 |url=https://jointcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Blacks-and-the-2012-Democratic-National-Convention.pdf |website=Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies |access-date=March 23, 2024 |archive-date=February 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222063250/https://jointcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Blacks-and-the-2012-Democratic-National-Convention.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="pewresearch.org">{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/04/09/partisanship-by-race-ethnicity-and-education/|date=April 9, 2024|title=Partisanship by race, ethnicity and education|access-date=April 26, 2024|website=Pew Research Center}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://andrewgelman.com/2008/05/23/voting_patterns/ |title=Voting patterns of Jews and other religious groups |work=Statistical Modeling, Causal Inference, and Social Science |access-date=February 15, 2015 |archive-date=February 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215194355/http://andrewgelman.com/2008/05/23/voting_patterns/ |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Labor unions in the United States|union workers]], [[educational attainment in the United States|college graduates]],<ref name="Polarization by education"/><ref name="Polarized by Degrees">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cambridge.org/us/universitypress/subjects/politics-international-relations/american-government-politics-and-policy/polarized-degrees-how-diploma-divide-and-culture-war-transformed-american-politics#contentsTabAnchor|title=Polarized by Degrees: How the Diploma Divide and the Culture War Transformed American Politics|first1=Matt|last1=Grossmann|first2=David A.|last2=Hopkins|website=Cambridge University Press|quote=Democrats have become the home of highly-educated citizens with progressive social views who prefer credentialed experts to make policy decisions, while Republicans have become the populist champions of white voters without college degrees who increasingly distrust teachers, scientists, journalists, universities, non-profit organizations, and even corporations.|access-date=May 23, 2024}}</ref><ref name="nymag.com">{{cite web|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/10/education-polarization-diploma-divide-democratic-party-working-class.html|title=How the Diploma Divide Is Remaking American Politics|first1=Eric|last1=Levitz|website=[[New York (magazine)|New York Intelligencer]]|date=October 19, 2022|access-date=April 24, 2023|archive-date=October 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020215535/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/10/education-polarization-diploma-divide-democratic-party-working-class.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/17/opinion/education-american-politics.html|title=The 'Diploma Divide' Is the New Fault Line in American Politics|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 17, 2023|access-date=April 24, 2023|first1=Doug|last1=Sosnik|archive-date=April 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424073901/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/17/opinion/education-american-politics.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[woman|women]], [[LGBT|LGBT+ people]],<ref name="Activists and Partisan Realignment">{{cite journal|last1=Miller|first1=Gary|last2=Schofield|first2=Norman|year=2003|title=Activists and Partisan Realignment in the United States|journal=American Political Science Review|volume=97|issue=2|pages=245–260|doi=10.1017/S0003055403000650|doi-broken-date=November 7, 2024 |s2cid=12885628|issn=1537-5943|quote=By 2000, however, the New Deal party alignment no longer captured patterns of partisan voting. In the intervening 40 years, the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts had triggered an increasingly race-driven distinction between the parties. ... Goldwater won the electoral votes of five states of the Deep South in 1964, four of them states that had voted Democratic for 84 years (Califano 1991, 55). He forged a new identification of the Republican party with racial conservatism, reversing a century-long association of the GOP with racial liberalism. This in turn opened the door for Nixon's "Southern strategy" and the Reagan victories of the eighties.}}</ref><ref name=Grossmann-2021>{{Cite journal |last1=Grossmann |first1=Matt |last2=Mahmood |first2=Zuhaib |last3=Isaac |first3=William |date=October 1, 2021 |title=Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Unequal Class Influence in American Policy |url=https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/711900 |journal=The Journal of Politics |language=en |volume=83 |issue=4 |pages=1706–1720 |doi=10.1086/711900 |s2cid=224851520 |issn=0022-3816 |access-date=October 12, 2021 |archive-date=October 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029170940/https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/711900 |url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[Marital status|unmarried]]. On social issues, it advocates for [[Abortion-rights movements|abortion rights]],<ref name="Traister-2023">{{Cite web |last=Traister |first=Rebecca |date=March 27, 2023 |title=Abortion Wins Elections |url=https://www.thecut.com/article/abortion-democratic-party-2024-elections.html |access-date=April 7, 2023 |website=The Cut |language=en-us |archive-date=April 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406181341/https://www.thecut.com/article/abortion-democratic-party-2024-elections.html |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Voting rights in the United States|voting rights]],<ref>{{cite news |title=What We Do |newspaper=Democrats |url=https://democrats.org/who-we-are/what-we-do/ |publisher=Democratic National Committee |access-date=July 17, 2024 |archive-date=July 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240717200004/https://democrats.org/who-we-are/what-we-do/ |url-status=live}}</ref> [[LGBT rights]],<ref name="NPR-2012a">{{Cite web |date=September 4, 2012 |title=Democratic Platform Endorses Gay Marriage |url=https://www.npr.org/2012/09/04/160562404/democratic-platform-endorses-gay-marriage |access-date=May 10, 2023 |website=[[NPR]] |archive-date=October 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005001326/http://www.npr.org/2012/09/04/160562404/democratic-platform-endorses-gay-marriage |url-status=live}}</ref> action on [[climate change]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Combating the Climate Crisis and Pursuing Environmental Justic |newspaper=Democrats |url=https://democrats.org/where-we-stand/party-platform/combating-the-climate-crisis-and-pursuing-environmental-justice/ |publisher=Democratic National Committee |access-date=July 17, 2024 |archive-date=July 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240717200005/https://democrats.org/where-we-stand/party-platform/combating-the-climate-crisis-and-pursuing-environmental-justice/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[Legality of cannabis by U.S. jurisdiction|legalization of marijuana]].<ref name="Gurley-2020">{{Cite web |last=Gurley |first=Gabrielle |date=November 23, 2020 |title=Biden at the Cannabis Crossroads |url=https://prospect.org/api/content/1ee9a272-2b7f-11eb-b7ea-1244d5f7c7c6/ |access-date=August 24, 2022 |website=[[The American Prospect]] |language=en-us |archive-date=August 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826123917/https://prospect.org/day-one-agenda/biden-at-the-cannabis-crossroads/ |url-status=live}}</ref> On economic issues, the party favors [[Healthcare reform in the United States|healthcare reform]], [[universal child care]], [[paid sick leave]] and [[Unionization|supporting unions]].<ref name="Miranda Ollstein-2022">{{Cite web |last=Miranda Ollstein |first=Alice |date=August 12, 2022 |title=A bittersweet health care win for Democrats |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/12/a-bittersweet-health-care-win-for-democrats-00051264 |access-date=April 7, 2023 |website=POLITICO |language=en |archive-date=April 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407081105/https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/12/a-bittersweet-health-care-win-for-democrats-00051264 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Goodnough-2019">{{cite news |last1=Goodnough |first1=Abby |last2=Kaplan |first2=Thomas |date=June 28, 2019 |title=Democrat vs. Democrat: How Health Care Is Dividing the Party |website=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/28/health/democratic-debate-healthcare.html |url-access=limited |access-date=July 22, 2020 |archive-date=July 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722004441/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/28/health/democratic-debate-healthcare.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="jlevy">{{cite book |last=Levy |first=Jonah |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xGNRRwkZFysC |title=The State after Statism: New State Activities in the Age of Liberalization |publisher=Harvard University Press |year=2006 |isbn=9780495501121 |page=198 |quote=In the corporate governance area, the center-left repositioned itself to press for reform. The Democratic Party in the United States used the postbubble scandals and the collapse of share prices to attack the Republican Party&nbsp;... Corporate governance reform fit surprisingly well within the contours of the center-left ideology. The Democratic Party and the SPD have both been committed to the development of the regulatory state as a counterweight to managerial authority, corporate power, and market failure.}}</ref><ref name="U.S. Department of State">{{cite web |author=[[U.S. Department of State]] |title=A Mixed Economy: The Role of the Market |url=https://www.thoughtco.com/overview-of-a-mixed-economy-1147547 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524222737/https://www.thoughtco.com/overview-of-a-mixed-economy-1147547 |archive-date=May 24, 2017 |publisher=Thoughtco.com}}</ref> In foreign policy, the party supports [[liberal internationalism]] as well as tough stances against [[China]] and [[Russia]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ikenberry |first=John |date=2020 |title=America's Asia Policy after Trump |url=https://www.globalasia.org/v15no4/focus/americas-asia-policy-after-trump_g-john-ikenberry |website=Global Asia |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wong |first=Edward |date=September 6, 2022 |title=Biden Puts Defense of Democracy at Center of Agenda, at Home and Abroad |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/06/us/politics/biden-democracy-threat.html |access-date=December 27, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Cooley |first1=Alexander |last2=Nexon |first2=Daniel H. |date=December 14, 2021 |title=The Real Crisis of Global Order |language=en-US |work=Foreign Affairs |issue=January/February 2022 |url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/world/2021-12-14/illiberalism-real-crisis-global-order |issn=0015-7120}}</ref>
{{TOC limit}}

== History ==
{{main|History of the Democratic Party (United States)}}[[File:Political Parties Derivation in the United States.svg|thumb|400px|Political parties' derivation in the United States. A dotted line denotes an unofficial connection.|left]]Democratic Party officials often trace its origins to the [[Democratic-Republican Party]], founded by [[Thomas Jefferson]], [[James Madison]] and other influential opponents of the conservative [[Federalist Party|Federalists]] in 1792.<ref name="US Congress-1991">The party has claimed a founding date of 1792 as noted in S.2047 which passed in the United States Senate in 1991. {{citation|title= S.2047 – A bill to establish a commission to commemorate the bicentennial of the establishment of the Democratic Party of the United States.|author= ((102nd Congress))|url= https://www.congress.gov/bill/102nd-congress/senate-bill/2047/text?r=90&s=1|year= 1991|access-date= February 20, 2021|archive-date= February 22, 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210222013940/https://www.congress.gov/bill/102nd-congress/senate-bill/2047/text?r=90&s=1|url-status= live}} "[I]n 1992, the Democratic Party of the United States will celebrate the 200th anniversary of its establishment on May 13, 1792."</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Larson |first=Edward |title=A Magnificent Catastrophe: The Tumultuous Election of 1800, America's First Presidential Campaign |publisher=[[Free Press (publisher)|Free Press]] |year=2007 |isbn=9780743293167 |pages=21 |quote=The divisions between Adams and Jefferson were exasperated by the more extreme views expressed by some of their partisans, particularly the High Federalists led by Hamilton on what was becoming known as the political right, and the democratic wing of the Republican Party on the left, associated with New York Governor George Clinton and Pennsylvania legislator Albert Gallatin, among others. |author-link=Edward J. Larson}}</ref> That party died out before the modern Democratic Party was organized;<ref>{{cite journal|last=Ericson|first=David F.|title=The Evolution of the Democratic Party|journal=The American Historical Review|volume=70|issue=1|year=1964|pages=22–43}}</ref> the Jeffersonian party also inspired the [[Whig Party (United States)|Whigs]] and modern Republicans.<ref>{{cite book|last=Banning|first=Lance|title=The Jeffersonian Persuasion: Evolution of a Party Ideology|publisher=Cornell University Press|year=1978|page=208}}</ref> Historians argue that the modern Democratic Party was first organized in the late 1820s with the election of war hero [[Andrew Jackson]]<ref name="Kazin-2022">Michael Kazin, ''What It Took to Win: A History of the Democratic Party'' (2022) pp 5, 12.</ref> of Tennessee, making it the world's oldest active political party.<ref name="Lucas-2014">M. Philip Lucas, "Martin Van Buren as Party Leader and at Andrew Jackson's Right Hand." in ''A Companion to the Antebellum Presidents 1837–1861'' (2014): 107–129.</ref><ref name="Janda-2010">"The Democratic Party, founded in 1828, is the world's oldest political party" states {{Cite book |last1=Janda |first1=Kenneth |url=https://archive.org/details/jandachallengeof00houg |title=The Challenge of Democracy: American Government in Global Politics |last2=Berry |first2=Jeffrey M. |last3=Goldman |first3=Jerry |publisher=Cengage Learning |year=2010 |isbn=9780495906186 |page=276 |url-access=registration}}</ref><ref name="Kazin-2022" /> It was predominately built by [[Martin Van Buren]], who assembled a wide cadre of politicians in every state behind Jackson.<ref name="Lucas-2014" /><ref name="Kazin-2022" />

Since the nomination of [[William Jennings Bryan]] in 1896, the party has generally positioned itself to the left of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] on economic issues. Democrats have been more liberal on civil rights since 1948, although conservative factions within the Democratic Party that opposed them persisted in the South until the 1960s. On foreign policy, both parties have changed positions several times.<ref>Arthur Paulson, ''Realignment and Party Revival: Understanding American Electoral Politics at the Turn of the Twenty-First Century'' (2000) pp. 46–72.</ref>

=== Background ===
[[File:Andrew jackson head.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Andrew Jackson]] was the seventh president (1829–1837) and the first Democratic president.]]
The Democratic Party evolved from the [[Jeffersonian Republican]] or [[Democratic-Republican Party]] organized by Jefferson and Madison in opposition to the Federalist Party.<ref>{{cite book|last=Berman|first=Jay|title=The Democratic Party: Evolution and America's Longing for a Lasting Majority|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2012|page=8}}</ref> The Democratic-Republican Party favored [[Republicanism in the United States|republicanism]]; a weak [[Federal government of the United States|federal government]]; [[states' rights]]; agrarian interests (especially Southern planters); and strict adherence to the Constitution. The party opposed a national bank and [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]].<ref>James Roger Sharp, ''American Politics in the Early Republic: The New Nation in Crisis'' (1993).</ref> After the [[War of 1812]], the Federalists virtually disappeared and the only national political party left was the Democratic-Republicans, which was prone to splinter along regional lines.<ref>{{cite book|title=The American Republic Since 1877, Student Edition|publisher=McGraw-Hill Education|year=2006|page=193}}</ref> The era of one-party rule in the United States, known as the [[Era of Good Feelings]], lasted from 1816 until 1828, when Andrew Jackson became president. Jackson and Martin Van Buren worked with allies in each state to form a new Democratic Party on a national basis. In the 1830s, the [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig Party]] coalesced into the main rival to the Democrats.

Before 1860, the Democratic Party supported [[Unitary executive theory|expansive presidential power]],<ref name="Holt-1992">{{Cite book |last=Holt |first=Michael F. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VEhYhbouR3QC&pg=PA27 |title=Political Parties and American Political Development: From the Age of Jackson to the Age of Lincoln |publisher=[[Louisiana State University Press]] |year=1992 |isbn=978-0807126097 |pages=27–28 |access-date=March 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405015907/https://books.google.com/books?id=VEhYhbouR3QC&pg=PA27 |archive-date=April 5, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Slave Power|the interests]] of [[Slave states and free states|slave states]],<ref name="Bates-2015">{{Cite book |last=Bates |first=Christopher |title=The Early Republic and Antebellum America: An Encyclopedia of Social, Political, Cultural, and Economic History |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |year=2015 |isbn=9781317457404 |pages=293 |quote=The expansion engineered by Polk rendered the Democratic Party increasingly beholden to Southern slave interests, which dominated the party from 1848 to the Civil War.}}</ref> [[agrarianism]],<ref name="EB-2023">{{Cite web |last=Staff |title=Jacksonian Democracy: The Democratization of Politics |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States/Jacksonian-democracy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712100142/https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States/Jacksonian-democracy |archive-date=July 12, 2022 |access-date=October 6, 2022 |website=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |quote=By the 1840s, Whig and Democratic congressmen voted as rival blocs. Whigs supported and Democrats opposed a weak executive, a new Bank of the United States, a high tariff, distribution of land revenues to the states, relief legislation to mitigate the effects of the depression, and federal reapportionment of House seats. Whigs voted against and Democrats approved an independent treasury, an aggressive foreign policy, and expansionism. These were important issues, capable of dividing the electorate just as they divided the major parties in Congress.}}</ref> and [[expansionism]],<ref name="EB-2023" /> while opposing [[Bank War|a national bank]] and high [[tariff]]s.<ref name="EB-2023" />

=== 19th century ===
{{Further|Second Party System|Third Party System}}
[[File:Martin Van Buren by Mathew Brady c1855-58.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Martin Van Buren]] was the eighth president of the United States (1837–1841) and the second Democratic president.]]
The [[Democratic-Republican Party]] split over the choice of a successor to President [[James Monroe]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Banning|first=Lance|title=The Jeffersonian Persuasion: Evolution of a Party Ideology|publisher=Cornell University Press|year=1978|page=253}}</ref> The faction that supported many of the old [[Jeffersonian democracy|Jeffersonian principles]], led by Andrew Jackson and [[Martin Van Buren]], became the modern Democratic Party.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Traub |first1=James |title=The Ugly Election That Birthed Modern American Politics |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/archaeology-and-history/magazine/2016/11-12/america-presidential-elections-1824-corrupt-bargain/ |magazine=National Geographic |access-date=July 6, 2018 |archive-date=July 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707010137/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/archaeology-and-history/magazine/2016/11-12/america-presidential-elections-1824-corrupt-bargain/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> Historian [[Mary Beth Norton]] explains the transformation in 1828: {{blockquote|Jacksonians believed the people's will had finally prevailed. Through a lavishly financed coalition of state parties, political leaders, and newspaper editors, a popular movement had elected the president. The Democrats became the nation's first well-organized national party ... and tight party organization became the hallmark of nineteenth-century American politics.<ref>Mary Beth Norton et al., ''A People and a Nation, Volume I: to 1877'' (Houghton Mifflin, 2007) p. 287.</ref>|sign=|source=}}

[[File:Polk crop.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[James K. Polk]] was the 11th president of the United States of America (1845–1849). He significantly extended the territory of the United States.]]
Behind the platforms issued by state and national parties stood a widely shared political outlook that characterized the Democrats: {{blockquote|The Democrats represented a wide range of views but shared a fundamental commitment to the Jeffersonian concept of an agrarian society. They viewed the central government as the enemy of individual liberty. The [[Corrupt bargain#Election of 1824|1824 "corrupt bargain"]] had strengthened their suspicion of Washington politics. ... Jacksonians feared the concentration of economic and political power. They believed that government intervention in the economy benefited special-interest groups and created corporate monopolies that favored the rich. They sought to restore the independence of the individual—the artisan and the ordinary farmer—by ending federal support of banks and corporations and restricting the use of paper currency, which they distrusted. Their definition of the proper role of government tended to be negative, and Jackson's political power was largely expressed in negative acts. He exercised the veto more than all previous presidents combined. ... Nor did Jackson share reformers' humanitarian concerns. He had no sympathy for American Indians, initiating the removal of the Cherokees along the [[Trail of Tears]].<ref>Mary Beth Norton et al., ''A People and a Nation, Volume I: to 1877'' (2007) pp. 287–288.</ref>|sign=|source=}}

Opposing factions led by [[Henry Clay]] helped form the Whig Party. The Democratic Party had a small yet decisive advantage over the Whigs until the 1850s when the Whigs fell apart over the issue of slavery. In 1854, angry with the [[Kansas–Nebraska Act]], anti-slavery Democrats left the party and joined Northern Whigs to form the [[History of the United States Republican Party|Republican Party]].<ref>Galbraith Schlisinger, ''Of the People: The 200 Year History of the Democratic Party'' (1992) ch. 1–3.</ref><ref>Robert Allen Rutland, ''The Democrats: From Jefferson to Clinton'' (U. of Missouri Press, 1995) ch. 1–4.</ref> Martin van Buren also helped found the [[Free Soil Party]] to oppose the spread of slavery, running as its candidate in the [[1848 United States presidential election|1848 presidential election]], before returning to the Democratic Party and staying loyal to the Union.<ref>{{cite book |last= Ferrell |first=Claudine L. |date=2006 |title=The Abolitionist Movement|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mG_MNzwawSAC&pg=PA88 |location=Westport|publisher=Greenwood Press |page=88 |isbn=978-0-313-33180-0}}</ref>

[[File:Stephen A Douglas - headshot.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Stephen A. Douglas]] was a United States senator for Illinois.]]
The Democrats split over slavery, with Northern and Southern tickets in the [[1860 United States presidential election|election of 1860]], in which the Republican Party gained ascendancy.<ref>Jean H. Baker, ''Affairs of Party: Political Culture of Northern Democrats in the Mid-nineteenth Century'' (1983)</ref> The radical pro-slavery [[Fire-Eaters]] led walkouts at the two conventions when the delegates would not adopt a resolution supporting the extension of slavery into territories even if the voters of those territories did not want it. These [[1860 United States presidential election#Constitutional (Southern) Democratic|Southern Democrats]] nominated the pro-slavery incumbent vice president, [[John C. Breckinridge]] of Kentucky, for president and General [[Joseph Lane]], of Oregon, for vice president. The [[1860 United States presidential election#National (Northern) Democratic|Northern Democrats]] nominated Senator [[Stephen A. Douglas]] of Illinois for president and former Georgia Governor [[Herschel Vespasian Johnson|Herschel V. Johnson]] for vice president. This fracturing of the Democrats led to a Republican victory and [[Abraham Lincoln]] was elected the 16th president of the United States.<ref>David M. Potter. ''The Impending Crisis, 1848–1861'' (1976). ch. 16.</ref>

As the [[American Civil War]] broke out, Northern Democrats were divided into [[War Democrats]] and [[Copperheads (politics)|Peace Democrats]]. The [[Confederate States of America]] deliberately avoided organized political parties. Most War Democrats rallied to Republican President Abraham Lincoln and the Republicans' [[National Union Party (United States)|National Union Party]] in the [[1864 United States presidential election|election of 1864]], which featured [[Andrew Johnson]] on the Union ticket to attract fellow Democrats. Johnson replaced Lincoln in 1865, but he stayed independent of both parties.<ref>Mark E. Neely. ''Lincoln and the Democrats: The Politics of Opposition in the Civil War'' (2017).</ref>

The Democrats benefited from white Southerners' resentment of [[Reconstruction era of the United States|Reconstruction]] after the war and consequent hostility to the Republican Party. After [[Redeemers]] ended Reconstruction in the 1870s and following the often extremely violent [[Disenfranchisement after the Reconstruction Era|disenfranchisement]] of African Americans led by such [[White supremacy#Academic use of the term|white supremacist]] Democratic politicians as [[Benjamin Tillman]] of [[South Carolina]] in the 1880s and 1890s, the South, voting Democratic, became known as the "[[Solid South]]". Although Republicans won all but two presidential elections, the Democrats remained competitive. The party was dominated by pro-business [[Bourbon Democrat]]s led by [[Samuel J. Tilden]] and [[Grover Cleveland]], who represented mercantile, banking, and railroad interests; opposed [[imperialism]] and overseas expansion; fought for the [[gold standard]]; opposed [[bimetallism]]; and crusaded against corruption, high taxes and tariffs. Cleveland was elected to non-consecutive presidential terms in [[1884 United States presidential election|1884]] and [[1892 United States presidential election|1892]].<ref>Rutland, ''The Democrats: From Jefferson to Clinton'' (1995) ch. 5–6.</ref>

=== 20th century ===
{{Further|Fourth Party System|Fifth Party System|Sixth Party System}}

==== Early 20th century ====
[[File:Breckinridgelong2.jpg|thumb|Leaders of the Democratic Party during the first half of the 20th century on in 1913: William Jennings Bryan, [[Josephus Daniels]], [[Woodrow Wilson]], [[Breckinridge Long]], [[William Phillips (diplomat)|William Phillips]], and Franklin D. Roosevelt]]
Agrarian Democrats demanding [[free silver]], drawing on Populist ideas, overthrew the Bourbon Democrats in 1896 and nominated [[William Jennings Bryan]] for the presidency (a nomination repeated by Democrats in 1900 and 1908). Bryan waged a vigorous campaign attacking Eastern moneyed interests, but he lost to Republican [[William McKinley]].<ref>Robert W. Cherny, ''A Righteous Cause: The Life of William Jennings Bryan'' (1994)</ref>

The Democrats took control of the House in 1910, and [[Woodrow Wilson]] won election as president in 1912 (when the Republicans split) and 1916. Wilson effectively led Congress to put to rest the issues of tariffs, money, and antitrust, which had dominated politics for 40 years, with new progressive laws. He failed to secure Senate passage of the [[Versailles Treaty]] (ending the war with Germany and joining the League of Nations).<ref>H.W. Brands, ''Woodrow Wilson'' (2003).</ref> The weakened party was deeply divided by issues such as the KKK and prohibition in the 1920s. However, it did organize new ethnic voters in Northern cities.<ref>Douglas B. Craig, ''After Wilson: The Struggle for the Democratic Party, 1920–1934'' (1993)</ref>

After [[World War I]] ended and continuing through the [[Great Depression]], the Democratic and Republican Parties both largely believed in [[American exceptionalism]] over European monarchies and [[state socialism]] that existed elsewhere in the world.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Davis |first=Kenneth C. |title=Don't Know Much About History: Everything You Need to Know About American History but Never Learned |publisher=HarperCollins |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-06-008381-6 |edition=1st |location=New York |pages=321, 341 |author-link=Kenneth C. Davis}}</ref>

==== 1930s–1960s and the rise of the New Deal coalition ====
[[File:RooseveltTruman1944poster.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, the 32nd and 33rd presidents of the United States (1933–1945; 1945–1953), featured on a campaign poster for the [[1944 United States presidential election|1944 presidential election]]; note the rooster logo of the Democratic Party (see [[#Name and symbols|Names and Symbols]] below)]]
The [[Great Depression]] in 1929 that began under Republican President [[Herbert Hoover]] and the Republican Congress set the stage for a more liberal government as the Democrats controlled the House of Representatives nearly uninterrupted from 1930 until 1994, the Senate for 44 of 48 years from 1930, and won most presidential elections until 1968. [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], elected to the presidency in 1932, came forth with federal government programs called the [[New Deal]]. New Deal liberalism meant the regulation of business (especially finance and banking) and the promotion of labor unions as well as federal spending to aid the unemployed, help distressed farmers and undertake large-scale public works projects. It marked the start of the American welfare state.<ref>{{cite book|first=Ellen|last=Russell|title=New Deal Banking Reforms and Keynesian Welfare State Capitalism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qzOUAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA4|year=2007|publisher=Routledge|pages=3–4|isbn=9781135910655|access-date=April 28, 2020|archive-date=October 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002180941/https://books.google.com/books?id=qzOUAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA4&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> The opponents, who stressed opposition to unions, support for business and low taxes, started calling themselves "conservatives".<ref>Rutland, ''The Democrats: From Jefferson to Clinton'' (1995) ch. 7.</ref>

Until the 1980s, the Democratic Party was a coalition of two parties divided by the Mason–Dixon line: liberal Democrats in the North and culturally conservative voters in the South, who though benefitting from many of the New Deal public works projects, opposed increasing [[Civil and political rights|civil rights]] initiatives advocated by northeastern liberals. The polarization grew stronger after Roosevelt died. Southern Democrats formed a key part of the bipartisan [[conservative coalition]] in an alliance with most of the Midwestern Republicans. The economically activist philosophy of Franklin D. Roosevelt, which has strongly influenced [[Liberalism in the United States|American liberalism]], shaped much of the party's economic agenda after 1932.<ref>David M. Kennedy, ''Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929–1945'' (2001).</ref> From the 1930s to the mid-1960s, the liberal [[New Deal coalition]] usually controlled the presidency while the conservative coalition usually controlled Congress.<ref>Paul Finkelman and Peter Wallenstein, eds. ''The Encyclopedia Of American Political History'' (CQ Press, 2001) pp. 124–126.</ref>

==== 1960s–1980s and the collapse of the New Deal coalition ====
{{see also|Civil Rights Movement}}
Issues facing parties and the United States after World War II included the [[Cold War]] and the [[civil rights movement]]. Republicans attracted conservatives and, after the 1960s, white Southerners from the Democratic coalition with their use of the [[Southern strategy]] and resistance to New Deal and [[Great Society]] liberalism. Until the 1950s, African Americans had traditionally supported the Republican Party because of its anti-slavery civil rights policies. Following the passage of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]] and [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]], the Southern states became more reliably Republican in presidential politics, while Northeastern states became more reliably Democratic.<ref name="Regional Variations in the Realignment of American Politics, 1944–2004">{{cite journal|last1=Bullock|first1=Charles S.|last2=Hoffman|first2=Donna R.|last3=Gaddie|first3=Ronald Keith|date=2006|title=Regional Variations in the Realignment of American Politics, 1944–2004|journal=Social Science Quarterly|volume=87|issue=3|pages=494–518|doi=10.1111/j.1540-6237.2006.00393.x|issn=0038-4941|quote=The events of 1964 laid open the divisions between the South and national Democrats and elicited distinctly different voter behavior in the two regions. The agitation for civil rights by southern blacks continued white violence toward the civil rights movement, and President Lyndon Johnson's aggressive leadership all facilitated passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. ... In the South, 1964 should be associated with GOP growth while in the Northeast this election contributed to the eradication of Republicans.}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Stanley|first=Harold W.|date=1988|title=Southern Partisan Changes: Dealignment, Realignment or Both?|journal=The Journal of Politics|volume=50|issue=1|pages=64–88|doi=10.2307/2131041|issn=0022-3816|quote=Events surrounding the presidential election of 1964 marked a watershed in terms of the parties and the South (Pomper, 1972). The Solid South was built around the identification of the Democratic party with the cause of white supremacy. Events before 1964 gave white southerners pause about the linkage between the Democratic Party and white supremacy, but the 1964 election, passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 altered in the minds of most the positions of the national parties on racial issues.|jstor=2131041|s2cid=154860857}}</ref><ref name=Black-2003>{{cite book|url=http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674012486|title=The Rise of Southern Republicans |first1= Earl|last1= Black|first2= Merle |last2= Black|date=September 30, 2003 |publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=9780674012486 |access-date=June 9, 2018|quote=When the Republican party nominated Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater—one of the few senators who had opposed the Civil Rights Act—as their presidential candidate in 1964, the party attracted many southern whites but permanently alienated African-American voters. Beginning with the Goldwater-versus-Johnson campaign more southern whites voted Republican than Democratic, a pattern that has recurred in every subsequent presidential election. ... Before the 1964 presidential election the Republican party had not carried any Deep South state for eighty-eight years. Yet shortly after Congress passed the Civil Rights Act, hundreds of Deep South counties gave Barry Goldwater landslide majorities.|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612135934/http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674012486|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Activists and Partisan Realignment" /> Studies show that Southern whites, which were a core constituency in the Democratic Party, shifted to the Republican Party due to [[White backlash|racial backlash]] and [[social conservatism]].<ref name="Issue Evolution">{{cite book|url=https://press.princeton.edu/titles/4385.html|title=Issue Evolution|date=September 6, 1990|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=9780691023311|access-date=June 9, 2018|archive-date=May 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516081536/https://press.princeton.edu/titles/4385.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Valentino-2005>{{cite journal|last1=Valentino|first1=Nicholas A.|last2=Sears|first2=David O.|author-link2=David O. Sears|year=2005|title=Old Times There Are Not Forgotten: Race and Partisan Realignment in the Contemporary South|journal=American Journal of Political Science|volume=49|issue=3|pages=672–88|doi=10.1111/j.1540-5907.2005.00136.x|issn=0092-5853|author-link1=Nicholas Valentino}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|first1=Ilyana|last1=Kuziemko|first2=Ebonya|last2=Washington|title=Why Did the Democrats Lose the South? Bringing New Data to an Old Debate|journal=American Economic Review|year=2018|volume=108|issue=10|pages=2830–2867|doi=10.1257/aer.20161413|issn=0002-8282|doi-access=free}}</ref>

{{multiple image
| total_width   = 300
| caption_align = center
| image1        = John F. Kennedy, White House color photo portrait.jpg
| caption1      = [[John F. Kennedy]], the 35th president (1961–1963)
| image2        = 37 Lyndon Johnson 3x4.jpg
| caption2      = [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], the 36th president (1963–1969)
}}
The election of President [[John F. Kennedy]] from Massachusetts in 1960 partially reflected this shift. In the campaign, Kennedy attracted a new generation of younger voters. In his agenda dubbed the [[New Frontier]], Kennedy introduced a host of social programs and public works projects, along with enhanced support of the [[NASA|space program]], proposing a crewed spacecraft [[Apollo 11|trip to the moon]] by the end of the decade. He pushed for civil rights initiatives and proposed the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]], but with his [[Assassination of John F. Kennedy|assassination]] in November 1963, he was not able to see its passage.<ref>James T. Patterson, ''Grand Expectations: The United States, 1945–1974'' (1997).</ref>

Kennedy's successor [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] was able to persuade the largely conservative Congress to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and with a more progressive Congress in 1965 passed much of the [[Great Society]], including [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]] and [[Medicaid]], which consisted of an array of social programs designed to help the poor, sick, and elderly. Kennedy and Johnson's advocacy of civil rights further solidified black support for the Democrats but had the effect of alienating Southern whites who would eventually gravitate toward the Republican Party, particularly after the election of [[Ronald Reagan]] to the presidency in 1980. Many conservative [[Southern Democrats]] defected to the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], beginning with the passage of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]] and the general leftward shift of the party.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Miller|first1=Gary|last2=Schofield|first2=Norman|year=2008|title=The Transformation of the Republican and Democratic Party Coalitions in the U.S.|journal=Perspectives on Politics|volume=6|issue=3|pages=433–450|doi=10.1017/S1537592708081218|s2cid=145321253|issn=1541-0986|quote=1964 was the last presidential election in which the Democrats earned more than 50 percent of the white vote in the United States.}}</ref><ref name=Black-2003/><ref name="Activists and Partisan Realignment"/><ref name=Valentino-2005/>

The United States' involvement in the [[Vietnam War]] in the 1960s was another divisive issue that further fractured the fault lines of the Democrats' coalition. After the [[Gulf of Tonkin Resolution]] in 1964, President Johnson committed a large contingency of combat troops to Vietnam, but the escalation failed to drive the [[Viet Cong]] from South Vietnam, resulting in an increasing [[Quagmire theory|quagmire]], which by 1968 had become the subject of widespread anti-war protests in the United States and elsewhere. With increasing casualties and nightly news reports bringing home troubling images from Vietnam, the costly military engagement became increasingly unpopular, alienating many of the kinds of young voters that the Democrats had attracted in the early 1960s. The protests that year along with assassinations of [[Martin Luther King Jr.]] and Democratic presidential candidate Senator [[Robert F. Kennedy]] (younger brother of John F. Kennedy) climaxed in turbulence at the hotly-contested [[1968 Democratic National Convention|Democratic National Convention]] that summer in Chicago (which amongst the ensuing turmoil inside and outside of the convention hall nominated Vice President [[Hubert Humphrey]]) in a series of events that proved to mark a significant turning point in the decline of the Democratic Party's broad coalition.<ref>Patterson, ''Grand Expectations: The United States, 1945–1974'' (1997).</ref>
[[File:JimmyCarterPortrait2.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Jimmy Carter]], the 39th president (1977–1981)]]
Republican presidential nominee [[Richard Nixon]] was able to capitalize on the confusion of the Democrats that year, and won the 1968 election to become the 37th president. He won re-election in a [[1972 United States presidential election|landslide]] in 1972 against Democratic nominee [[George McGovern]], who like Robert F. Kennedy, reached out to the younger anti-war and counterculture voters, but unlike Kennedy, was not able to appeal to the party's more traditional white working-class constituencies. During Nixon's second term, his presidency was rocked by the [[Watergate]] scandal, which forced him to resign in 1974. He was succeeded by vice president [[Gerald Ford]], who served a brief tenure.

Watergate offered the Democrats an opportunity to recoup, and their nominee [[Jimmy Carter]] won the 1976 presidential election. With the initial support of [[evangelical]] Christian voters in the South, Carter was temporarily able to reunite the disparate factions within the party, but inflation and the [[Iran Hostage Crisis]] of 1979–1980 took their toll, resulting in a [[1980 United States presidential election|landslide]] victory for Republican presidential nominee [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1980, which shifted the political landscape in favor of the Republicans for years to come. The influx of conservative Democrats into the Republican Party is often cited as a reason for the Republican Party's shift further to the right during the late 20th century as well as the shift of its base from the Northeast and Midwest to the South.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Smyth |first1=David J. |last2=Taylor |first2=Susan Washburn |date=1992 |title=Why Do the Republicans Win the White House More Often than the Democrats? |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/27550992 |journal=Presidential Studies Quarterly |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=481–491 |jstor=27550992 |issn=0360-4918 |access-date=January 19, 2023 |archive-date=January 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119034446/https://www.jstor.org/stable/27550992 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Jr |first=R. W. Apple |date=July 12, 1992 |title=Donkey's Years; Is There Room At the Top For Democrats? |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/12/weekinreview/donkey-s-years-is-there-room-at-the-top-for-democrats.html |access-date=January 19, 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=January 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119034446/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/12/weekinreview/donkey-s-years-is-there-room-at-the-top-for-democrats.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

==== 1990s and Third Way centrism ====
[[File:Bill Clinton.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Bill Clinton]], the 42nd president (1993–2001)]]
With the ascendancy of the Republicans under Ronald Reagan, the Democrats searched for ways to respond yet were unable to succeed by running traditional candidates, such as former vice president and Democratic presidential nominee [[Walter Mondale]] and Massachusetts Governor [[Michael Dukakis]], who lost to Reagan and [[George H.W. Bush]] in the [[1984 United States presidential election|1984]] and [[1988 United States presidential election|1988 presidential elections]], respectively. Many Democrats attached their hopes to the future star of [[Gary Hart]], who had challenged Mondale in the [[1984 Democratic Party presidential primaries|1984 primaries]] running on a theme of "New Ideas"; and in the subsequent [[1988 Democratic Party presidential primaries|1988 primaries]] became the de facto front-runner and virtual "shoo-in" for the Democratic presidential nomination before a sex scandal ended his campaign. The party nevertheless began to seek out a younger generation of leaders, who like Hart had been inspired by the pragmatic idealism of John F. Kennedy.<ref>James T. Patterson, ''Restless Giant: The United States from Watergate to Bush v. Gore'' (2011).</ref>

Arkansas governor [[Bill Clinton]] was one such figure, who was [[1992 United States presidential election|elected]] president in 1992 as the Democratic nominee. The [[Democratic Leadership Council]] was a campaign organization connected to Clinton that advocated a [[Political realignment|realignment]] and [[Triangulation (politics)|triangulation]] under the re-branded "[[New Democrats (United States)|New Democrat]]" label.<ref name="Geismer-2019">{{Cite web |last=Geismer |first=Lily |date=June 11, 2019 |title=Democrats and neoliberalism |url=https://www.vox.com/polyarchy/2019/6/11/18660240/democrats-neoliberalism |access-date=November 5, 2022 |website=Vox |language=en |quote=The version of neoliberalism embedded in these policies understood a distinct role for government to stimulate market-oriented solutions to address social ills such as unemployment and poverty. It thereby aimed not to eradicate the welfare state but rather to reformulate it. It extended the importance of poverty alleviation, which had long served as a benchmark of liberal policy, and had many similarities with the basic ideas of the war on poverty. |archive-date=November 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105045200/https://www.vox.com/polyarchy/2019/6/11/18660240/democrats-neoliberalism |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Hale-1995">{{Cite journal |last=Hale |first=Jon F. |date=1995 |title=The Making of the New Democrats |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2152360 |journal=Political Science Quarterly |volume=110 |issue=2 |pages=207–232 |doi=10.2307/2152360 |jstor=2152360 |issn=0032-3195 |access-date=August 24, 2022 |archive-date=December 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212194604/https://www.jstor.org/stable/2152360 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Wills-1997">{{Cite news |last=Wills |first=Garry |date=January 19, 1997 |title=The Clinton Principle |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/19/magazine/the-clinton-principle.html |access-date=August 24, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=August 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824024151/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/19/magazine/the-clinton-principle.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The party adopted a synthesis of [[Neoliberalism|neoliberal]] [[economic policies]] with [[cultural liberalism]], with the voter base after Reagan having shifted considerably to the [[Right (politics)|right]].<ref name="Geismer-2019" /> In an effort to appeal both to liberals and to fiscal conservatives, Democrats began to advocate for a [[balanced budget]] and [[market economy]] tempered by [[Economic interventionism|government intervention]] ([[mixed economy]]), along with a continued emphasis on [[social justice]] and [[affirmative action]]. The economic policy adopted by the Democratic Party, including the former [[Presidency of Bill Clinton|Clinton administration]], has been referred to as "[[Third Way]]".

The Democrats lost control of Congress in the [[Republican Revolution|1994 elections]] to the Republicans, however, in [[1996 United States Presidential Election|1996]] Clinton was re-elected, becoming the first Democratic president since Franklin D. Roosevelt to win a second full term.<ref>Patterson. ''Restless Giant: The United States from Watergate to Bush v. Gore'' (2011).</ref> Clinton's vice president [[Al Gore]] ran to succeed him as president, and won the [[List of United States presidential elections in which the winner lost the popular vote|popular vote]], but after a controversial election dispute over a Florida recount settled by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] (which [[Bush v. Gore|ruled 5–4 in favor of Bush]]), he lost the [[2000 United States Presidential Election|2000 election]] to Republican opponent [[George W. Bush]] in the [[United States Electoral College|Electoral College]].<ref name="Cornell-BushvGore">{{cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/00-949.ZPC.html|title=George W. Bush, et al., Petitioners v. Albert Gore, Jr., et al., 531 U.S. 98 (2000)|access-date=June 26, 2010|author=Supreme Court of the US|date=December 12, 2000|publisher=[[Cornell Law School]]|archive-date=October 15, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015060335/https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/00-949.ZPC.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 21st century ===
==== 2000s ====
[[File:President Barack Obama.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Barack Obama]], the 44th president (2009–2017)]]
In the wake of the 2001 [[September 11 attacks|terrorist attacks]] on the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]] and [[the Pentagon]] as well as the growing concern over [[global warming]], some of the party's key issues in the early 21st century have included combating [[terrorism]] while preserving human rights, expanding access to health care, [[labor rights]], and environmental protection. Democrats regained majority control of both the House and the Senate in the [[United States general elections, 2006|2006 elections]]. [[Barack Obama]] won the Democratic Party's nomination and was elected as the first African American president in 2008. Under the Obama presidency, the party moved forward reforms including an [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009|economic stimulus]] package, the [[Dodd-Frank Act|Dodd–Frank]] financial reform act, and the [[Affordable Care Act]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lerer|first1=Lisa|title=No Congress Since 1960s Has Impact on Public as 111th|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2010-12-22/no-congress-since-1960s-makes-most-laws-for-americans-as-111th|access-date=April 20, 2016|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|date=December 22, 2010|archive-date=March 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329224729/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2010-12-22/no-congress-since-1960s-makes-most-laws-for-americans-as-111th|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== 2010s ====
In the [[2010 United States elections|2010 midterm elections]], the Democratic Party lost control of the House as well as its majorities in several state legislatures and governorships. In the [[2012 United States presidential election|2012 elections]], President Obama was re-elected, but the party remained in the minority in the House of Representatives and lost control of the Senate in the [[2014 United States elections|2014 midterm elections]]. After the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 election]] of [[Donald Trump]], who lost the [[List of United States presidential elections in which the winner lost the popular vote|popular vote]] to Democratic nominee [[Hillary Clinton]], the Democratic Party transitioned into the role of an opposition party and held neither the presidency nor Congress for two years.<ref name="Revolt of the Rust Belt">{{cite journal|title=The revolt of the Rust Belt: place and politics in the age of anger|journal=The British Journal of Sociology|volume=68|issue=S1|pages=S120–S152|first=Michael|last=McQuarrie|date=November 8, 2017|doi=10.1111/1468-4446.12328|pmid=29114874|s2cid=26010609 |doi-access=free|quote=Today, the Democratic Party is a party of professionals, minorities and the New Economy.}}</ref> However, the party won back the House in the [[2018 United States House of Representatives elections|2018 midterm elections]] under the leadership of [[Nancy Pelosi]].

Democrats were extremely critical of President Trump, particularly his policies on immigration, healthcare, and abortion, as well as his response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite news|last=York|first=David Smith Molly Redden in New|date=April 1, 2016|title=Donald Trump's abortion remarks provoke biggest crisis of his campaign|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/31/donald-trump-abortion-remarks-biggest-campaign-crisis |access-date=June 29, 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=July 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729191734/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/31/donald-trump-abortion-remarks-biggest-campaign-crisis|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=McCormick|first=Stephanie Armour and John|date=March 14, 2020|title=Democrats Sharpen Criticism of Trump's Health-Care Policy in Coronavirus Pandemic|language=en-US|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-sharpen-criticism-of-trumps-health-care-policy-in-coronavirus-pandemic-11584195089 |access-date=June 29, 2020|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=July 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729182405/https://www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-sharpen-criticism-of-trumps-health-care-policy-in-coronavirus-pandemic-11584195089|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Trump WHO decision draws criticism from Democrats in US Congress|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/trump-decision-draws-criticism-democrats-congress-200415184644345.html |access-date=June 29, 2020|website=Al Jazeera |archive-date=July 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729193902/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/trump-decision-draws-criticism-democrats-congress-200415184644345.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2019, Democrats in the House of Representatives [[First impeachment of Donald Trump|impeached Trump]], although he was acquitted in the Republican-controlled Senate.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Ewing |first1=Philip |date=February 5, 2020 |title='Not Guilty': Trump Acquitted On 2 Articles Of Impeachment As Historic Trial Closes |language=en |newspaper=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/02/05/801429948/not-guilty-trump-acquitted-on-2-articles-of-impeachment-as-historic-trial-closes |access-date=February 8, 2021 |archive-date=February 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206152432/https://www.npr.org/2020/02/05/801429948/not-guilty-trump-acquitted-on-2-articles-of-impeachment-as-historic-trial-closes |url-status=live}}</ref>

==== 2020s ====
[[File:Joe Biden presidential portrait.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Joe Biden]], the 46th president (2021–present)]]
In November 2020, Democrat [[Joe Biden]] defeated Trump to win the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 7, 2020 |title=Biden defeats Trump for White House, says 'time to heal' |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9 |access-date=November 7, 2020 |website=AP NEWS |archive-date=November 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117190428/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9 |url-status=live}}</ref> He began his term with extremely narrow Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Jonathan |last2=Fausset |first2=Richard |last3=Epstein |first3=Reid J. |date=January 6, 2021 |title=Georgia Highlights: Democrats Win the Senate as Ossoff Defeats Perdue |website=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/01/06/us/georgia-election-results |access-date=January 11, 2021 |archive-date=January 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107140603/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/01/06/us/georgia-election-results |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=U.S. House Election Results |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |date=November 3, 2020 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/11/03/us/elections/results-house.html |access-date=February 8, 2021 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=February 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220074106/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/11/03/us/elections/results-house.html |url-status=live}}</ref> During the Biden presidency, the party has been characterized as adopting an increasingly [[Economic progressivism|progressive economic agenda]].<ref name="Hacker-2024">{{Cite journal |last1=Hacker |first1=Jacob S. |last2=Malpas |first2=Amelia |last3=Pierson |first3=Paul |last4=Zacher |first4=Sam |date=2024 |title=Bridging the Blue Divide: The Democrats' New Metro Coalition and the Unexpected Prominence of Redistribution |journal=Perspectives on Politics |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=609–629 |language=en |doi=10.1017/S1537592723002931 |issn=1537-5927 |doi-access=free}}</ref> In 2022, Biden appointed [[Ketanji Brown Jackson]], the first [[Black women|Black woman]] on the [[demographics of the Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]]. However, she was replacing liberal justice [[Stephen Breyer]], so she did not alter the court's 6–3 split between conservatives (the majority) and liberals.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fritze |first=John |date=March 6, 2022 |title=Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson would add another Protestant voice to heavily Catholic Supreme Court |url=https://news.yahoo.com/judge-ketanji-brown-jackson-add-100016272.html |work=Yahoo! News |language=en-US |access-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630163930/https://news.yahoo.com/judge-ketanji-brown-jackson-add-100016272.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=de Vogue |first=Ariane |date=June 30, 2022 |title=Ketanji Brown Jackson to join a Supreme Court in turmoil |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/29/politics/ketanji-brown-jackson-fractured-supreme-court/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629222838/https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/29/politics/ketanji-brown-jackson-fractured-supreme-court/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 30, 2022 |title=WATCH LIVE: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson sworn in as first Black woman on Supreme Court |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-judge-ketanji-brown-jackson-sworn-in-as-first-black-woman-on-supreme-court |website=PBS NewsHour |language=en-US |access-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630145216/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-judge-ketanji-brown-jackson-sworn-in-as-first-black-woman-on-supreme-court |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ketanji Brown Jackson sworn in as first Black woman on US top court |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-62003518.amp |website=BBC News |date=June 30, 2022 |access-date=July 1, 2022 |archive-date=July 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701024904/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-62003518.amp |url-status=live }}</ref> After ''[[Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization|Dobbs v. Jackson]]'' (decided June 24, 2022), which led to [[Abortion law in the United States by state|abortion bans in much of the country]], the Democratic Party rallied behind [[Abortion-rights movements|abortion rights]].<ref name="Traister-2023" />

In the [[2022 United States elections|2022 midterm elections]], Democrats dramatically outperformed historical trends and a widely anticipated [[Wave elections in the United States|red wave]] did not materialize.<ref name="Tumulty 2022">{{cite news |last=Tumulty |first=Karen |date=November 9, 2022 |title=The expected red wave looks more like a puddle |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/11/09/no-red-wave-midterm-outcome-analysis/ |access-date=November 10, 2022 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=November 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112060937/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/11/09/no-red-wave-midterm-outcome-analysis/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Blake 20222">{{cite news |last=Blake |first=Aaron |date=November 10, 2022 |title=How bad the 2022 election was for the GOP, historically speaking |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/10/republican-losses-2022-midterms/ |access-date=November 13, 2022 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=February 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219205348/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/10/republican-losses-2022-midterms/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The party only narrowly lost its majority in the U.S. House and expanded its majority in the U.S. Senate,<ref name="Kinery 2022">{{cite web |last=Kinery |first=Emma |date=November 9, 2022 |title=Midterm results are looking increasingly sunny for Biden as he touts 'strong night' for Democrats |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/09/midterm-election-results-look-better-for-biden-as-democrats-avoid-red-wave.html |access-date=November 10, 2022 |website=[[CNBC]] |archive-date=November 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109235327/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/09/midterm-election-results-look-better-for-biden-as-democrats-avoid-red-wave.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Enter 2022">{{cite news |last=Enten |first=Harry |date=November 13, 2022 |title=How Joe Biden and the Democratic Party defied midterm history |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/13/politics/democrats-biden-midterm-elections-senate-house/index.html |access-date=November 28, 2022 |publisher=[[CNN]] |archive-date=November 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128185931/https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/13/politics/democrats-biden-midterm-elections-senate-house/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Crampton 2022">{{cite web |last=Crampton |first=Liz |date=November 9, 2022 |title=Democrats take legislatures in Michigan, Minnesota and eye Pennsylvania |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/09/democrats-take-legislatures-00065953 |access-date=November 10, 2022 |website=[[Politico]] |archive-date=January 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105195034/https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/09/democrats-take-legislatures-00065953 |url-status=live }}</ref> along with several gains at the state level.<ref name="composition_2023_05_23_ncsl_org">[https://www.ncsl.org/about-state-legislatures/state-partisan-composition "State Partisan Composition,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704082911/https://www.ncsl.org/about-state-legislatures/state-partisan-composition |date=July 4, 2023 }} May 23, 2023, [[National Conference of State Legislatures]], retrieved July 4, 2023</ref><ref name="statehouse_2023_01_18_nytimes">[https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/18/us/democrats-michigan-minnesota-maryland.html "Statehouse Democrats Embrace an Unfamiliar Reality: Full Power,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605070246/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/18/us/democrats-michigan-minnesota-maryland.html |date=June 5, 2023 }} January 18, 2023, ''[[New York Times]],'' retrieved July 4, 2023</ref><ref name="trifectas_2022_11_11_ap_foxnews">[[Associated Press]]: [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/midterm-election-trifectas-democrats-won-full-government-control-these-states "Midterm election trifectas: Democrats won full government control in these states,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704090351/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/midterm-election-trifectas-democrats-won-full-government-control-these-states |date=July 4, 2023 }} November 10, 2022, ''[[Fox News]],'' retrieved July 4, 2023</ref><ref name="states_2023_07_01_gazette">[[Thomas Cronin|Cronin, Tom]] and Bob Loevy: [https://gazette.com/news/american-federalism-states-veer-far-left-or-far-right-cronin-and-loevy/article_47b241d8-1604-11ee-a860-3383285a990d.html "American federalism: States veer far left or far right,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704082911/https://gazette.com/news/american-federalism-states-veer-far-left-or-far-right-cronin-and-loevy/article_47b241d8-1604-11ee-a860-3383285a990d.html |date=July 4, 2023 }}, July 1, 2023, updated July 2, 2023, ''[[Colorado Springs Gazette]],'' retrieved July 4, 2023</ref>

In July 2024, after a series of [[Age and health concerns about Joe Biden|age and health concerns]], Biden became the first incumbent president since [[Withdrawal of Lyndon B. Johnson from the 1968 United States presidential election|Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968]] to [[Withdrawal of Joe Biden from the 2024 United States presidential election|withdraw]] from running for reelection, the first since the 19th century to withdraw after serving only one term,{{efn|All three incumbents in the 20th century to withdraw or not seek reelection—Calvin Coolidge, Harry S. Truman, and Lyndon B. Johnson—had succeeded to the presidency when their predecessor died, then won a second term in their own right.<ref name="Klassen-2024"/> Three presidents in the 1800s made and kept pledges to serve only one term, most recently [[Rutherford B. Hayes]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gendler |first1=Alex |title=US presidents who did not seek reelection |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/us-presidents-who-did-not-seek-reelection/7709836.html |work=Voice of America |date=July 23, 2024 |language=en |access-date=July 24, 2024 |archive-date=July 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240724054720/https://www.voanews.com/a/us-presidents-who-did-not-seek-reelection/7709836.html |url-status=live }}</ref>}} and the only one to ever withdraw after already winning [[Democratic Party presidential primaries|the primaries]].<ref name="Klassen-2024">{{cite news |last1=Klassen |first1=Thomas |title=Biden steps aside, setting in motion an unprecedented period in American politics |url=https://theconversation.com/biden-steps-aside-setting-in-motion-an-unprecedented-period-in-american-politics-235189 |access-date=July 24, 2024 |work=The Conversation |date=July 21, 2024 |archive-date=July 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240722044605/https://theconversation.com/biden-steps-aside-setting-in-motion-an-unprecedented-period-in-american-politics-235189 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kenning |first1=Chris |last2=Samuelsohn |first2=Darren |title='It's unprecedented': Biden's exit is a history-making moment in the American presidency |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/07/22/biden-drops-out-presidential-history/74491426007/ |access-date=July 23, 2024 |work=USA Today |archive-date=July 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725003155/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/07/22/biden-drops-out-presidential-history/74491426007/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2024, Vice President [[Kamala Harris]] - who became Biden's replacement on the ballot after his withdrawal from the race - became the first black woman to be nominated by a major party, but she was defeated in the [[2024 United States presidential election|election]] by [[Donald Trump]]. Harris lost the [[United States electoral college|electoral college]] 312-226 (including all seven of the anticipated [[swing state]]s) as well as the popular vote, being the first Democratic candidate to do so since [[John Kerry]] in 2004, amid global anti-incumbent backlash. All 50 states and [[District of Columbia|DC]] shifted rightward compared to 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last=Burn-Murdoch |first=John |date=November 7, 2024 |title=Democrats join 2024's graveyard of incumbents |url=https://www.ft.com/content/e8ac09ea-c300-4249-af7d-109003afb893 |access-date=November 8, 2024 |work=Financial Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/538/democrats-incumbent-parties-lost-elections-world/story?id=115972068|title=Democrats aren't alone — incumbent parties have lost elections all around the world|website=ABC News|first1=Cooper|last1=Burton|date=November 18, 2024|access-date=November 20, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Global Politics"/>

As of 2025, Democrats hold the presidency, 23 [[List of United States governors|state governorships]], 17 [[List of United States state legislatures|state legislatures]], 15 state government [[Government trifecta|trifectas]], and the mayorships in the majority of the country's major cities.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.worldpress.org/article.cfm/mayors-of-the-30-largest-cities-in-the-united-states |title=Mayors of the 30 Largest Cities in the U.S. |access-date=July 11, 2023 |archive-date=July 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711234205/https://www.worldpress.org/article.cfm/mayors-of-the-30-largest-cities-in-the-united-states |url-status=live}}</ref> Three of the nine current [[U.S. Supreme Court]] justices were appointed by Democratic presidents. By registered members, the Democratic Party is the largest party in the U.S. and the [[List of largest political parties|fourth largest in the world]]. Including the incumbent Biden, 16 Democrats have served as president of the United States.<ref name="sarnold" />

== Name and symbols ==
{{split portions|portions=mascots|talk=Talk:Political parties in the United States#Article on party mascots|date=August 2024}}
{{multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| width             = 150
| image1            = Democraticjackass.jpg
| caption1          = "A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Lion" by Thomas Nast, ''[[Harper's Magazine|Harper's Weekly]]'', January 19, 1870
| image2            = DemocraticLogo.svg
| caption2          = The donkey party logo remains a well-known symbol for the Democratic Party despite not being the official logo of the party.
}}

The [[Democratic-Republican Party]] splintered in 1824 into the short-lived [[National Republican Party]] and the Jacksonian movement which in 1828 became the Democratic Party. Under the Jacksonian era, the term "The Democracy" was in use by the party, but the name "Democratic Party" was eventually settled upon<ref>{{cite book|author=Appleby, Joyce|title=Thomas Jefferson|year=2003|page=4|publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-64841-7|author-link=Joyce Appleby|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6rOu3WYEiiQC|access-date=April 28, 2020|archive-date=October 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002180948/https://books.google.com/books?id=6rOu3WYEiiQC&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> and became the official name in 1844.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/157244/Democratic-Party/308570/Slavery-and-the-emergence-of-the-bipartisan-system|title=Democratic Party|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=January 19, 2015|archive-date=February 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217133844/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/157244/Democratic-Party/308570/Slavery-and-the-emergence-of-the-bipartisan-system|url-status=live}}</ref> Members of the party are called "Democrats" or "Dems".

The most common mascot symbol for the party has been the donkey, or jackass.<ref>see [https://web.archive.org/web/20090307093800/https://www.democrats.org/a/2005/06/history_of_the.php "History of the Democratic Donkey"]</ref> [[Andrew Jackson]]'s enemies twisted his name to "jackass" as a term of ridicule regarding a stupid and stubborn animal. However, the Democrats liked the common-man implications and picked it up too, therefore the image persisted and evolved.<ref>{{cite book|author=John William Ward|title=Andrew Jackson: Symbol for an Age|url=https://archive.org/details/andrewjacksonsym0000ward|url-access=registration|year=1962|publisher=Oxford Up|pages=[https://archive.org/details/andrewjacksonsym0000ward/page/87 87]–88|isbn=9780199923205}}</ref> Its most lasting impression came from the cartoons of [[Thomas Nast]] from 1870 in ''[[Harper's Magazine|Harper's Weekly]]''. Cartoonists followed Nast and used the donkey to represent the Democrats and the elephant to represent the Republicans.

[[File:Alabama Democrats logo 1904-1996.jpg|thumb|In many states, the logo of the Democratic Party was a rooster, for instance, in Alabama: Logo of the [[Alabama Democratic Party]], 1904–1966 (left) and 1966–1996 (right)<ref name="Ingram">{{Cite news|url=https://archive.org/details/RacistDemocraticPartyLogo|title=Loyalist Faction Wins; 'White Supremacy' Goes|last=Ingram|first=Bob|date=January 21, 1966|work=Birmingham News|access-date=July 22, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Bad symbol removed">{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MXw0AAAAIBAJ&pg=2082%2C1717940|title=Bad symbol removed|date=March 14, 1996|work=Times Daily|access-date=July 22, 2017|page=7B|archive-date=May 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531190400/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MXw0AAAAIBAJ&pg=2082%2C1717940|url-status=live}}</ref>]]

In the early 20th century, the traditional symbol of the Democratic Party in Indiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Ohio was the rooster, as opposed to the Republican eagle.<ref name="Barbour County-2008">{{cite web|title=Barbour County, West Virginia General Election Ballot|date=November 4, 2008|url=http://www.wvsos.com/elections/ballots/barbourgen.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024032144/https://www.wvsos.com/elections/ballots/barbourgen.pdf|archive-date=October 24, 2008}}</ref> The rooster was also adopted as an official symbol of the national Democratic Party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ithaca.edu/rhp/programs/cmd/blogs/posters_and_election_propaganda/the_rooster_as_the_symbol_of_the_u.s._democratic_p/|title=The Rooster as the Symbol of the U.S. Democratic Party|first=Steven|last= Seidman| publisher=Ithaca College|date=June 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024043133/http://www.ithaca.edu/rhp/programs/cmd/blogs/posters_and_election_propaganda/the_rooster_as_the_symbol_of_the_u.s._democratic_p/|
archive-date=October 24, 2017}}</ref> In 1904, the Alabama Democratic Party chose, as the logo to put on its ballots, a rooster with the motto "White supremacy – For the right."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.snopes.com/dem-party-logo-white-supremacy/|title=FACT CHECK: Did a State Democratic Party Logo Once Feature the Slogan 'White Supremacy'?|date=September 25, 2017|work=Snopes.com|access-date=December 9, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=September 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913230553/https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/dem-party-logo-white-supremacy/|url-status=live}}</ref> The words "White supremacy" were replaced with "Democrats" in 1966.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19660123&id=63VPAAAAIBAJ&pg=3996,5100480|title=Alabama Democratic Party Strikes 'White Supremacy' From Its Motto|date=January 23, 1966|work=Ocala Star-Banner|access-date=July 22, 2017|agency=Associated Press|page=1|archive-date=November 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128030021/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19660123&id=63VPAAAAIBAJ&pg=3996,5100480|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Ingram"/> In 1996, the Alabama Democratic Party dropped the rooster, citing racist and white supremacist connotations linked with the symbol.<ref name="Bad symbol removed"/> The rooster symbol still appears on Oklahoma, Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia [[ballot]]s.<ref name="Barbour County-2008"/> In New York, the Democratic ballot symbol is a five-pointed star.<ref>{{cite web|title=Poor Ballot Design Hurts New York's Minor Parties{{nbsp}}... Again|publisher=[[Brennan Center for Justice]]|first=Tomas|last=Lopez|date=October 23, 2014|url=https://www.brennancenter.org/blog/poor-ballot-design-hurts-new-yorks-minor-parties-again|access-date=February 6, 2017|archive-date=February 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207031521/https://www.brennancenter.org/blog/poor-ballot-design-hurts-new-yorks-minor-parties-again|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Although both major political parties (and many minor ones) use the traditional American colors of red, white, and blue in their marketing and representations, since [[2000 United States presidential election|election night 2000]] blue has become the identifying color for the Democratic Party while red has become the identifying color for the Republican Party. That night, for the first time all major broadcast television networks used the same color scheme for the electoral map: [[Red states and blue states|blue states]] for [[Al Gore]] (Democratic nominee) and red states for [[George W. Bush]] (Republican nominee). Since then, the color blue has been widely used by the media to represent the party. This is contrary to common practice outside of the United States where blue is the traditional color of the right and red the color of the left.<ref name="WP Nov 2004">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17079-2004Nov1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509144731/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17079-2004Nov1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 9, 2008|title=Elephants Are Red, Donkeys Are Blue|last=Farhi|first=Paul|date=November 2, 2004|newspaper=Washington Post|page=C01|access-date=October 11, 2016}}</ref>

[[Jefferson-Jackson Day]] is the annual fundraising event (dinner) held by Democratic Party organizations across the United States.<ref>{{cite news|first=Bill|last=Trotter|title=Obama sets sights on November battle|newspaper=[[Bangor Daily News]]|date=February 11, 2008|url=http://www.bangornews.com/news/t/city.aspx?articleid=160039&zoneid=176|access-date=February 12, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228050855/http://www.bangornews.com/news/t/city.aspx?articleid=160039&zoneid=176|archive-date=February 28, 2008}}</ref> It is named after Presidents [[Thomas Jefferson]] and [[Andrew Jackson]], whom the party regards as its distinguished early leaders.

The song "[[Happy Days Are Here Again]]" is the unofficial song of the Democratic Party. It was used prominently when [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] was nominated for president at the [[1932 Democratic National Convention]] and remains a sentimental favorite for Democrats. For example, [[Paul Shaffer]] played the theme on the ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]'' after the Democrats won Congress in 2006. "[[Don't Stop (Fleetwood Mac song)|Don't Stop]]" by [[Fleetwood Mac]] was adopted by [[Bill Clinton]]'s presidential campaign in 1992 and has endured as a popular Democratic song. The emotionally similar song "[[Beautiful Day]]" by the band [[U2]] has also become a favorite theme song for Democratic candidates. [[John Kerry]] used the song during his 2004 presidential campaign and several Democratic congressional candidates used it as a celebratory tune in 2006.<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Gruss|title=Local roast becomes political pep rally for Democrats|newspaper=[[The Virginian-Pilot]]|date=November 21, 2006|url=http://hamptonroads.com/node/185421|access-date=April 15, 2007|archive-date=February 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225035614/http://hamptonroads.com/node/185421|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Scherer|title=The Democrats are ready to lead|work=[[Salon.com]]|date=November 8, 2006|url=https://www.salon.com/news/feature/2006/11/08/pelosi/|access-date=March 18, 2007|archive-date=August 11, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090811050908/http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2006/11/08/pelosi/|url-status=live}}</ref>

As a traditional anthem for its presidential nominating convention, [[Aaron Copland]]'s "[[Fanfare for the Common Man]]" is traditionally performed at the beginning of the Democratic National Convention.

==Structure==
[[File:Democratic National Headquarters (53832041544).jpg|thumb|Democratic National Headquarters (2024)]]

=== National committee ===
The [[Democratic National Committee]] (DNC) is responsible for promoting Democratic campaign activities. While the DNC is responsible for overseeing the process of writing the Democratic Platform, the DNC is more focused on campaign and organizational strategy than [[public policy]]. In presidential elections, it supervises the [[Democratic National Convention]]. The national convention is subject to the charter of the party and the ultimate authority within the Democratic Party when it is in session, with the DNC running the party's organization at other times. Since 2021, the DNC has been chaired by [[Jaime Harrison]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schneider |first1=Avie |title=DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison Wants To Build The 'Next Generation' Of Democratic Talent |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/01/22/959573611/dnc-chairman-jaime-harrison-wants-to-build-the-next-generation-of-democratic-tal |access-date=January 22, 2021 |publisher=NPR |date=January 22, 2021 |archive-date=February 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220202101/https://www.npr.org/2021/01/22/959573611/dnc-chairman-jaime-harrison-wants-to-build-the-next-generation-of-democratic-tal |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== State parties ===
{{main|List of state parties of the Democratic Party (United States)}}

Each state also has a state committee, made up of elected committee members as well as ex officio committee members (usually elected officials and representatives of major constituencies), which in turn elects a chair. County, town, city, and ward committees generally are composed of individuals elected at the local level. State and local committees often coordinate campaign activities within their jurisdiction, oversee local conventions, and in some cases primaries or caucuses, and may have a role in nominating candidates for elected office under state law. Rarely do they have much direct funding, but in 2005 DNC Chairman Dean began a program (called the "50 State Strategy") of using DNC national funds to assist all state parties and pay for full-time professional staffers.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gilgoff|first=Dan|title=Dean's List|date=July 16, 2006|url=https://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/060716/24dems.htm|work=[[U.S. News & World Report]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709100930/http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/060716/24dems.htm|archive-date=July 9, 2012|access-date=April 26, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In addition, state-level party committees operate in the territories of [[American Samoa Democratic Party|American Samoa]], [[Democratic Party of Guam|Guam]], and [[Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands|Virgin Islands]], the commonwealths of [[Democratic Party (Northern Mariana Islands)|Northern Mariana Islands]] and [[Democratic Party (Puerto Rico)|Puerto Rico]], and the [[District of Columbia Democratic State Committee|District of Columbia]], with all but Puerto Rico being active in nominating candidates for both presidential and territorial contests, while Puerto Rico's Democratic Party is organized only to nominate presidential candidates. The [[Democrats Abroad]] committee is organized by American voters who reside outside of U.S. territory to nominate presidential candidates. All such party committees are accorded recognition as state parties and are allowed to elect both members to the National Committee as well as delegates to the National Convention.

===Major party committees and groups===
[[File:Barack Obama Speaks to College Democrats.jpg|thumb|right|Then-Senator Obama speaking to College Democrats of America in 2007]]
The [[Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee]] (DCCC) assists party candidates in House races and is chaired by Representative [[Suzan DelBene]] of [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. Similarly, the [[Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee]] (DSCC), chaired by Senator [[Gary Peters]] of Michigan, raises funds for Senate races. The [[Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee]] (DLCC), chaired by [[Majority Leader of the New York State Senate]] [[Andrea Stewart-Cousins]], is a smaller organization that focuses on state legislative races. The [[Democratic Governors Association]] (DGA) is an organization supporting the candidacies of Democratic gubernatorial nominees and incumbents. Likewise, the mayors of the largest cities and urban centers convene as the [[National Conference of Democratic Mayors]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Home |url=http://www.democraticmayors.org/ |website=National Conference of Democratic Mayors |access-date=March 21, 2020 |archive-date=October 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002181004/https://www.democraticmayors.org/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The DNC sponsors the [[College Democrats of America]] (CDA), a student-outreach organization with the goal of training and engaging a new generation of Democratic activists. [[Democrats Abroad]] is the organization for Americans living outside the United States. They work to advance the party's goals and encourage Americans living abroad to support the Democrats. The [[Young Democrats of America]] (YDA) and the [[High School Democrats of America]] (HSDA) are young adult and youth-led organizations respectively that attempt to draw in and mobilize young people for Democratic candidates but operates outside of the DNC.

== Political positions ==
{{main|Political positions of the Democratic Party (United States)}}
The party's platform favors a generous [[welfare state]] and a greater measure of social and economic equality.<ref name="Larry E. Sullivan 2009 p 291">Larry E. Sullivan. ''The SAGE glossary of the social and behavioral sciences'' (2009). p. 291: "This liberalism favors a generous welfare state and a greater measure of social and economic equality. Liberty thus exists when all citizens have access to basic necessities such as education, healthcare, and economic opportunities."</ref> On social issues, it advocates for [[Abortion-rights movements|the continued legality of abortion]],<ref name="Traister-2023" /> the [[Legality of cannabis by U.S. jurisdiction|legalization of marijuana]],<ref name="Gurley-2020" /> and [[LGBT rights]].<ref name="NPR-2012a" />

=== Economic issues ===
The [[social safety net]] and strong [[Labor unions in the United States|labor unions]] have been at the heart of Democratic economic policy since the [[New Deal]] in the 1930s.<ref name="Larry E. Sullivan 2009 p 291" /> The Democratic Party's economic policy positions, as measured by votes in Congress, tend to align with those of the middle class.<ref name=Grossmann-2021/><ref>{{Cite book|last=Bartels|first=Larry M.|url=https://muse.jhu.edu/book/64558|title=Unequal Democracy: The Political Economy of the New Gilded Age – Second Edition|date=2016|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-1-4008-8336-3|access-date=November 5, 2021|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105222439/https://muse.jhu.edu/book/64558|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Rhodes|first1=Jesse H.|last2=Schaffner|first2=Brian F.|date=2017|title=Testing Models of Unequal Representation: Democratic Populists and Republican Oligarchs?|url=http://www.nowpublishers.com/article/Details/QJPS-16077|journal=Quarterly Journal of Political Science|volume=12|issue=2|pages=185–204|doi=10.1561/100.00016077|access-date=November 5, 2021|archive-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029183431/https://www.nowpublishers.com/article/Details/QJPS-16077|url-status=live | issn = 1554-0626 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lax|first1=Jeffrey R.|last2=Phillips|first2=Justin H.|last3=Zelizer|first3=Adam|date=2019|title=The Party or the Purse? Unequal Representation in the US Senate|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/abs/party-or-the-purse-unequal-representation-in-the-us-senate/286BFEAA039374759DE14D782A0BB8DD|journal=American Political Science Review|language=en|volume=113|issue=4|pages=917–940|doi=10.1017/S0003055419000315|s2cid=21669533|issn=0003-0554|access-date=November 5, 2021|archive-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029000457/https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/abs/party-or-the-purse-unequal-representation-in-the-us-senate/286BFEAA039374759DE14D782A0BB8DD|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Hacker|first1=Jacob S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kqu6DwAAQBAJ|title=Let them Eat Tweets: How the Right Rules in an Age of Extreme Inequality|last2=Pierson|first2=Paul|date=2020|publisher=Liveright Publishing|isbn=978-1-63149-685-1|language=en}}</ref> Democrats support a [[progressive tax]] system, higher [[Minimum wage in the United States|minimum wages]], [[equal opportunity employment]], [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]], [[universal health care]], [[Education in the United States|public education]], and [[Subsidized housing in the United States|subsidized housing]].<ref name="Larry E. Sullivan 2009 p 291" /> They also support [[Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act|infrastructure development]] and clean energy investments to achieve economic development and job creation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.democrats.org/issues/economy_and_job_creation|title=Jobs and the Economy|work=Democrats.org|access-date=July 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320195530/http://www.democrats.org/issues/economy_and_job_creation|archive-date=March 20, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Since the 1990s, the party has at times supported [[Centrism|centrist]] economic reforms that cut the size of government and reduced market regulations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/19/wall-street-deregulation-clinton-advisers-obama|title=Wall Street deregulation pushed by Clinton advisers, documents reveal|first=Dan|last=Roberts|newspaper=The Guardian |date=April 19, 2014|access-date=December 14, 2016|archive-date=January 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106185232/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/19/wall-street-deregulation-clinton-advisers-obama|url-status=live}}</ref> The party has generally rejected both [[Laissez-faire|''laissez-faire'' economics]] and [[market socialism]], instead favoring [[Keynesian economics]] within a capitalist market-based system.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mudge |first1=Stephanie |title=Leftism Reinvented: Western Parties from Socialism to Neoliberalism |date=2018 |publisher=Harvard University Press |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts |pages=167–213}}</ref>

==== Fiscal policy ====
Democrats support a more [[progressive tax]] structure to provide more services and reduce [[economic inequality]] by making sure that the wealthiest Americans pay more in taxes.<ref name="how-high">{{cite web |url=http://economics.about.com/od/monetaryandfiscalpolicy/a/high_taxes.htm |title=How High Should Taxes Be? |publisher=Economics.about.com |date=June 12, 2010 |access-date=June 17, 2010 |archive-date=April 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414204158/http://economics.about.com/od/monetaryandfiscalpolicy/a/high_taxes.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>
Democrats and Republicans traditionally take differing stances on eradicating poverty. Brady said "Our poverty level is the direct consequence of our weak social policies, which are a direct consequence of weak political actors".<ref>{{cite news |last1=CARBONARO |first1=GIULIA |title=Poverty Is Killing Nearly 200,000 Americans a Year |url=https://www.newsweek.com/poverty-killing-nearly-200000-americans-year-1806002 |agency=Newsweek |date=2023 |access-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-date=June 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629052853/https://www.newsweek.com/poverty-killing-nearly-200000-americans-year-1806002 |url-status=live }}</ref>
They oppose the cutting of social services, such as [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]], [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]], and [[Medicaid]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usinfo.state.gov/infousa/government/social/ch9.htm|title=The Social Safety Net|publisher=usinfo.state.gov|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410221216/http://usinfo.state.gov/infousa/government/social/ch9.htm|archive-date=April 10, 2008}}</ref> believing it to be harmful to efficiency and [[social justice]]. Democrats believe the benefits of social services in monetary and non-monetary terms are a more [[Productive and unproductive labour|productive labor]] force and cultured population and believe that the benefits of this are greater than any benefits that could be derived from lower taxes, especially on top earners, or cuts to social services. Furthermore, Democrats see social services as essential toward providing [[Positive liberty|positive freedom]], freedom derived from economic opportunity. The Democratic-led House of Representatives reinstated the [[PAYGO]] (pay-as-you-go) budget rule at the start of the [[110th United States Congress|110th Congress]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Day Two: House passes new budget rules|date=January 5, 2007|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna16487187|agency=Associated Press|access-date=January 5, 2007|archive-date=December 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204034031/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/16487187|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Minimum wage ====
{{see also|Minimum wage in the United States}}
The Democratic Party favors raising the [[minimum wage]]. The [[Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007]] was an early component of the Democrats' agenda during the [[110th United States Congress|110th Congress]]. In 2006, the Democrats supported six state-ballot initiatives to increase the minimum wage and all six initiatives passed.<ref name="democrats.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.democrats.org/democratic-national-platform |title=The Democratic Party Platform |publisher=Democrats.org |access-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315234633/http://www.democrats.org/democratic-national-platform |archive-date=March 15, 2014}}</ref>

In 2017, Senate Democrats introduced the Raise the Wage Act which would raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kulwin|first=Noah|date=May 25, 2017|title=Democrats just united on a $15-an-hour minimum wage|url=https://news.vice.com/story/democrats-just-united-on-a-15-an-hour-minimum-wage|work=Vice|access-date=May 29, 2017|archive-date=May 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170526052042/https://news.vice.com/story/democrats-just-united-on-a-15-an-hour-minimum-wage|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, Democratic president [[Joe Biden]] proposed increasing the minimum wage to $15 by 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Freking |first1=Kevin |title=Biden, Democrats hit gas on push for $15 minimum wage |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-rashida-tlaib-coronavirus-pandemic-minimum-wage-ee0e8cc7c96a30d9581723b2c6bb4189 |website=The Associated Press |date=January 30, 2021 |access-date=February 6, 2021 |archive-date=February 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219102902/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-rashida-tlaib-coronavirus-pandemic-minimum-wage-ee0e8cc7c96a30d9581723b2c6bb4189 |url-status=live }}</ref> In many states controlled by Democrats, the state minimum wage has been increased to a rate above the federal minimum wage.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Marr |first1=Chris |title=Blue State Minimum Wages Inch Upward, Widening Gap With South |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/blue-state-minimum-wages-inch-upward-widening-gap-with-south |website=Bloomberg Law |access-date=July 24, 2022 |archive-date=May 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525224046/https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/blue-state-minimum-wages-inch-upward-widening-gap-with-south |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Health care ====
[[File:Obama signing health care-20100323.jpg|thumb|President Obama signing the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] into law in 2010]]
Democrats call for "affordable and quality health care" and favor moving toward [[universal health care]] in a variety of forms to address rising healthcare costs. Progressive Democrats politicians favor a [[single-payer health care|single-payer program]] or [[Medicare for All]], while liberals prefer creating a [[public health insurance option]].<ref name="Goodnough-2019"/>

The [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]], signed into law by President [[Barack Obama]] on March 23, 2010, has been one of the most significant pushes for universal health care. As of December 2019, more than 20&nbsp;million Americans have gained health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nova |first1=Annie |title=How the Affordable Care Act transformed our health-care system |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/29/how-the-affordable-care-act-transformed-the-us-health-care-system.html |website=CNBC |date=December 29, 2019 |access-date=July 22, 2020 |archive-date=July 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727041849/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/29/how-the-affordable-care-act-transformed-the-us-health-care-system.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Education ====
Democrats favor improving [[public education]] by raising school standards and reforming the [[Head Start (program)|Head Start program]]. They also support [[universal preschool]], expanding access to primary education, including through [[charter schools]], and are generally opposed to [[school voucher]] programs. They call for addressing [[student loan]] debt and reforms to reduce college tuition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/papers_pdf/101962.pdf |title=Moving America Forward 2012 Democratic National Platform |publisher=presidency.ucsb.edu |date=September 14, 2012 |access-date=January 13, 2018 |archive-date=August 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819093203/http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/papers_pdf/101962.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> Other proposals have included tuition-free public universities and reform of [[standardized testing]]. Democrats have the long-term aim of having publicly funded college education with low tuition fees (like in much of Europe and Canada), which would be available to every eligible American student. Alternatively, they encourage expanding access to post-secondary education by increasing state funding for student financial aid such as [[Pell Grants]] and [[college tuition]] [[tax deductions]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Clinton Joins Key Senate Democrats to Release Report on "The College Cost Crunch"|date=June 28, 2006|url=http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=258005|work=clinton.senate.gov|access-date=November 25, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061025234254/http://www.clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=258005|archive-date=October 25, 2006}}</ref>

==== Environment ====
{{main|Environmental policy of the United States}}

{{multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = horizontal
| total_width       = 450
| image1            = 2009- Pew survey - is climate change a major threat, by political party.svg
| caption1          = Democrats and Republicans have diverged on the seriousness of the threat posed by climate change, with Democrats' assessment rising significantly in the mid-2010s.<ref name=PewClimateChange_20230418>● {{cite web |title=54% of Americans view climate change as a major threat, but the partisan divide has grown |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/04/18/for-earth-day-key-facts-about-americans-views-of-climate-change-and-renewable-energy/sr_2023-04-18_climate_5/ |publisher=Pew Research Center |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422182323/https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/04/18/for-earth-day-key-facts-about-americans-views-of-climate-change-and-renewable-energy/sr_2023-04-18_climate_5/ |archive-date=April 22, 2023 |date=April 18, 2023 |url-status=live }} ● Broader discussion by {{cite web |last1=Tyson |first1=Alec |last2=Funk |first2=Cary |last3=Kennedy |first3=Brian |title=What the data says about Americans' views of climate change |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/04/18/for-earth-day-key-facts-about-americans-views-of-climate-change-and-renewable-energy/ |publisher=Pew Research Center |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512193458/https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/04/18/for-earth-day-key-facts-about-americans-views-of-climate-change-and-renewable-energy/ |archive-date=May 12, 2023 |date=April 18, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| image2            = 2021 Survey on existence of global warming and responsibility for climate change - bar chart.svg
| caption2          = The sharp divide over the existence of and responsibility for global warming and climate change falls largely along political lines. Overall, 60% of those surveyed said oil and gas companies were "completely or mostly responsible" for climate change.<ref name=Guardian_20211026>{{cite news |last1=McGreal |first1=Chris |title=Revealed: 60% of Americans say oil firms are to blame for the climate crisis |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/26/climate-change-poll-oil-gas-companies-environment |work=The Guardian |date=October 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026122356/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/26/climate-change-poll-oil-gas-companies-environment |archive-date=October 26, 2021 |url-status=live |quote=Source: Guardian/Vice/CCN/YouGov poll. Note: ±4% margin of error.}}</ref>
}}

{{multiple image
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| image3            = 20220301 Opinions by political party - Climate change causation - Action for carbon neutral 2050 - Pew Research.svg
| caption3          = Opinion about human causation of climate change increased substantially with education among Democrats, but not among Republicans.<ref name=Pew_20220301/> Conversely, opinions favoring becoming carbon neutral declined substantially with age among Republicans, but not among Democrats.<ref name=Pew_20220301>{{cite web |last1=Tyson |first1=Alec |last2=Funk |first2=Cary |last3=Kennedy |first3=Brian |title=Americans Largely Favor U.S. Taking Steps To Become Carbon Neutral by 2050 / Appendix (Detailed charts and tables) |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2022/03/01/carbon-neutral-2050-appendix/ |website=Pew Research |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418220503/https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2022/03/01/carbon-neutral-2050-appendix/ |archive-date=April 18, 2022 |date=March 1, 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| image4            = 20220411 Support for policies to combat climate change, by political party - Gallup poll.svg
| caption4          = A broad range of policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has been proposed. Democrats' support for such policies consistently exceeds that of Republicans.<ref name=Gallup_20220411>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Jeffrey M. |title=Climate Change Proposals Favored by Solid Majorities in U.S. / Support for Policies Designed to Limit Greenhouse Gases, by Political Party |url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/391679/climate-change-proposals-favored-solid-majorities.aspx |website=Gallup |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001132301/https://news.gallup.com/poll/391679/climate-change-proposals-favored-solid-majorities.aspx |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |date=April 11, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

[[File:202307 Survey - comfortable with solar wind nuclear in my community.svg|thumb|Acceptance of wind and solar facilities in one's community is stronger among Democrats (blue), while acceptance of nuclear power plants is stronger among Republicans (red).<ref name="WashPost_20231003">{{cite news |last1=Chiu |first1=Allyson |last2=Guskin |first2=Emily |last3=Clement |first3=Scott |title=Americans don't hate living near solar and wind farms as much as you might think |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2023/10/03/solar-panels-wind-turbines-nimby/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003211732/https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2023/10/03/solar-panels-wind-turbines-nimby/ |archive-date=October 3, 2023 | url-status=live }}</ref>]]

Democrats believe that the government should protect the environment and have a history of environmentalism. In more recent years, this stance has emphasized [[renewable energy]] generation as the basis for an improved economy, greater [[national security]], and general environmental benefits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.democrats.org/a/national/clean_environment/ |title=Agenda&nbsp;— Environment |access-date=March 18, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315113030/http://www.democrats.org/a/national/clean_environment/ |archive-date=March 15, 2007}}</ref> The Democratic Party is substantially more likely than the Republican Party to support environmental regulation and policies that are supportive of renewable energy.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Coley|first1=Jonathan S.|last2=Hess|first2=David J.|date=2012|title=Green energy laws and Republican legislators in the United States|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421512004752|journal=Energy Policy|language=en|volume=48|pages=576–583|doi=10.1016/j.enpol.2012.05.062|bibcode=2012EnPol..48..576C |issn=0301-4215|access-date=November 7, 2021|archive-date=June 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618224202/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421512004752|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Bergquist|first1=Parrish|last2=Warshaw|first2=Christopher|date=2020|title=Elections and parties in environmental politics|url=https://www.elgaronline.com/view/edcoll/9781788972833/9781788972833.00017.xml|journal=Handbook of U.S. Environmental Policy|pages=126–141|language=en-US|doi=10.4337/9781788972840.00017|isbn=9781788972840|s2cid=219077951|access-date=November 7, 2021|archive-date=November 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107233114/https://www.elgaronline.com/view/edcoll/9781788972833/9781788972833.00017.xml|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Democratic Party also favors expansion of conservation lands and encourages open space and rail travel to relieve highway and airport congestion and improve air quality and the economy as it "believe[s] that communities, environmental interests, and the government should work together to protect resources while ensuring the vitality of local economies. Once Americans were led to believe they had to make a choice between the economy and the environment. They now know this is a false choice".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Democratic_Party_Environment.htm|title=Democratic Party on Environment|access-date=October 24, 2007|archive-date=July 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703223850/http://ontheissues.org/Celeb/Democratic_Party_Environment.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

The foremost environmental concern of the Democratic Party is [[climate change]]. Democrats, most notably former Vice President [[Al Gore]], have pressed for stern regulation of [[greenhouse gas]]es. On October 15, 2007, Gore won the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] for his efforts to build greater knowledge about man-made climate change and laying the foundations for the measures needed to counteract it.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=John|last=Nicols|title=Al Gore Wins Nobel Peace Prize|magazine=The Nation|date=October 12, 2007}}</ref>

==== Renewable energy and fossil fuels ====
Democrats have supported increased domestic [[renewable energy]] development, including wind and solar power farms, in an effort to reduce carbon pollution. The party's platform calls for an "all of the above" energy policy including clean energy, natural gas and domestic oil, with the desire of becoming energy independent.<ref name="democrats.org" /> The party has supported higher taxes on [[oil companies]] and increased regulations on [[coal power plant]]s, favoring a policy of reducing long-term reliance on [[fossil fuels]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.democrats.org/issues/energy_independence|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920002824/http://www.democrats.org/issues/energy_independence|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 20, 2010|title=Energy Independence|work=Democrats.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/06/02/coal-state-democrats-to-obama-curb-emissions-um-no-thanks/|title=Coal state Democrats to Obama: Curb emissions? Um, no thanks.|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|first=Sean|last=Sullivan|date=June 2, 2014|access-date=August 22, 2017|archive-date=May 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513225106/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/06/02/coal-state-democrats-to-obama-curb-emissions-um-no-thanks/|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, the party supports stricter [[fuel emissions standard]]s to prevent air pollution.

During his presidency, Joe Biden enacted the [[Inflation Reduction Act of 2022]], which is the largest allocation of funds for [[Climate change mitigation|addressing climate change]] in the history of the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wells |first=Joey Garrison and Dylan |title=Sen. Kyrsten Sinema backs Inflation Reduction Act, giving Biden the votes for Senate passage |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/08/04/krysten-sinema-inflation-reduction-act-senator-democrats-vote/10234906002/ |access-date=August 24, 2022 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US |archive-date=August 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824023439/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/08/04/krysten-sinema-inflation-reduction-act-senator-democrats-vote/10234906002/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=What The Climate Package Means For A Warming Planet : Consider This from NPR |language=en |work=NPR.org |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/08/11/1117017336/what-the-climate-package-means-for-a-warming-planet |access-date=August 24, 2022 |archive-date=August 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824100551/https://www.npr.org/2022/08/11/1117017336/what-the-climate-package-means-for-a-warming-planet |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Nilsen |first1=Ella |title=Clean energy package would be biggest legislative climate investment in US history |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/07/28/politics/climate-deal-joe-manchin/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=31 July 2022 |date=28 July 2022 |archive-date=February 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202005446/https://edition.cnn.com/2022/07/28/politics/climate-deal-joe-manchin/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Trade====
Like the Republican Party, the Democratic Party has taken widely varying views on [[international trade]] throughout its history. The Democratic Party has usually been more supportive of [[free trade]] than the Republican Party.

The Democrats dominated the [[Second Party System]] and set low tariffs designed to pay for the government but not protect industry. Their opponents the Whigs wanted high protective tariffs but usually were outvoted in Congress. Tariffs soon became a major political issue as the [[Whig Party (United States)|Whigs]] (1832–1852) and (after 1854) the Republicans wanted to protect their mostly northern industries and constituents by voting for higher tariffs and the [[Southern Democrats]], which had very little industry but imported many goods voted for lower tariffs. After the Second Party System ended in 1854 the Democrats lost control and the new Republican Party had its opportunity to raise rates.<ref>Taussig, ''Tariff History'' pp. 109–24</ref>

During the [[Third Party System]], Democratic president [[Grover Cleveland]] made low tariffs the centerpiece of Democratic Party policies, arguing that high tariffs were an unnecessary and unfair tax on consumers. The South and [[Western United States|West]] generally supported low tariffs, while the industrial [[Northern United States|North]] high tariffs.<ref>Joanne R. Reitano, ''The Tariff Question in the Gilded Age: The Great Debate of 1888'' (Penn State Press, 1994)</ref> During the [[Fourth Party System]], Democratic president [[Woodrow Wilson]] made a drastic lowering of tariff rates a major priority for his presidency. The 1913 [[Underwood Tariff]] cut rates, and the new revenues generated by the [[federal income tax]] made tariffs much less important in terms of economic impact and political rhetoric.<ref>Woodrow Wilson: "Address to a Joint Session of Congress on the Banking System," June 23, 1913. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=65369 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012012358/http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=65369 |date=October 12, 2018 }}.</ref>

During the [[Fifth Party System]], the [[Reciprocal Tariff Act]] of 1934 was enacted during [[Franklin D. Roosevelt|FDR's]] administration, marking a sharp departure from the era of [[protectionism in the United States]]. American duties on foreign products declined from an average of 46% in 1934 to 12% by 1962.<ref name="Bailey">{{cite journal|last=Bailey|first=Michael A.|author2=Goldstein, Weingast |title=The Institutional Roots of American Trade Policy|journal=World Politics|date=April 1997|volume=49|issue=3|pages=309–38|doi=10.1353/wp.1997.0007|s2cid=154711958 }}</ref> After World War II, the U.S. promoted the [[General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade]] (GATT) established in 1947 during the [[Presidency of Harry S. Truman|Truman administration]], to minimize tariffs liberalize trade among all capitalist countries.<ref name=barton>John H. Barton, [[Judith L. Goldstein]], Timothy E. Josling, and Richard H. Steinberg, ''The Evolution of the Trade Regime: Politics, Law, and Economics of the GATT and the WTO'' (2008)</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=McClenahan |first1=William |title=The Growth of Voluntary Export Restraints and American Foreign Economic Policy, 1956–1969 |journal=Business and Economic History |date=1991 |volume=20 |pages=180–190 |jstor=23702815 }}</ref>

In the 1990s, the Clinton administration and a number of prominent Democrats pushed through a number of agreements such as the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] (NAFTA). Since then, the party's shift away from free trade became evident in the [[Dominican Republic&nbsp;– Central America Free Trade Agreement|Central American Free Trade Agreement]] (CAFTA) vote, with 15 House Democrats voting for the agreement and 187 voting against.<ref>{{cite news|last=Weisman|first=Jonathan|title=CAFTA Reflects Democrats' Shift From Trade Bills|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 6, 2005|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/05/AR2005070501345_pf.html|access-date=December 10, 2006|archive-date=November 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102173616/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/05/AR2005070501345_pf.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Nichols |first=John |title=CAFTA Vote Outs "Bush Democrats" |magazine=[[The Nation]] |date=July 28, 2005 |url=http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?bid=1&pid=8874 |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20111027041618/http://www.thenation.com/blogs/john-nichols?bid=1&pid=8874 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 27, 2011 |access-date=December 15, 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://democrats.org/where-we-stand/party-platform/building-a-stronger-fairer-economy/|title=Building A Stronger, Fairer Economy|newspaper=Democrats|access-date=August 10, 2021|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818204036/https://democrats.org/where-we-stand/party-platform/building-a-stronger-fairer-economy/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenroberts/2024/04/26/biden-could-be-1st-president-since-carter-to-not-negotiate-sign-fta/|title=Biden Could Be 1st President Since Carter To Not Negotiate, Sign FTA|website=Forbes|first1=Ken|last1=Roberts|date=April 26, 2024|access-date=April 27, 2024|archive-date=April 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240427230502/https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenroberts/2024/04/26/biden-could-be-1st-president-since-carter-to-not-negotiate-sign-fta/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Social issues ===
[[File:Shirley Chisholm.jpg|thumb|[[Shirley Chisholm]] was the first major-party African American candidate to run nationwide primary campaigns.]]
The modern Democratic Party emphasizes [[social equality]] and [[equal opportunity]]. Democrats support [[Voting rights in the United States|voting rights]] and [[minority rights]], including [[LGBT rights in the United States|LGBT rights]]. Democratic president [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] signed the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]], which outlawed racial segregation. Carmines and Stimson wrote "the Democratic Party appropriated racial liberalism and assumed federal responsibility for ending racial discrimination."<ref>Carmines, Edward G.; Stimson, James A. "Racial Issues and The Structure of Mass Belief Systems," ''Journal of Politics'' (1982) 44#1 pp 2–20 [https://www.jstor.org/stable/2130281 in JSTOR] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731011758/https://www.jstor.org/stable/2130281 |date=July 31, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first1=Talmadge|last1=Anderson|author2=James Benjamin Stewart|name-list-style=amp|title=Introduction to African American Studies: Transdisciplinary Approaches and Implications|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=49tXR1Ok6poC&pg=PA205|year=2007|publisher=Black Classic Press|page=205|isbn=9781580730396|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-date=September 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913230625/https://books.google.com/books?id=49tXR1Ok6poC&pg=PA205#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Jeffrey M.|last=Stonecash|title=New Directions in American Political Parties|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZNuOAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA131|year=2010|publisher=Routledge|page=131|isbn=9781135282059|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-date=September 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913230554/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZNuOAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA131#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref>

Ideological social elements in the party include [[cultural liberalism]], [[civil libertarianism]], and [[feminism]]. Some Democratic social policies are immigration reform, [[electoral reform]], and women's [[reproductive rights]].

==== Equal opportunity ====
The Democratic Party is a staunch supporter of [[equal opportunity]] for all Americans regardless of sex, age, race, ethnicity, [[sexual orientation]], [[gender identity]], religion, creed, or national origin. The Democratic Party has broad appeal across most socioeconomic and ethnic demographics, as seen in recent exit polls.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/06/30/behind-bidens-2020-victory/|title=Behind Biden's 2020 Victory|date=June 30, 2021|website=Pew Research Center|access-date=August 19, 2023|archive-date=August 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819144304/https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/06/30/behind-bidens-2020-victory/|url-status=live}}</ref> Democrats also strongly support the [[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990|Americans with Disabilities Act]] to prohibit discrimination against people based on physical or mental disability. As such, the Democrats pushed as well the [[ADA Amendments Act of 2008]], a disability rights expansion that became law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.democrats.org/issues/civil_rights|title=Civil Rights|work=Democrats.org|access-date=February 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209053820/http://www.democrats.org/issues/civil_rights|archive-date=February 9, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Most Democrats support [[affirmative action]] to further equal opportunity. However, in 2020 [[2020 California Proposition 16|57% voters in California]] voted to keep their state constitution's ban on affirmative action, despite Biden [[2020 United States presidential election in California|winning 63% of the vote in California]] in the same election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2020-general/sov/complete-sov.pdf|title=STATEMENT OF VOTE|first1=Alex|last1=Padilla|date=November 3, 2020|access-date=March 15, 2024|archive-date=December 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214232555/https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2020-general/sov/complete-sov.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Voting rights ====
The party is very supportive of improving "voting rights" as well as election accuracy and accessibility.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usliberals.about.com/od/electionreform/a/VotingAgenda.htm|title=Liberalism 101: Democratic Party Agenda on Electoral Reform|first=Deborah|last=White|work=About|access-date=April 17, 2014|archive-date=March 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310140253/http://usliberals.about.com/od/electionreform/a/VotingAgenda.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> They support extensions of voting time, including making election day a holiday. They support reforming the electoral system to eliminate [[gerrymandering]], abolishing the [[United States Electoral College|electoral college]], as well as passing comprehensive [[Campaign finance reform in the United States|campaign finance reform]].<ref name="ontheissues.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/celeb/Democratic_Party_Government_Reform.htm|title=Democratic Party on Government Reform|publisher=Ontheissues.org|access-date=January 19, 2015|archive-date=April 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160430084041/http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Democratic_Party_Government_Reform.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Abortion and reproductive rights ====
{{see also|Abortion in the United States}}
The Democratic position on abortion has changed significantly over time.<ref name="Williams-2015">{{Cite journal |last=Williams |first=Daniel K. |date=June 2015 |title=The Partisan Trajectory of the American Pro-Life Movement: How a Liberal Catholic Campaign Became a Conservative Evangelical Cause |journal=Religions |language=en |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=451–475 |doi=10.3390/rel6020451 |issn=2077-1444 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name="Williams-2022b">{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Daniel K. |date=May 9, 2022 |title=This Really Is a Different Pro-Life Movement |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/05/south-abortion-pro-life-protestants-catholics/629779/ |access-date=February 2, 2023 |website=The Atlantic |language=en |quote=This was not merely a geographic shift, trading one region for another, but a more fundamental transformation of the anti-abortion movement's political ideology. In 1973 many of the most vocal opponents of abortion were northern Democrats who believed in an expanded social-welfare state and who wanted to reduce abortion rates through prenatal insurance and federally funded day care. In 2022, most anti-abortion politicians are conservative Republicans who are skeptical of such measures. What happened was a seismic religious and political shift in opposition to abortion that has not occurred in any other Western country. |archive-date=May 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510043840/https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/05/south-abortion-pro-life-protestants-catholics/629779/ |url-status=live }}</ref> During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Republicans generally favored legalized abortion more than Democrats,<ref name="Halpern-2018">{{Cite news |last=Halpern |first=Sue |date=November 8, 2018 |title=How Republicans Became Anti-Choice |language=en |work=[[The New York Review of Books]] |url=https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2018/11/08/how-republicans-became-anti-choice/ |access-date=February 4, 2023 |issn=0028-7504 |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204085532/https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2018/11/08/how-republicans-became-anti-choice/ |url-status=live }}</ref> although significant heterogeneity could be found within both parties.<ref name="Taylor-2018">{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Justin |date=May 9, 2018 |title=How the Christian Right Became Prolife on Abortion and Transformed the Culture Wars |url=https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/evangelical-history/christian-right-discovered-abortion-rights-transformed-culture-wars/ |access-date=February 4, 2023 |website=[[The Gospel Coalition]] |language=en-US |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204085533/https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/evangelical-history/christian-right-discovered-abortion-rights-transformed-culture-wars/ |url-status=live }}</ref> During this time, opposition to abortion tended to be concentrated within the political left in the United States. Liberal Protestants and Catholics (many of whom were Democratic voters) opposed abortion, while most conservative Protestants supported legal access to abortion services.<ref name="Williams-2015" />{{clarify|date=April 2024}}

In its national platforms from 1992 to 2004, the Democratic Party has called for abortion to be "safe, legal and rare"—namely, keeping it legal by rejecting laws that allow governmental interference in abortion decisions and reducing the number of abortions by promoting both knowledge of reproduction and contraception and incentives for adoption. When Congress voted on the [[Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act]] in 2003, congressional Democrats were split, with a minority (including former [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Senate Majority Leader]] [[Harry Reid]]) supporting the ban and the majority of Democrats opposing the legislation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/HouseVote/Party_2003-530.htm|title=House Votes on 2003-530|publisher=Ontheissues.org|date=October 2, 2003|access-date=March 18, 2014|archive-date=February 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228171204/http://www.ontheissues.org/HouseVote/Party_2003-530.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to the 2020 Democratic Party platform, "Democrats believe every woman should be able to access high-quality reproductive health care services, including safe and legal abortion."<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 Democratic Party Platform |url=https://www.demconvention.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2020-07-31-Democratic-Party-Platform-For-Distribution.pdf |website=2020 Democratic National Convention |access-date=January 10, 2021 |archive-date=February 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216091833/https://www.demconvention.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2020-07-31-Democratic-Party-Platform-For-Distribution.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==== Immigration ====
{{see also|Immigration to the United States|Illegal immigration to the United States}}
[[File:2000- Border apprehensions at southwest border.svg|250px|right|thumb|Histogram of border apprehensions since 2000.]]
Like the Republican Party, the Democratic Party has taken widely varying views on immigration throughout its history. Since the 1990s, the Democratic Party has been more supportive overall of immigration than the Republican Party.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://press.princeton.edu/titles/11040.html|title=Trading Barriers|last=Peters|first=Margaret|date=2017|pages=154–155|publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-0691174471|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303043905/https://press.princeton.edu/titles/11040.html|archive-date=March 3, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Many Democratic politicians have called for systematic reform of the immigration system such that residents that have [[Illegal immigration to the United States|come into the United States illegally]] have a pathway to legal citizenship. President Obama remarked in November 2013 that he felt it was "long past time to fix our broken immigration system," particularly to allow "incredibly bright young people" that came over as students to become full citizens.<ref name="long-past">{{cite news |last=Frumin |first=Aliyah |title=Obama: 'Long past time' for immigration reform |date=November 25, 2013 |url=https://msnbc.com/hardball/obama-long-past-time-reform |publisher=[[MSNBC.com]] |access-date=January 26, 2014 |archive-date=January 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140121145422/http://www.msnbc.com/hardball/obama-long-past-time-reform |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2013, Democrats in the Senate passed [[Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013|S. 744]], which would reform immigration policy to allow citizenship for illegal immigrants in the United States. The law failed to pass in the House and was never re-introduced after the [[113th Congress]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/senate-border-vote-immigration-policies-trump-19977804?mod=hp_lead_pos1|title=Why Both Parties Have Shifted Right on Immigration—and Still Can't Agree|website=The Wall Street Journal|first1=Michelle|last1=Hackman|first2=Aaron|last2=Zitner|date=February 2, 2024}}</ref>

As of 2024, no major [[immigration reform in the United States|immigration reform]] legislation has been enacted into law in the 21st century, mainly due to opposition by the Republican Party.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=1&vote=00167 |title=U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote |publisher=Senate.gov |access-date=March 18, 2014 |archive-date=November 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110070108/http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=1&vote=00167 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/immigration-asylum-trump-biden-gang-of-eight-3d8007e72928665b66d8648be0e3e31f|website=AP News|title=Immigration reform stalled decade after Gang of 8's big push|date=April 3, 2023|access-date=April 3, 2023|archive-date=April 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403061526/https://apnews.com/article/immigration-asylum-trump-biden-gang-of-eight-3d8007e72928665b66d8648be0e3e31f|url-status=live}}</ref> Opposition to immigration has increased in the 2020s, with a majority of Democrats supporting increasing border security.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/647123/sharply-americans-curb-immigration.aspx|title=Sharply More Americans Want to Curb Immigration to U.S.|date=July 12, 2024|first1=JEFFREY M.|last1=JONES|quote=55% want immigration levels reduced, highest since 2001|website=Gallup|access-date=August 4, 2024|archive-date=July 20, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240720215320/https://news.gallup.com/poll/647123/sharply-americans-curb-immigration.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/12/democrats-latino-vote-immigration/680945/|title=Why Democrats Got the Politics of Immigration So Wrong for So Long|date=December 10, 2024|website=The Atlantic|first1=Rogé|last1=Karma|access-date=December 10, 2024}}</ref>

==== LGBT rights ====
{{see also|LGBT rights in the United States}}
The Democratic position on [[LGBT rights in the United States|LGBT rights]] has changed significantly over time.<ref name="Igielnik-2022">{{Cite web |last=Igielnik |first=Ruth |date=November 16, 2022 |title=Backdrop for Vote on Same-Sex Marriage Rights: A Big Shift in Public Opinion |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/16/us/politics/same-sex-marriage-public-opinion.html |access-date=November 17, 2022 |website=[[The New York Times]] |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116235133/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/16/us/politics/same-sex-marriage-public-opinion.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Lindberg-2022">{{Cite web |last=Lindberg |first=Tim |date=August 2, 2022 |title=Congress is considering making same-sex marriage federal law – a political scientist explains how this issue became less polarized over time |url=https://theconversation.com/congress-is-considering-making-same-sex-marriage-federal-law-a-political-scientist-explains-how-this-issue-became-less-polarized-over-time-187509 |access-date=August 14, 2022 |website=Kansas Reflector |language=en-US |archive-date=August 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220823203344/http://theconversation.com/congress-is-considering-making-same-sex-marriage-federal-law-a-political-scientist-explains-how-this-issue-became-less-polarized-over-time-187509 |url-status=live }}</ref> Before the 2000s, like the Republicans, the Democratic Party often took positions hostile to LGBT rights. As of the 2020s, both voters and elected representatives within the Democratic Party are overwhelmingly supportive of [[LGBT]] rights.<ref name="Igielnik-2022" />

Support for same-sex marriage has steadily increased among the general public, including voters in both major parties, since the start of the 21st century. An April 2009 ABC News/''Washington Post'' public opinion poll put support among Democrats at 62%.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/images/PollingUnit/1089a6HotButtonIssues.pdf|title=Changing Views on Social Issues|date=April 30, 2009|access-date=May 14, 2009|archive-date=November 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110130400/http://abcnews.go.com/images/PollingUnit/1089a6HotButtonIssues.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> A 2006 [[Pew Research Center]] poll of Democrats found that 55% supported gays adopting children with 40% opposed while 70% support [[Sexual orientation and military service|gays in the military]], with only 23% opposed.<ref>[http://people-press.org/report/273/less-opposition-to-gay-marriage-adoption-and-military-service Less Opposition to Gay Marriage, Adoption and Military Service] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310052909/http://people-press.org/report/273/less-opposition-to-gay-marriage-adoption-and-military-service |date=March 10, 2011}}. [[Pew Research Center]]. March 22, 2006.</ref> Gallup polling from May 2009 stated that 82% of Democrats support open enlistment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/120764/conservatives-shift-favor-openly-gay-service-members.aspx|title=Conservatives Shift in Favor of Openly Gay Service Members|publisher=[[The Gallup Organization|Gallup.com]]|date=June 5, 2009|first=Lymari|last=Morales|access-date=August 25, 2010|archive-date=May 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501214245/http://www.gallup.com/poll/120764/Conservatives-Shift-Favor-Openly-Gay-Service-Members.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> A 2023 Gallup public opinion poll found 84% of Democrats support same-sex marriage, compared to 71% support by the general public and 49% support by Republicans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/506636/sex-marriage-support-holds-high.aspx|date=June 5, 2023|title=U.S. Same-Sex Marriage Support Holds at 71% High|first1=Justin|last1=McCarthy|access-date=June 5, 2023|archive-date=June 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605083325/https://news.gallup.com/poll/506636/sex-marriage-support-holds-high.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

The 2004 Democratic National Platform stated that marriage should be defined at the state level and it repudiated the [[Federal Marriage Amendment]].<ref name="platform">{{cite web|url=http://www.democrats.org/pdfs/2004platform.pdf |title=The 2004 Democratic National Platform for America|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041013001521/http://www.democrats.org/pdfs/2004platform.pdf |archive-date=October 13, 2004 }}&nbsp;{{small|(111&nbsp;KB)}}</ref> [[John Kerry]], the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004, did not support same-sex marriage in [[John Kerry 2004 presidential campaign|his campaign.]] While not stating support of same-sex marriage, the 2008 platform called for repeal of the [[Defense of Marriage Act]], which banned federal recognition of same-sex marriage and removed the need for interstate recognition, supported antidiscrimination laws and the extension of hate crime laws to LGBT people and opposed "don't ask, don't tell".<ref name="UCLA press">{{cite web |date=November 26, 2008 |title=Gay Support for Obama Similar to Dems in Past Elections |url=http://www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/press/GaySupportForObamaSimilarToDemsInPastElections.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091209021908/http://www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/press/GaySupportForObamaSimilarToDemsInPastElections.html |archive-date=December 9, 2009 |access-date=June 17, 2010 |publisher=Law.ucla.edu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Garcia |first=Michelle |url=http://www.advocate.com/print-issue/advance/2012/04/22/year-democrats-embrace-marriage-equality |title=Is This the Year Democrats Embrace Marriage Equality? |publisher=Advocate.com |date=April 22, 2012 |access-date=October 2, 2013 |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004234045/http://www.advocate.com/print-issue/advance/2012/04/22/year-democrats-embrace-marriage-equality |url-status=live}}</ref> The 2012 platform included support for same-sex marriage and for the repeal of DOMA.<ref name="NPR-2012a"/>

On May 9, 2012, [[Barack Obama]] became the first sitting president to say he supports same-sex marriage.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-backs-same-sex-marriage/|title=Obama backs same-sex marriage|work=[[CBS News]]|date=May 9, 2012|access-date=May 9, 2012|archive-date=May 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510010911/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57431122-503544/obama-backs-same-sex-marriage/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="The Huffington Post">{{cite news|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/09/obama-gay-marriage_n_1503245.html|title=Obama Backs Gay Marriage|first=Sam|last=Stein|date=May 9, 2012|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=December 6, 2019|archive-date=September 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920002222/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/09/obama-gay-marriage_n_1503245.html|url-status=dead }}</ref> Previously, he had opposed restrictions on same-sex marriage such as the [[Defense of Marriage Act]], which he promised to repeal,<ref name="LGBT">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/issues.samesexmarriage.html|title=Same-sex Marriage – Issues – Election Center 2008 |publisher=CNN |access-date=January 19, 2015|archive-date=April 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428162155/http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/issues.samesexmarriage.html|url-status=live}}</ref> California's [[Prop 8]],<ref>[http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/07/02/obama_opposes_gay_marriage_ban.html Obama Opposes Gay Marriage Ban] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926223051/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/07/02/obama_opposes_gay_marriage_ban.html |date=September 26, 2011}}. ''[[The Washington Post]]''. By Perry Bacon Jr. July 2, 2008.</ref> and a [[constitutional amendment]] to ban same-sex marriage (which he opposed saying that "decisions about marriage should be left to the states as they always have been"),<ref>[http://obama.senate.gov/press/060607-obama_statement_26/index.php Obama Statement on Vote Against Constitutional Amendment to Ban Gay Marriage] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208020010/http://obama.senate.gov/press/060607-obama_statement_26/index.php |date=December 8, 2008}}. [[United States Senate]] [http://senate.gov/ Official Website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228084718/http://www.senate.gov/ |date=December 28, 2016}}. June 7, 2006.</ref> but also stated that he personally believed marriage to be between a man and a woman and that he favored civil unions that would "give same-sex couples equal legal rights and privileges as married couples".<ref name="LGBT" /> Earlier, when running for the Illinois Senate in 1996 he said, "I favor legalizing same-sex marriages, and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/13/obama-once-supported-same_n_157656.html |title=Obama Once Supported Same-Sex Marriage 'Unequivocally' |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date=January 13, 2009 |access-date=June 17, 2010 |first=Jason |last=Linkins |archive-date=May 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512012736/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/13/obama-once-supported-same_n_157656.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Former presidents [[Bill Clinton]]<ref>{{cite news | url=http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/25/video-clinton-shifts-on-gay-marriage/ |work=CNN |title=Video: Clinton shifts on gay marriage |access-date=May 1, 2010 |date=September 25, 2009 |archive-date=December 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091226140541/http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/25/video-clinton-shifts-on-gay-marriage/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Jimmy Carter]]<ref>{{cite news|date=March 19, 2012|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/19/president-jimmy-carter-bible-book_n_1349570.html|title=President Jimmy Carter Authors New Bible Book, Answers Hard Biblical Questions|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=June 26, 2012|first=Paul|last=Raushenbush|archive-date=June 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625134951/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/19/president-jimmy-carter-bible-book_n_1349570.html|url-status=live}}</ref> along with former Democratic presidential nominees [[Al Gore]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://current.com/items/88817757_gay-men-and-women-should-have-the-same-rights.htm |title=Gay men and women should have the same rights // Current |publisher=Current.com |date=January 17, 2008 |access-date=June 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091129220957/http://current.com/items/88817757_gay-men-and-women-should-have-the-same-rights.htm |archive-date=November 29, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Michael Dukakis]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Israel|first=Josh|title=Mondale and Dukakis Back Marriage Equality|website=[[ThinkProgress]]|date=May 16, 2013|url=https://thinkprogress.org/mondale-dukakis-back-marriage-equality-joining-every-living-democratic-presidential-nominee-56a1d402991d/|access-date=November 4, 2019|archive-date=November 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104164913/https://thinkprogress.org/mondale-dukakis-back-marriage-equality-joining-every-living-democratic-presidential-nominee-56a1d402991d/|url-status=live}}</ref> support same-sex marriage. President [[Joe Biden]] has supported [[same-sex marriage]] since 2012, when he became the highest-ranking government official to support it. In 2022, Biden signed the [[Respect for Marriage Act]]; the law repealed the Defense of Marriage Act, which Biden had voted for during his Senate tenure.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cournoyer |first1=Caroline |title=Joe Biden Endorses Gay Marriage |url=https://www.governing.com/archive/Joseph-Biden-Endorses-Gay-Marriage.html |website=Governing |date=May 7, 2012 |access-date=February 9, 2021 |archive-date=February 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222013528/https://www.governing.com/archive/Joseph-Biden-Endorses-Gay-Marriage.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Status of Puerto Rico and D.C. ====
The 2016 Democratic Party platform declares, regarding the status of Puerto Rico: "We are committed to addressing the extraordinary challenges faced by our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico. Many stem from the fundamental question of Puerto Rico's political status. Democrats believe that the people of Puerto Rico should determine their ultimate political status from permanent options that do not conflict with the Constitution, laws, and policies of the United States. Democrats are committed to promoting economic opportunity and good-paying jobs for the hardworking people of Puerto Rico. We also believe that Puerto Ricans must be treated equally by Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs that benefit families. Puerto Ricans should be able to vote for the people who make their laws, just as they should be treated equally. All American citizens, no matter where they reside, should have the right to vote for the president of the United States. Finally, we believe that federal officials must respect Puerto Rico's local self-government as laws are implemented and Puerto Rico's budget and debt are restructured so that it can get on a path towards stability and prosperity".<ref name="2016platform">{{cite web|url=https://www.demconvention.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Democratic-Party-Platform-7.21.16-no-lines.pdf|title=Democratic Party Platform 2016|access-date=November 11, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110225904/https://www.demconvention.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Democratic-Party-Platform-7.21.16-no-lines.pdf|archive-date=November 10, 2016}}</ref>

Also, it declares that regarding the status of the [[District of Columbia]]: "Restoring our democracy also means finally passing statehood for the District of Columbia, so that the American citizens who reside in the nation's capital have full and equal congressional rights as well as the right to have the laws and budget of their local government respected without Congressional interference."<ref name="2016platform" />

=== Legal issues ===

==== Gun control ====
[[File:20210420 Gun control survey by political party - Pew Research.svg|thumb|upright=1.5| U.S. opinion on gun control issues is deeply divided along political lines, as shown in this 2021 survey.<ref name="Pew_20210420">{{cite web |title=Amid a Series of Mass Shootings in the U.S., Gun Policy Remains Deeply Divisive |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/04/20/amid-a-series-of-mass-shootings-in-the-u-s-gun-policy-remains-deeply-divisive/ |website=PewResearch.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530202009/https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/04/20/amid-a-series-of-mass-shootings-in-the-u-s-gun-policy-remains-deeply-divisive/ |archive-date=May 30, 2022 |date=April 20, 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref>]]
With a stated goal of reducing crime and homicide, the Democratic Party has introduced various [[Gun politics in the United States|gun control]] measures, most notably the [[Gun Control Act of 1968]], the [[Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act|Brady Bill]] of 1993 and the [[Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act]] (1994). In its national platform for 2008, the only statement explicitly favoring gun control was a plan calling for renewal of the 1994 [[Federal Assault Weapons Ban|Assault Weapons Ban]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.queerty.com/wp/docs/2008/08/2008-democratic-platform-080808.pdf|title=The Draft 2008 Democratic National Platform: Renewing America's Promise|access-date=February 4, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512191810/http://www.queerty.com/wp/docs/2008/08/2008-democratic-platform-080808.pdf|archive-date=May 12, 2012}}</ref> In 2022, Democratic president [[Joe Biden]] signed the [[Bipartisan Safer Communities Act]], which among other things expanded background checks and provided incentives for states to pass [[red flag laws]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clyde |first1=Don |last2=Miranda |first2=Shauneen |title=Biden signs gun safety bill into law |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/06/25/1107626030/biden-signs-gun-safety-law |website=NPR |date=June 25, 2022 |access-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-date=September 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924024307/https://www.npr.org/2022/06/25/1107626030/biden-signs-gun-safety-law |url-status=live }}</ref> According to a 2023 Pew Research Center poll, 20% of Democrats owned firearms, compared to 32% of the general public and 45% of Republicans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/09/13/key-facts-about-americans-and-guns/|access-date=September 19, 2023|date=September 13, 2023|title=Key facts about Americans and guns|website=Pew Research Center|first1=Katherine|last1=Schaeffer}}</ref>

==== Death penalty ====
{{See also|Capital punishment in the United States}}
The Democratic Party's 2020 platform states its opposition to the death penalty.<ref name="Protecting Communities and Building">{{cite news |title=Protecting Communities and Building Trust by Reforming Our Criminal Justice System |url=https://democrats.org/where-we-stand/party-platform/protecting-communities-and-building-trust-by-reforming-our-criminal-justice-system/ |website=Democrats |access-date=November 30, 2021 |archive-date=November 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122151253/https://democrats.org/where-we-stand/party-platform/protecting-communities-and-building-trust-by-reforming-our-criminal-justice-system/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Although most Democrats in Congress have never seriously moved to overturn the rarely used [[Capital punishment by the United States federal government|federal death penalty]], both [[Russ Feingold]] and [[Dennis Kucinich]] have introduced such bills with little success. Democrats have led efforts to overturn state death penalty laws, and prevent the reinstatement of the death penalty in those states which prohibit it, including [[Capital punishment in Massachusetts|Massachusetts]], [[Capital punishment in New York (state)|New York]], and [[Capital punishment in Delaware|Delaware]]. During the [[Presidency of Bill Clinton|Clinton administration]], Democrats led the expansion of the federal death penalty. These efforts resulted in the passage of the [[Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996]], signed into law by [[Bill Clinton|President Clinton]], which heavily limited appeals in death penalty cases.
In 1972, the Democratic Party platform called for the abolition of capital punishment.<ref name="1972-Platform">{{cite web |title=1972 Democratic Party Platform |via=American Presidency Project|url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/1972-democratic-party-platform|date=July 11, 1972|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408133915/https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/1972-democratic-party-platform|archive-date=April 8, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>

During his [[Illinois Senate career of Barack Obama|Illinois Senate career]], former President [[Barack Obama]] successfully introduced legislation intended to reduce the likelihood of [[Miscarriage of justice|wrongful convictions]] in capital cases, requiring videotaping of confessions. When [[Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign|campaigning for the presidency]], Obama stated that he supports the limited use of the death penalty, including for people who have been convicted of raping a minor under the age of 12, having opposed the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]]'s ruling in ''[[Kennedy v. Louisiana]]'' that the death penalty was unconstitutional in which the victim of a crime was not killed.<ref>[http://www.newser.com/story/30953/obama-backs-death-penalty-for-child-rapists.html "Obama Backs Death Penalty for Child Rapists"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527012457/http://www.newser.com/story/30953/obama-backs-death-penalty-for-child-rapists.html |date=May 27, 2009}}. [[Newser]], June 26, 2008. Retrieved June 10, 2009.</ref> Obama has stated that he thinks the "death penalty does little to deter crime" and that it is used too frequently and too inconsistently.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Candidates on the Death Penalty|url=http://pewforum.org/religion08/compare.php?Issue=Death_Penalty|access-date=July 26, 2009|publisher=[[Pew Research Center]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704020036/http://pewforum.org/religion08/compare.php?Issue=Death_Penalty |archive-date=July 4, 2008}}</ref> In June 2016, the Democratic Platform Drafting Committee unanimously adopted an amendment to abolish the death penalty.<ref>{{cite web|title=Democratic Platform Drafting Meeting Concludes|url=https://demconvention.com/news/democratic-platform-drafting-meeting-concludes/|date=June 25, 2016|access-date=June 29, 2016|publisher=DNCC|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160802094026/https://demconvention.com/news/democratic-platform-drafting-meeting-concludes/|archive-date=August 2, 2016}}</ref>

The 2024 platform is the first since the [[2004 Democratic National Convention|2004 platform]], that doesn't mention the death penalty, and the first since 2016 not to call for abolition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/democrats-scrub-death-penalty-campaign-platform_n_66c67a0de4b0b9c7b360296b#|title=Democrats Scrubbed An Issue From Their Party Platform — And It's Going Under The Radar|date=August 22, 2024|website=HuffPost}}</ref> However, on December 23, 2024, President Biden commuted the sentences of 37 out of 40 [[List of death row inmates in the United States#Federal|federal death row inmates]] to life in prison without parole.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/12/23/biden-death-penalty-commutation/|title=Biden commutes most federal death sentences before Trump takes office|access-date=December 23, 2024|date=December 23, 2024|first1=Mark|last1=Berman|first2=Matt|last2=Viser|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

==== Torture ====
Many Democrats are opposed to the [[Torture and the United States|use of torture]] against individuals apprehended and held prisoner by the [[United States armed forces|United States military]], and hold that categorizing such prisoners as [[unlawful combatant]]s does not release the United States from its obligations under the [[Geneva Conventions]]. Democrats contend that torture is inhumane, damages the United States' moral standing in the world, and produces questionable results. Democrats are largely against [[waterboarding]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tyson |first1=Alec |title=Americans divided in views of use of torture in U.S. anti-terror efforts |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/01/26/americans-divided-in-views-of-use-of-torture-in-u-s-anti-terror-efforts/ |access-date=March 21, 2020 |date=January 26, 2017 |archive-date=March 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321214249/https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/01/26/americans-divided-in-views-of-use-of-torture-in-u-s-anti-terror-efforts/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Torture became a divisive issue in the party after Barack Obama was elected president.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/obama/articles/2009/05/22/obama-and-democrats-torture-problem|title=Obama and Democrats' Torture Problem|first=Kenneth T.|last=Walsh|work=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=August 26, 2017|archive-date=July 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706211938/https://www.usnews.com/news/obama/articles/2009/05/22/obama-and-democrats-torture-problem|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Privacy ====
The Democratic Party believes that individuals should have a [[privacy law|right to privacy]]. For example, many Democrats have opposed the [[NSA warrantless surveillance (2001–07)|NSA warrantless surveillance of American citizens]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=1&vote=00313 |title=Senate roll call on passage of the PATRIOT Act |publisher=Senate.gov |date=April 25, 2017 |access-date=January 13, 2018 |archive-date=December 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205074052/https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=1&vote=00313 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=House approves Patriot Act renewal |url=https://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/03/07/patriot.act/ |website=CNN.com |access-date=March 21, 2020 |archive-date=March 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321220837/https://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/03/07/patriot.act/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Some Democratic officeholders have championed [[consumer protection]] laws that limit the sharing of consumer data between corporations. Democrats have opposed [[Sodomy laws in the United States|sodomy laws]] since the 1972 platform which stated that "Americans should be free to make their own choice of life-styles and private habits without being subject to discrimination or prosecution",<ref name="1972-Platform"/> and believe that government should not regulate [[consensual]] noncommercial sexual conduct among adults as a matter of personal privacy.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ashtari|first=Shadee|title=Here's The Medieval-Sounding Sodomy Law That Helped Ken Cuccinelli Lose In Virginia|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/06/ken-cuccinelli-sodomy_n_4226708.html|work=Huffington Post|date=November 6, 2013|access-date=December 6, 2019|archive-date=March 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324035215/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/06/ken-cuccinelli-sodomy_n_4226708.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Foreign policy issues ===
The foreign policy of the voters of the two major parties has largely overlapped since the 1990s. A Gallup poll in early 2013 showed broad agreement on the top issues, albeit with some divergence regarding human rights and international cooperation through agencies such as the United Nations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/160649/republicans-democrats-agree-top-foreign-policy-goals.aspx|title=Republicans, Democrats Agree on Top Foreign Policy Goals|work=Gallup.com|date=February 20, 2013|access-date=April 16, 2017|archive-date=March 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310130915/http://www.gallup.com/poll/160649/republicans-democrats-agree-top-foreign-policy-goals.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2014, the Quinnipiac Poll asked Americans which foreign policy they preferred:

{{blockquote|A) The United States is doing too much in other countries around the world, and it is time to do less around the world and focus more on our own problems here at home.

B) The United States must continue to push forward to promote democracy and freedom in other countries worldwide because these efforts make our own country more secure.}}

Democrats chose A over B by 65% to 32%; Republicans chose A over B by 56% to 39%; and independents chose A over B by 67% to 29%.<ref>See "July 3, 2014 – Iraq – Getting In Was Wrong; Getting Out Was Right, U.S. Voters Tell Quinnipiac University National Poll" [http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2057 Quinnipiac University Poll] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402190652/http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2057 |date=April 2, 2016}} item #51</ref>

==== Iran sanctions ====
{{see also|United States sanctions against Iran}}
The Democratic Party has been critical of Iran's nuclear weapon program and supported economic sanctions against the Iranian government. In 2013, the Democratic-led administration worked to reach a diplomatic agreement with the government of Iran to halt the Iranian nuclear weapon program in exchange for [[Sanctions against Iran|international economic sanction]] relief.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/24/world/middleeast/talks-with-iran-on-nuclear-deal-hang-in-balance.html |work=The New York Times |first=Michael R. |last=Gordon |title=Accord Reached With Iran to Halt Nuclear Program |date=November 23, 2013 |access-date=February 21, 2017 |archive-date=March 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326212426/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/24/world/middleeast/talks-with-iran-on-nuclear-deal-hang-in-balance.html | url-status=live}}</ref> {{as of|2014}}, negotiations had been successful and the party called for more cooperation with Iran in the future.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.577070|title=Jewish Democratic donors urge Congress: Back off Iran sanctions|date=February 28, 2014|work=Haaretz.com|access-date=March 26, 2014|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924160604/http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/.premium-1.577070|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, the Obama administration agreed to the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]], which provides sanction relief in exchange for international oversight of the [[Iranian nuclear program]]. In February 2019, the Democratic National Committee passed a resolution calling on the United States to re-enter the JCPOA, which President Trump withdrew from in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/democratic-party-passes-resolution-calling-for-us-to-re-enter-iran-nuke-deal/|title=Democratic Party passes resolution calling for US to re-enter Iran nuke deal|last=Cortellessa|first=Eric|website=The Times of Israel |language=en-US |access-date=February 21, 2019|archive-date=February 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221022455/https://www.timesofisrael.com/democratic-party-passes-resolution-calling-for-us-to-re-enter-iran-nuke-deal/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Invasion of Afghanistan ====
{{see also|Afghanistan–United States relations|International public opinion on the war in Afghanistan}}
Democrats in the House of Representatives and in the Senate near-unanimously voted for the [[Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists]] against "those responsible for the [[September 11 attacks|recent attacks launched against the United States]]" in [[Afghanistan]] in 2001, supporting the [[NATO]] coalition [[Operation Enduring Freedom|invasion of the nation]]. Most elected Democrats continued to support the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan conflict]] during George W. Bush's presidency.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/07/democrats_say_m_1.html "Democrats say McCain forgot Afghanistan"]. ''[[Boston Globe]]''. July 24, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820113620/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/07/democrats_say_m_1.html |date=August 20, 2008}}</ref><ref name="daily">[http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/07/15/2008-07-15_john_mccain__barack_obama_urge_afghanist.html "John McCain & Barack Obama urge Afghanistan surge"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113131424/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/07/15/2008-07-15_john_mccain__barack_obama_urge_afghanist.html |date=November 13, 2009}}. ''[[New York Daily News]]''. July 15, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008.</ref> During the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 Presidential Election]], then-candidate [[Barack Obama]] called for a "surge" of troops into Afghanistan.<ref name="daily" /> After winning the presidency, Obama followed through, sending additional troops to Afghanistan. Troop levels were 94,000 in December 2011 and kept falling, with a target of 68,000 by fall 2012.<ref>"U.S. plans major shift to advisory role in Afghanistan", [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2011/12/us-plans-major-shift-to-advisory-role-in-afghanistan.html ''Los Angeles Times'', December 13, 2011] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819153404/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2011/12/us-plans-major-shift-to-advisory-role-in-afghanistan.html |date=August 19, 2016}}</ref>

Support for the war among the American people diminished over time. Many Democrats changed their opinion over the course of the war, coming to oppose continuation of the conflict.<ref name="holland" /><ref name="edge" /> In July 2008, [[Gallup poll|Gallup]] found that 41% of Democrats called the invasion a "mistake" while a 55% majority disagreed.<ref name="edge">[http://www.gallup.com/poll/109150/Afghan-War-Edges-Iraq-Most-Important-US.aspx "Afghan War Edges Out Iraq as Most Important for U.S."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224202906/http://www.gallup.com/poll/109150/Afghan-War-Edges-Iraq-Most-Important-US.aspx |date=December 24, 2016}} by Frank Newport. [[Gallup poll|Gallup]]. July 30, 2008. Retrieved August 24, 2009.</ref> A [[CNN]] survey in August 2009 stated that a majority of Democrats opposed the war. CNN polling director Keating Holland said: "Nearly two thirds of Republicans support the war in Afghanistan. Three quarters of Democrats oppose the war".<ref name="holland">[http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25895398-12335,00.html Most Americans oppose Afghanistan war: poll] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810102232/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25895398-12335,00.html |date=August 10, 2009}}. ''[[The Australian]]''. August 7, 2009. Retrieved August 24, 2009.</ref>

During the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 Presidential Election]], then-candidate [[Joe Biden]] promised to "end the forever wars in Afghanistan and the Middle East."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Joe Biden: I Promise To 'End The Forever Wars In Afghanistan And Middle East' As President |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/joe-biden-i-promise-to-end-the-forever-wars-in-afghanistan-and-middle-east-as-president/ |access-date=November 19, 2022 |website=cbsnews.com |date=July 11, 2019 |language=en-US |archive-date=November 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119224140/https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/joe-biden-i-promise-to-end-the-forever-wars-in-afghanistan-and-middle-east-as-president/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Biden went on to win the election, and in April 2021, he announced he would withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan by September 11 of that year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Biden to pull US troops from Afghanistan, end 'forever war' |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-troop-withdrawal-afghanistan-september-11-d2c7426736f9f530e0e62f2295a44d28 |access-date=November 19, 2022 |website=AP NEWS |date=April 14, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=November 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119224139/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-troop-withdrawal-afghanistan-september-11-d2c7426736f9f530e0e62f2295a44d28 |url-status=live }}</ref> The last troops left in August, bringing America's 20-year-long military campaign in the country to a close.<ref>{{Cite web |first1=Nicole |last1=Gaouette |first2=Jennifer |last2=Hansler |first3=Barbara |last3=Starr |first4=Oren|last4=Liebermann|date=August 30, 2021 |title=The last US military planes have left Afghanistan, marking the end of the United States' longest war {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/30/politics/us-military-withdraws-afghanistan/index.html |access-date=November 19, 2022 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=September 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911182417/https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/30/politics/us-military-withdraws-afghanistan/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> According to a 2023 AP-NORC poll, a majority of Democrats believed that the War in Afghanistan was not worth it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-911-terrorism-taliban-women-rights-268ebebb40beea7be3b1528ed6ae5808|title=Republicans and Democrats agree that the Afghanistan war wasn't worth it, an AP-NORC poll shows|date=October 18, 2023|website=AP News|access-date=October 19, 2023|archive-date=October 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018190501/https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-911-terrorism-taliban-women-rights-268ebebb40beea7be3b1528ed6ae5808|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Israel ====
{{see also|Israel–United States relations}}
[[File:Shimon Peres observes Binyamin Nitanyahu greeting Barack Obama.jpg|thumb|Israeli prime minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] meeting with President Obama in 2013]]
Democrats have historically been a stronger supporter of Israel than Republicans.<ref name="Cavari-2020">{{Cite book |last1=Cavari |first1=Amnon |title=American Public Opinion Toward Israel: From Consensus to Divide |last2=Freedman |first2=Guy |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |year=2020 |pages=145}}</ref> During the 1940s, the party advocated for the cause of an independent Jewish state over the objections of many [[Conservatism in the United States|conservatives]] in the [[Old Right (United States)|Old Right]], who strongly opposed it.<ref name="Cavari-2020" /> In 1948, Democratic President [[Harry S. Truman|Harry Truman]] became the first world leader to recognize an independent state of Israel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tenorio |first=Rich |date=November 3, 2020 |title=How a nascent Israel was a key issue in Truman's stunning 1948 election upset |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-a-nascent-israel-was-a-key-issue-in-trumans-stunning-1948-election-upset/ |access-date=November 1, 2023 |website=[[Times of Israel]] |archive-date=November 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231118203848/https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-a-nascent-israel-was-a-key-issue-in-trumans-stunning-1948-election-upset/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The 2020 Democratic Party platform acknowledges a "commitment to Israel's security, its qualitative military edge, its right to defend itself, and the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding is ironclad" and that "we oppose any effort to unfairly single out and delegitimize Israel, including at the United Nations or through the [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions|Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement]]".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://democrats.org/where-we-stand/party-platform/ |title=PARTY PLATFORM |newspaper=Democrats |publisher=Democrats.org |access-date=June 17, 2022 |archive-date=March 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315234633/http://www.democrats.org/democratic-national-platform |url-status=live }}</ref> During the [[2023 Israel–Hamas war|2023 Israel-Hamas War]], the party requested a large-scale military aid package to Israel.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shear |first=Michael D. |date=October 19, 2023 |title=Israel-Hamas War: Biden Urges U.S. to Remain 'Beacon to the World' in Aiding Allies at War |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/10/19/world/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news |access-date=October 20, 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020160855/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/10/19/world/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news |url-status=live }}</ref> Biden also announced [[United States support for Israel in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war|military support for Israel]], condemned the actions of [[Hamas]] and other Palestinian militants as terrorism,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Baker |first=Peter |date=October 10, 2023 |title=In Unforgiving Terms, Biden Condemns 'Evil' and 'Abhorrent' Attack on Israel |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/10/us/politics/biden-israel-hamas.html |access-date=October 12, 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012001950/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/10/us/politics/biden-israel-hamas.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and ordered the US military to build a port to facilitate the arrival of [[Humanitarian aid during the Israel–Hamas war|humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.voanews.com/a/biden-orders-us-military-to-build-port-in-gaza-to-facilitate-aid/7518026.html | title=Biden Ordering US Military to Build Port in Gaza to Facilitate Aid | date=March 7, 2024 | access-date=March 23, 2024 | archive-date=March 19, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319213922/https://www.voanews.com/a/biden-orders-us-military-to-build-port-in-gaza-to-facilitate-aid/7518026.html | url-status=live }}</ref> However, parts of the Democratic base also became more skeptical of the Israel government.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Berg |first=Matt |date=April 14, 2024 |title=Voters think Biden should be tougher on Israel, new poll finds |newspaper=Politico |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/14/democrats-sympathetic-palestinians-israelis-poll-00152117 |access-date=June 16, 2024 |archive-date=May 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528005432/https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/14/democrats-sympathetic-palestinians-israelis-poll-00152117 |url-status=live }}</ref>
The number of Democrats (and Americans in general) who oppose sending arms to Israel has grown month by month as [[Israel–Hamas war|Israel's war on Gaza]] continues.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Valdez |first1=Jonah |title=MOST AMERICANS WANT TO STOP ARMING ISRAEL. POLITICIANS DON'T CARE. |url=https://theintercept.com/2024/09/10/polls-arms-embargo-israel-weapons-gaza/ |agency=The Intercept |date=10 September 2024}}</ref>
Experts say support for Israel could have a negative impact on Democrats in several key states, including Michigan and Pennsylvania, in the 2024 presidential election.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stepansky |first1=Joseph |title='Uncommitted' delegates bring Gaza-war message to Democratic convention |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/8/17/uncommitted-delegates-bring-gaza-war-message-to-democratic-convention |agency=Al Jazeera |date=17 Aug 2024 |access-date=August 18, 2024 |archive-date=September 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913230626/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/8/17/uncommitted-delegates-bring-gaza-war-message-to-democratic-convention |url-status=live }}</ref>

Late in 2024, twenty Democrats requested support for US legislation that would ban the arms trade with countries that hinder humanitarian aid.<ref>{{cite news |title=US lawmakers urge Biden administration to halt offensive weapons to Israel |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/18/us-lawmakers-urge-biden-administration-to-halt-offensive-weapons-to-israel |agency=Al-Jazeera}}</ref>

==== Europe, Russia, and Ukraine ====
The 2022 [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] was politically and economically opposed by the Biden Administration, who promptly began an increased arming of Ukraine.<ref name="against_2022_05_19_thehill">[https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/3495060-here-are-the-11-republican-senators-who-voted-against-the-ukraine-aid-bill/ "Here are the 11 GOP senators who voted against the Ukraine aid bill,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815033416/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/3495060-here-are-the-11-republican-senators-who-voted-against-the-ukraine-aid-bill/ |date=August 15, 2023 }} May 19, 2022, ''[[The Hill (magazine)]]'' retrieved July 4, 2023</ref><ref name="loud_2023_05_19_nytimes">[https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/19/us/politics/ukraine-republican-skeptics.html "A Loud Republican Minority Opposes More Ukraine Military Aid,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704132352/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/19/us/politics/ukraine-republican-skeptics.html |date=July 4, 2023 }} May 19, 2023, ''[[New York Times]]'' retrieved July 4, 2023</ref> In October 2023, the Biden administration requested an additional $61.4 billion in aid for Ukraine for the year ahead,<ref>{{cite news |title=The White House is asking for almost $106 billion for Israel, Ukraine and the border |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/10/20/1206301577/biden-ukraine-israel-congress-funding-request |publisher=NPR |date=October 26, 2023 |first=Deepa |last=Shivaram |access-date=August 2, 2024 |archive-date=August 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821110201/https://www.npr.org/2023/10/20/1206301577/biden-ukraine-israel-congress-funding-request |url-status=live }}</ref> but delays in the passage of further aid by the Republican-controlled [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] inhibited progress, with the additional $61 billion in aid to Ukraine added in April 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zengerle |first1=Patricia |last2=Cowan |first2=Richard | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/long-awaited-aid-ukraine-israel-taiwan-poised-pass-us-congress-2024-04-23/ | title=US Congress passes Ukraine aid after months of delay | work=[[Reuters]] | date=April 23, 2024 |access-date=June 2, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Michael |last2=Saenz |first2=Arlette |last3=Liptak |first3=Kevin |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/24/politics/biden-signs-foreign-aid-bill/index.html |title=Biden signs foreign aid bill providing crucial military assistance to Ukraine |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=April 30, 2024 |access-date=June 2, 2024 |archive-date=April 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240424162758/https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/24/politics/biden-signs-foreign-aid-bill/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Myre | first=Greg | url=https://www.npr.org/2024/04/24/1246839045/biden-signs-95-billion-military-aid-package-for-ukraine-israel-and-taiwan | title=Biden signs $95 billion military aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan | publisher=[[NPR]] | date=April 24, 2024 | access-date=June 2, 2024 | archive-date=June 2, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602111217/https://www.npr.org/2024/04/24/1246839045/biden-signs-95-billion-military-aid-package-for-ukraine-israel-and-taiwan | url-status=live }}</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{main|Demographics of the Democratic Party (United States)}}
{{multiple image
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 | alt2 = Majority-Black Counties in the U.S. as of the [[2020 United States Census]] 
| footer = {{center|'''Top to bottom:'''}} [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]] by county; Majority-Black Counties in the U.S. as of the [[2020 United States Census]] 
}}
In the [[2024 United States presidential election|2024 presidential election]], the party performed best among voters who were [[Affluence in the United States|upper income]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last1=Suss |first1=Joel |last2=Xiao |first2=Eva |last3=Burn-Murdoch |first3=John |last4=Murray |first4=Clara |last5=Vincent |first5=Jonathan |date=2024-11-09 |title=Poorer voters flocked to Trump — and other data points from the election |url=https://www.ft.com/content/6de668c7-64e9-4196-b2c5-9ceca966fe3f |access-date=2024-11-12 |work=Financial Times |quote=In contrast to 2020, the majority of lower-income households or those earning less than $50,000 a year voted for Trump this election. Conversely, those making more than $100,000 voted for Harris, according to exit polls.}}</ref><ref name="Lost Their"/><ref name="Too Rich">{{Cite web|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/09/is-america-too-rich-for-class-politics.html|title=Is America Too Rich for Class Politics?|access-date=December 2, 2024|website=New York Magazine|date=September 29, 2021|first1=Eric|last1=Levitz}}</ref> lived in [[Urban–rural political divide|urban areas]],<ref name="McGreal" /><ref name="cities" /> [[educational attainment in the United States|college graduates]],<ref name="Polarization by education" /><ref name="Polarized by Degrees" /><ref name="nymag.com" /><ref name="nytimes.com" /> identified as [[Atheism|Atheist]], [[Agnosticism|Agnostic]], or [[American Jews|Jewish]]; [[African Americans]],<ref name="Blacks and the Democratic Party" /><ref name="Bositis" />  [[LGBT|LGBT+]], and [[Marital status|unmarried]].<ref name="Activists and Partisan Realignment" /><ref name="Grossmann-2021" /><ref name="pewresearch.org" /> In particular, [[Kamala Harris]]' two strongest demographic groups in the 2024 presidential election were African Americans (86-13%) and LGBT voters (86-12%).<ref name="2024 Exit poll"/>

Support for the [[civil rights movement]] in the 1960s by Democratic presidents [[John F. Kennedy]] and [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] helped increase the Democrats' support within the African American community. African Americans have consistently voted between 85% and 95% Democratic since the 1960s, making African Americans one of the largest of the party's constituencies.<ref name="Blacks and the Democratic Party"/><ref name="Bositis"/>

According to the [[Pew Research Center]], 78.4% of Democrats in the 116th United States Congress were Christian.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 3, 2019 |title=Faith on the Hill: The religious composition of the 116th Congress |url=https://www.pewforum.org/2019/01/03/faith-on-the-hill-116/ |access-date=May 18, 2020 |work=Pew Research Center |archive-date=February 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218040423/https://www.pewforum.org/2019/01/03/faith-on-the-hill-116/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, the vast majority of white evangelical and [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Latter-day Saint]] Christians favor the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=November 3, 2020|title=National Exit Polls: How Different Groups Voted|language=en-US|last1=Andre|first1=Michael|display-authors=et al|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/11/03/us/elections/exit-polls-president.html|access-date=December 5, 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=November 10, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201110220846/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/11/03/us/elections/exit-polls-president.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The party also receives strong support from [[Irreligion|non-religious]] voters.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 22, 2009 |title=An inaugural first: Obama acknowledges 'non-believers' |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-01-20-obama-non-believers_N.htm |access-date=August 22, 2017 |archive-date=April 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401094239/http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-01-20-obama-non-believers_N.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/04/09/party-identification-among-religious-groups-and-religiously-unaffiliated-voters/|title=Party identification among religious groups and religiously unaffiliated voters|date=April 9, 2024|access-date=May 27, 2024|website=Pew Research Center}}</ref>

Younger Americans have tended to vote mainly for Democratic candidates in recent years, particularly those under the age of 30.<ref name="trends">{{cite web|date=April 9, 2024|title=4. Age, generational cohorts and party identification|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/04/09/age-generational-cohorts-and-party-identification/|publisher=Pew Research Center|language=en-US|access-date=August 3, 2024|archive-date=August 3, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803141125/https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/04/09/age-generational-cohorts-and-party-identification/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since 1980, a "gender gap" has seen stronger support for the Democratic Party among women than among men. Unmarried and divorced women are more likely to vote for Democrats.<ref name=wvwv2004>[http://www.wvwv.org/docs/WVWV_2004_post-election_memo.pdf "Unmarried Women in the 2004 Presidential Election"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101195440/http://www.wvwv.org/docs/WVWV_2004_post-election_memo.pdf|date=January 1, 2016}} ([[PDF]]). Report by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, January 2005. p. 3: "The marriage gap is one of the most important cleavages in electoral politics. Unmarried women voted for Kerry by a 25-point margin (62 to 37 percent), while married women voted for President Bush by an 11-point margin (55 percent to 44 percent). Indeed, the 25-point margin Kerry posted among unmarried women represented one of the high water marks for the Senator among all demographic groups."</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21591624-republicans-should-worry-unmarried-women-shun-them-marriage-gap?fsrc=scn/tw/te/pe/themarriagegap|title=Republicans should worry that unmarried women shun them|date=December 14, 2013|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|access-date=September 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115185951/https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21591624-republicans-should-worry-unmarried-women-shun-them-marriage-gap?fsrc=scn%2Ftw%2Fte%2Fpe%2Fthemarriagegap|archive-date=January 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Although women supported Obama over [[Mitt Romney]] by a margin of 55–44% in 2012, Romney prevailed amongst married women, 53–46%.<ref name="Marriage Gap">{{cite news|date=December 3, 2012|title=The Marriage Gap in the Women's Vote|first=Meg T.|last=McDonnell|url=http://www.crisismagazine.com/2012/the-marriage-gap-in-the-womens-vote|work=Crisis Magazine|access-date=December 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031034237/http://www.crisismagazine.com/2012/the-marriage-gap-in-the-womens-vote|archive-date=October 31, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Obama won unmarried women 67–31%.<ref>{{cite news|first=Suzanne|last=Goldenberg|date=November 9, 2012|title=Single women voted overwhelmingly in favour of Obama, researchers find|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/nov/09/single-women-voted-favour-obama|access-date=December 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231035001/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/nov/09/single-women-voted-favour-obama|archive-date=December 31, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> According to a December 2019 study, "White women are the only group of female voters who support Republican Party candidates for president. They have done so by a majority in all but 2 of the last 18 elections".<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Junn|first1=Jane|author-link1=Jane Junn|last2=Masuoka|first2=Natalie|date=2020|title=The Gender Gap Is a Race Gap: Women Voters in US Presidential Elections|journal=Perspectives on Politics|volume=18|issue=4|pages=1135–1145|doi=10.1017/S1537592719003876|issn=1537-5927|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/11/white-women-support-gop/507617/|title=White Female Voters Continue to Support the Republican Party|website=[[The Atlantic]]|date=November 14, 2016|access-date=January 30, 2021|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215024943/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/11/white-women-support-gop/507617/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Region ===
{{See also|Solid South}}
[[File:White voters.jpg|thumb|300px|White vote in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]] by state.<ref name="White Voters"/><ref name="Cohn-2014"/>]]
[[File:Hispanic and Latino Americans by state.svg|thumb|300px|Proportion of Americans who are Hispanic or Latino in each U.S. state, [[District of Columbia|DC]], and Puerto Rico as of the 2020 United States Census]]
Geographically, the party is strongest in the [[Northeastern United States]], parts of the [[Great Lakes region]] and [[Southwestern United States]], and the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]]. The party is also very strong in [[List of United States cities by population|major cities]], regardless of region.<ref name="cities"/>

The Democratic Party gradually lost its power in the [[Southern United States]] since [[1964 United States presidential election|1964]]. Although [[Richard Nixon]] carried 49 states in [[1972 United States presidential election|1972]], including every Southern state, the Republican Party remained quite weak at the local and state levels across the entire South for decades. Republicans first won a majority of U.S. House seats in the South in the [[1994 United States elections|1994]] "[[Republican Revolution]]", and only began to dominate the South after the [[2010 United States elections|2010 elections]].<ref name="The long goodbye">{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/united-states/2010/11/11/the-long-goodbye|date=November 11, 2010|newspaper=The Economist|title=The long goodbye|quote=In 1981 Republicans took control of the Senate for the first time since 1953, but most Southern elected officials remained white Democrats. When Republicans took control of the House in 1995, white Democrats still comprised one-third of the South's tally. ... white Southern Democrats have met their Appomattox: they will account for just 24 of the South's 155 senators and congressmen in the 112th United States Congress.|access-date=February 20, 2023}}</ref> Since the 2010s, [[White Southerners]] are the Republican Party's strongest racial demographic, in some [[Deep South]] states voting nearly as Republican as African Americans vote Democratic.<ref name="Cohn-2014"/> This is partially attributable to religiosity, with White [[evangelical Christianity|evangelical Christians]] in the [[Bible Belt]], which covers most of the South, being the Republican party's strongest religious demographic.<ref name="White Voters">{{Cite web|url=https://split-ticket.org/2023/03/24/where-do-democrats-win-white-voters/|title=Where Do Democrats Win White Voters?|date=March 24, 2023|access-date=January 13, 2025|website=Split Ticket|first1=Lakshya|last1=Jain|first2=Harrison|last2=Lavelle|first3=Armin|last3=Thomas}}</ref>

The Democratic Party is particularly strong in the West Coast and Northeastern United States. In particular, the Democratic Party receives its strongest support from White voters in these two regions. This is attributable to the two regions having the highest educational attainment in the country and being part of the "[[Unchurched Belt]]," with the lowest rates of religiosity in the country.<ref name="White Voters"/> 

The Democratic Party's support in the [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]] and [[Southwestern United States|Southwest]] are more mixed, with varying levels of support from White voters in both regions. In the Midwest, the Democratic Party receives varying levels of support, with some states safely Democratic, some [[swing states|swing states]], and some safely Republican. In the Southwest, the Democratic Party also relies on [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]] voters. As of 2025, Democrats control both Senate seats in the Southwestern states of New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, and California.<ref name="The New West">{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2023-06-16/columnist-mark-z-barabak-the-new-west|title=A series on political shifts in the West|first1=Mark Z.|website=Los Angeles Times|last1=Barabak|date=November 2023 |access-date=June 4, 2024}}</ref>

The Democratic Party is particularly weak in the [[Great Plains]] and some [[Mountain states]]. In particular, the states of [[Idaho]], [[Utah]], [[Wyoming]], [[North Dakota]], [[South Dakota]], [[Nebraska]],{{efn|Three Democrats ([[Barack Obama]] in 2008, [[Joe Biden]] in 2020, and [[Kamala Harris]] in 2024) have since won an electoral vote from [[Nebraska's 2nd congressional district|Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District]], but Johnson remains the last Democrat to carry the state as a whole.}} [[Kansas]], and [[Oklahoma]] have not voted for the Democratic Party since the [[1964 United States presidential election|1964 presidential election]]. [[Montana]] has not voted for the Democratic Party since the [[1992 United States presidential election|1992 presidential election]].<ref name="how">Sullivan, Robert David; [http://www.americamagazine.org/content/unconventional-wisdom/how-red-and-blue-map-evolved-over-past-century ‘How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century’]; ''America Magazine'' in ''The National Catholic Review''; June 29, 2016</ref>

=== Income ===
The victory of Republican [[Donald Trump]] in 2016 brought about a realignment in which many [[Educational attainment in the United States|voters without college degrees]], also referred to as "[[working class in the United States|working class]]" voters by many sources, voted Republican.<ref name="Nate Silver">{{Cite web|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/education-not-income-predicted-who-would-vote-for-trump/|title=Education, Not Income, Predicted Who Would Vote For Trump|date=November 22, 2016|website=FiveThirtyEight|first1=Nate|last1=Silver}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/11/04/new-republican-party-working-class-coalition-00122822|title=The Emerging Working-Class Republican Majority|first=Patrick|last=Ruffini|date=November 4, 2023|website=POLITICO|access-date=December 26, 2023|archive-date=November 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114142644/https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/11/04/new-republican-party-working-class-coalition-00122822|url-status=live}}</ref> Until 2016, white voters with college degrees were a Republican-leaning group.<ref name="Polarization by education"/> 

From 1976 to 2012, lower income was strongly correlated to voting for the Democratic Party among the general electorate. However, in all three of Trump's elections in 2016, 2020, and 2024, the previous correlation between lower incomes and voting for the Democratic Party was largely eliminated.<ref name="culture trumps economic class">{{Cite web |title=How culture trumps economic class as the new political fault line|date=March 28, 2024|website=Silver Bulletin|access-date=January 13, 2025|first1=Nate|last1=Silver|url=https://www.natesilver.net/p/how-culture-trumps-economic-class}}</ref> For White voters, instead higher educational attainment was strongly correlated with higher support for the Democratic Party.<ref name="Harry Enten"/> 

In the 2024 presidential election, Democratic nominee [[Kamala Harris]] did better among higher-income voters than lower-income voters for the first time ever in modern American political history.<ref name=":0"/><ref name="Lost Their"/><ref name="Too Rich">{{Cite web|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/09/is-america-too-rich-for-class-politics.html|title=Is America Too Rich for Class Politics?|access-date=December 2, 2024|website=New York Magazine|date=September 29, 2021|first1=Eric|last1=Levitz}}</ref> Two causes of this are higher educational attainment being strongly correlated to higher income, and the [[2021-2023 inflation surge]], because lower-income voters lose [[Purchasing power|purchasing power]] while higher-income voters gain from [[financial asset|asset prices]] increasing due to inflation, including [[Stock|stocks]] and [[real estate]].<ref name="Economy Sucks">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/b0a60325-4c93-49a0-8dc6-817f0d8281fc|title=This was an election on the US economy. And for many Americans, the economy sucks|date=November 8, 2024|website=The Financial Times|access-date=November 8, 2024|first1=Tej|last1=Parikh}}</ref>

=== Education ===
{{multiple image
 | direction = vertical
 | total_width = 350
 | image1 = College white vote by state.jpg 
 | alt1 = College White vote in the 2020 presidential election by state 
 | image2 = Non-College White vote by state.jpg
 | alt2 = Non-college White vote in the 2020 presidential election by state
 | footer = {{center|'''Top and bottom:''' College White vote and Non-college White vote in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]] by state.<ref name="White Vote and Educational Polarization">{{Cite web|url=https://split-ticket.org/2022/01/03/the-white-vote-and-educational-polarization/|title=The White Vote and Educational Polarization|first1=Lakshya|last1=Jain|date=January 3, 2022|access-date=January 4, 2025|website=Split Ticket}}</ref>}}
}}
In the 2020 presidential election, college-educated White voters in all 50 states voted more Democratic than non-college White voters, as displayed in the two maps. After controlling for education, there still remain huge variations by state and region. White voters with college degrees remain strongly Republican in the Southern United States.<ref name="White Vote and Educational Polarization"/> 

Of the 19 states and the District of Columbia won by Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, all except [[New Mexico]] had above-average educational attainment.<ref name = "CensusData">{{cite web |title=EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=S1501&g=0100000US%240400000&tid=ACSST1Y2021.S1501&moe=false&tp=false |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=18 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220919003628/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=S1501&g=0100000US%240400000&tid=ACSST1Y2021.S1501&moe=false&tp=false |archive-date=19 September 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/politics/390108/working-class-definition-voters-2024|title=What does "working class" even mean?|quote=The criticism that Democrats left America’s working class behind surged after the 2024 election. Here’s why the term is so hard to define — and why that maters.|website=Vox|date=December 9, 2024|access-date=December 9, 2024}}</ref> Harris also became the first Democratic presidential nominee to receive more support from high-income Americans than low-income Americans, because higher educational attainment is strongly correlated with higher income.<ref name=":0"/> By education, Harris lost voters with [[High school in the United States|High school or less]] 36-62%, some college education 47-51%, and an [[Associate degree]] 41-57%. Harris won voters with a Bachelor's degree 53-45% and voters with	a [[Postgraduate education|graduate degree]] 59-38%.<ref name="2024 Exit poll">{{cite news|date=November 6, 2024|title=Exit poll results 2024|url=https://www.cnn.com/election/2024/exit-polls/national-results/general/president/0|access-date=November 6, 2024|publisher=CNN}}</ref>

According to a Gallup poll in November 2024, unionization rates were positively correlated to increased educational attainment and higher income. In particular, 15% of those with graduate degrees, 8% with bachelor's degrees, 9% with some college, and 5% with high school or less were unionized. Also, 11% of those with household incomes of $100,000 or more, 7% of those with $40,000 to $99,999, and 3% with less than $40,000 were unionized. Also only 6% of those in the private sector were unionized, compared to 28% of government employees.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/265958/percentage-workers-union-members.aspx#:~:text=The%20more%20educated%20an%20employee,likely%20to%20be%20union%20members.|title=What Percentage of U.S. Workers Belong to a Labor Union?|date=November 20, 2024|website=Gallup|access-date=December 13, 2024}}</ref>

Many Democrats without college degrees differ from liberals in their more socially moderate views, and are more likely to belong to an ethnic minority.<ref name="dropouts">{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2014/9/24/6840037/white-high-school-dropouts-have-more-wealth-than-black-and-hispanic|title=White high school dropouts are wealthier than Black or Latino college graduates|first1=Danielle|last1=Kurtzleben|date=September 24, 2014|website=Vox}}</ref><ref name="different worlds">{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/12/politics/republicans-democrats-different-worlds/index.html|title=Republicans and Democrats increasingly really do occupy different worlds|last=Brownstein|first=Ronald|work=CNN|access-date=October 24, 2018|archive-date=October 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024113248/https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/12/politics/republicans-democrats-different-worlds/index.html|url-status=live|quote=On the one hand, non-college whites almost always expressed more conservative views than did either non-whites or whites with a college degree living in the same kind of geographic area.}}</ref><ref name="Teixeira-2022">{{Cite web |last=Teixeira |first=Ruy |author-link=Ruy Teixeira |date=November 6, 2022 |title=Democrats' Long Goodbye to the Working Class |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/11/democrats-long-goodbye-to-the-working-class/672016/ |access-date=November 8, 2022 |website=[[The Atlantic]] |language=en |quote=As we move into the endgame of the 2022 election, the Democrats face a familiar problem. America's historical party of the working class keeps losing working-class support. And not just among White voters. Not only has the emerging Democratic majority I once predicted failed to materialize, but many of the non-White voters who were supposed to deliver it are instead voting for Republicans... From 2012 to 2020, the Democrats not only saw their support among White working-class voters — those without college degrees — crater, they also saw their advantage among non-White working-class voters fall by 18 points. And between 2016 and 2020 alone, the Democratic advantage among Hispanic voters declined by 16 points, overwhelmingly driven by the defection of working-class voters. In contrast, Democrats' advantage among White college-educated voters improved by 16 points from 2012 to 2020, an edge that delivered Joe Biden the White House. |archive-date=January 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107212010/https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/11/democrats-long-goodbye-to-the-working-class/672016/ |url-status=live }}</ref> White voters with college degrees are more likely to live in urban areas.<ref name="different worlds"/>

In the [[2020 United States presidential election]], Joe Biden won white voters with a college degree 51-48%, while winning college graduates as a whole 55-43%. Biden became the first Democratic president to win a majority of white voters with college degrees since 1964.<ref>{{Cite news|title=National Results 2020 President exit polls.|url=https://www.cnn.com/election/2020/exit-polls/president/national-results|access-date=2020-12-04|work=[[CNN]]|language=en}}</ref><ref name="nymag.com"/><ref name="nytimes.com"/> In the [[2024 United States presidential election]], Kamala Harris won white voters with college degrees 52-45%, becoming the first Democratic presidential nominee to lose a presidential election despite winning a majority of white voters with college degrees.<ref name="Lost Their">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/25/upshot/democrats-trump-working-class.html|title=How Democrats Lost Their Base and their Message|quote=Donald Trump's populist pitch bumped Democrats off their traditional place in American politics.|website=The New York Times|first1=Nate|last1=Cohn|date=November 25, 2024|access-date=November 25, 2024}}</ref>

The Democratic Party has steadily increased the percentage of votes it receives from voters with college degrees since the 1970s, while the [[educational attainment in the United States|educational attainment]] of the United States has steadily increased.<ref name="Polarized by Degrees"/><ref name="Nate Silver"/> Voters with college degrees as a whole were a Republican-voting group until the 1990s. Despite winning in a landslide 61-39% in [[1964 United States presidential election|1964]], Democratic president [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] only narrowly won a majority of voters with college degrees 52-48%.<ref>{{cite news |title=Election Polls -- Vote by Groups, 1960-1964 |url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/9454/Election-Polls-Vote-Groups-19601964.aspx |website=[[Gallup (company)|Gallup]] |access-date=June 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726155334/http://www.gallup.com/poll/9454/Election-Polls-Vote-Groups-19601964.aspx |archive-date=July 26, 2011}}</ref> In [[1976 United States presidential election|1976]], Democrat [[Jimmy Carter]] narrowly won while losing voters with college degrees 43-55%.<ref name="1976 Presidential Election Data">{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=1976&datatype=national&def=1&f=0&off=0&elect=0|title=1976 Presidential General Election Data - National|access-date=March 18, 2013|archive-date=August 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814021625/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=1976&datatype=national&def=1&f=0&off=0&elect=0|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Factions ==
{{further|Factions in the Democratic Party (United States)}}
[[File:Educational Attainment in the States won by Kamala Harris in 2024.png|thumb|right|300px|Bar plot of the percentage of the population with a BA or higher in the electoral jurisdictions won by Kamala Harris in the 2024 United States presidential election.<ref name = "CensusData"/>]]
Upon foundation, the Democratic Party supported [[agrarianism]] and the [[Jacksonian democracy]] movement of President [[Andrew Jackson]], representing farmers and rural interests and traditional [[Jeffersonian democracy|Jeffersonian democrats]].<ref>John Ashworth, ''"Agrarians" & "aristocrats": Party political ideology in the United States, 1837–1846''(1983)</ref> Since the 1890s, especially in northern states, the party began to favor more liberal positions (the term "liberal" in this sense describes [[Modern liberalism in the United States|modern liberalism]], rather than [[classical liberalism]] or [[economic liberalism]]). Historically, the party has represented farmers, laborers, and religious and ethnic minorities as it has opposed unregulated business and finance and favored progressive income taxes.

In the 1930s, the party began advocating [[Social programs in the United States|social programs]] targeted at the poor. Before the [[New Deal]], the party had a [[Fiscal conservatism|fiscally conservative]], [[Economic liberalism|pro-business]] wing, typified by [[Grover Cleveland]] and [[Al Smith]].<ref>Susan Dunn, ''Roosevelt's Purge: How FDR Fought to Change the Democratic Party'' (2010) pp. 202-213.</ref> The party was [[Solid South|dominant in the Southern United States]] until President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] signed the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]]. In foreign policy, [[internationalism (politics)|internationalism]] (including [[interventionism (politics)|interventionism]]) was a dominant theme from 1913 to the mid-1960s. The major influences for liberalism were labor unions (which peaked in the 1936–1952 era) and African Americans. Environmentalism has been a major component since the 1970s.

Even after the New Deal, until the 2010s, the party still had [[conservative coalition|a fiscally conservative faction]],<ref name="blue-dog-regroup">{{cite news |last1=Kane |first1=Paul |date=January 15, 2014 |title=Blue Dog Democrats, whittled down in number, are trying to regroup |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/blue-dog-democrats-whittled-down-in-number-are-trying-to-regroup/2014/01/15/37d4e7e2-7dfd-11e3-95c6-0a7aa80874bc_story.html |url-status=live |access-date=July 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116091758/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/blue-dog-democrats-whittled-down-in-number-are-trying-to-regroup/2014/01/15/37d4e7e2-7dfd-11e3-95c6-0a7aa80874bc_story.html |archive-date=January 16, 2014 |quote=Four years ago, they were the most influential voting bloc on Capitol Hill, more than 50 House Democrats pulling their liberal colleagues to a more centrist, fiscally conservative vision on issues such as health care and Wall Street reforms.}}</ref> such as [[John Nance Garner]] and [[Howard W. Smith]].<ref>{{cite book|first=James T.|last=Patterson|title=Congressional Conservatism and the New Deal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y8MfBgAAQBAJ&pg=PR7|year=1967|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|pages=vii–viii|isbn=9780813164045}}</ref> The party's [[Southern Democrats|Southern conservative]] wing began shrinking after President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] supported the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]], and largely died out in the 2010s, as the Republican Party built up its Southern base.<ref name="The long goodbye"/><ref name="Cohn-2014">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/24/upshot/southern-whites-loyalty-to-gop-nearing-that-of-blacks-to-democrats.html|title=Southern Whites' Loyalty to GOP Nearing that of Blacks to Democrats|first1=Nate|last1=Cohn|website=The New York Times|date=April 23, 2014}}</ref> The party still receives support from African Americans and urban areas in the Southern United States.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kilgore |first1=Ed |title=A Different Kind of Democratic Party Is Rising in the South |date=November 9, 2018 |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/11/changing-southern-democratic-party.html |work=New York Magazine |access-date=November 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=National Results 2020 President exit polls.|url=https://www.cnn.com/election/2020/exit-polls/president/national-results|access-date=2020-12-04|work=[[CNN]]|language=en}}</ref>

The 21st century Democratic Party is predominantly a coalition of centrists, liberals, and progressives, with significant overlap between the three groups. In 2019, the Pew Research Center found that among Democratic and Democratic-leaning registered voters, 47% identify as liberal or very liberal, 38% identify as moderate, and 14% identify as conservative or very conservative.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gilberstadt |first1=Hannah |last2=Daniller |first2=Andrew |date=January 17, 2020 |title=Liberals make up the largest share of Democratic voters, but their growth has slowed in recent years |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/01/17/liberals-make-up-largest-share-of-democratic-voters/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117201701/https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/01/17/liberals-make-up-largest-share-of-democratic-voters/ |archive-date=January 17, 2020 |access-date=June 12, 2020 |website=Pew Research Center}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Brownstein |first1=Ronald |title=The Democrats' Coalition Could Fundamentally Change by 2020 |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/05/democrats-progressive-agenda-and-2020-election/589066/ |website=The Atlantic |date=May 9, 2019 |access-date=March 13, 2020 |archive-date=March 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323161712/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/05/democrats-progressive-agenda-and-2020-election/589066/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Political scientists characterize the Democratic Party as less ideologically cohesive than the Republican Party due to the broader diversity of coalitions that compose the Democratic Party.<ref name="Gidron-2019">{{Cite journal|last1=Gidron|first1=Noam|last2=Ziblatt|first2=Daniel|date=May 11, 2019|title=Center-Right Political Parties in Advanced Democracies |journal=Annual Review of Political Science|language=en|volume=22|issue=1|pages=17–35|doi=10.1146/annurev-polisci-090717-092750|s2cid=182421002|issn=1094-2939|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Grossman-2016">{{Cite book|last1=Grossman|first1=Matt|url=https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190626594.001.0001/acprof-9780190626594|title=Asymmetric Politics: Ideological Republicans and Group Interest Democrats|last2=Hopkins|first2=David A.|date=2016|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-062659-4|doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190626594.001.0001|access-date=November 10, 2021|archive-date=November 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128121511/https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190626594.001.0001/acprof-9780190626594|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Lelkes-2016">{{Cite journal|last1=Lelkes|first1=Yphtach|last2=Sniderman|first2=Paul M.|date=2016|title=The Ideological Asymmetry of the American Party System|journal=British Journal of Political Science|language=en|volume=46|issue=4|pages=825–844|doi=10.1017/S0007123414000404|issn=0007-1234|doi-access=free}}</ref>

The party has lost significant ground with voters without college degrees in the 21st century, particularly white voters in the South,<ref name="Dogs">{{Cite web|url=https://washingtonmonthly.com/2014/11/10/from-yellow-dogs-to-blue-dogs-to-new-dogs/|title=From Yellow Dogs To Blue Dogs To New Dogs|first1=Ed|last1=Kilgore|date=November 10, 2014|website=Washington Monthly|access-date=December 24, 2016|quote=Even more to the point, once the ancient white Democratic voting habits were broken, there was really no going back. Blue Dogs were a fading echo of the Yellow Dog tradition in the South, in which the Democratic Party was the default vehicle for day-to-day political life, and the dominant presence, regardless of ideology, for state and local politics. ... So Martin’s right: the Blue Dog model is gone for good. But I would warn against the very popular assumption that Democrats can simply intone "economic populism" and regain traction among "the economically pressed white voter" of the Deep South. All the reasons Democrats are struggling with non-college-educated white voters nationally are especially strong in the South: racial and religious fears, anti-urbanism, militarism, and mistrust of unions as well as Wall Street.}}</ref> but also in the [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]] and among non-White voters except for African Americans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unherd.com/newsroom/is-obama-the-reason-democrats-are-now-underdogs/|title=Is Obama the reason Democrats are now 'underdogs'?|date=August 21, 2024|access-date=December 10, 2024|website=UnHerd|first1=Michael|last1=Cuenco|quote=Consider that when Obama last ran, the Midwest was still known as an impenetrable Blue Wall, while Florida and Ohio were still purple states. When Bill Clinton gave his acceptance speech in 1996, the Democrats were competitive throughout large swathes of the South. During that period, they had gone on to win not just Clinton’s Arkansas and Al Gore’s Tennessee, but states such as Kentucky and Louisiana too. The story of the last three decades has been one of political success for Democrats, who have won the popular vote in seven out of the last nine elections. Yet it is also one of narrowing political constituencies and pyrrhic victories, as the party attracted college-educated professionals at the expense of the non-college-educated majority. In particular, non-college-educated whites were lost, but in recent years they have increasingly been joined by significant numbers of non-college-educated minorities.}}</ref> Democrats have consistently won voters with [[postgraduate education|graduate degrees]] since the 1990s, including a majority of White voters with graduate degrees.<ref name="Polarization by education">{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/10/13/polarisation-by-education-is-remaking-american-politics|title=Polarisation by education is remaking American politics|newspaper=The Economist|date=October 13, 2024|quote=From 1952 to 2000, a majority of white voters with college degrees self-identified as Republicans. Starting with the 2012 election, this affiliation began to weaken. It loosened even more once [Donald] Trump became the Republican standard-bearer in 2016. By 2020, the college-educated called themselves Democrats by a 2:1 margin. And there were many more of them; their share of the electorate rose from 8% in 1952 to 40% in 2020. Had the party held on to the rest of its support, this would have ensured an enduring majority. Yet at the same time, Democrats lost support among whites without college degrees. They now favour Republicans by their own margin of 2:1.}}</ref> Since the 2010s, the party's main demographic gains have been among White voters with college degrees, which were previously a Republican-leaning group until 2016.<ref name="Harry Enten">{{cite web|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/even-among-the-wealthy-education-predicts-trump-support/|title=Even Among The Wealthy, Education Predicts Trump Support|date=November 29, 2016|first1=Harry|last1=Enten|website=FiveThirtyEight|quote=First, it's clear from the exit polls that for white voters, every bit of extra education meant less support for Trump. ... Second, education matters a lot even when separating out income levels. ... Third, Trump saw little difference in his support between income levels within each education group.}}</ref> The party still receives extremely strong support from [[African Americans]], but has lost ground among other racial minorities, including [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanics]], [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]], and [[Asian Americans]].<ref name="Lost Their"/>

=== Liberals ===
{{see also|Modern liberalism in the United States}}
{{multiple image
 | direction = vertical
 | total_width = 300
 | image1 = Self-identified liberals 2018 Gallup.svg
 | alt1 = Percent of self-identified liberals by state in 2018
 | image2 = Correlation between Education and Liberalism.png
 | alt2 = Correlation between Educational Attainment and Liberalism by State
 | footer = {{center|'''Top:''' Percent of self-identified liberals by state in 2018, according to a [[Gallup (company)|Gallup]] poll.<ref name="Liberals">{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Jeffrey M.|date=February 22, 2019|title=Conservatives Greatly Outnumber Liberals in 19 U.S. States|url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/247016/conservatives-greatly-outnumber-liberals-states.aspx|access-date=December 27, 2021|website=Gallup|language=en}}</ref> '''Bottom:''' Linear regression of educational attainment vs. liberalism by state, based on the same Gallup data.<ref name="Liberals"/>}}
}}
[[Modern liberalism in the United States|Modern liberals]] are a large portion of the Democratic base. According to 2018 exit polls, liberals constituted 27% of the electorate, and 91% of American liberals favored the candidate of the Democratic Party.<ref name="2018e">{{cite web |title=Exit Polls |url=https://www.cnn.com/election/2018/exit-polls |website=CNN Politics |access-date=July 4, 2020 |archive-date=November 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114225635/https://www.cnn.com/election/2018/exit-polls |url-status=live}}</ref> [[White-collar worker|White-collar]] college-educated professionals were mostly Republican until the 1950s, but they had become a vital component of the Democratic Party by the early 2000s.<ref name="Judis, B. J. (July 11, 2003). The trouble with Howard Dean. ''Salon.com''.">{{cite web|last=Judis|first=John B.|title=The trouble with Howard Dean|work=Salon|url=http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2003/07/11/dean/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921000516/http://www.salon.com/2003/07/11/dean_15/|archive-date=September 21, 2012|date=July 11, 2003|access-date=July 19, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A large majority of liberals favor moving toward [[universal health care]], with many supporting an eventual gradual transition to a [[single-payer health care|single-payer system]] in particular. A majority also favor diplomacy over [[war|military action]]; [[stem cell|stem cell research]], [[same-sex marriage in the United States|same-sex marriage]], stricter [[Gun politics in the United States|gun control]], environmental protection laws, as well as the preservation of [[pro-choice|abortion rights]]. Immigration and [[cultural diversity]] are deemed positive as liberals favor [[cultural pluralism]], a system in which immigrants retain their native culture in addition to adopting their new culture. Most liberals oppose increased military spending and the mixing of church and state.<ref name="Pew Research Center.">{{cite web|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/11/09/beyond-red-vs-blue-the-political-typology-2/|title=Pew Research Center. (May 10, 2005). Beyond Red vs. Blue, p. 1 of 8|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731155950/http://www.people-press.org/2005/05/10/beyond-red-vs-blue/|archive-date=July 31, 2012|access-date=July 12, 2007|url-status=dead |date=May 10, 2005}}</ref> As of 2020, the three most significant labor groupings in the Democratic coalition were the [[AFL–CIO]] and [[Change to Win Federation|Change to Win]] [[National trade union center|labor federations]] as well as the [[National Education Association]], a large, unaffiliated teachers' union. Important issues for labor unions include supporting unionized manufacturing jobs, raising the [[minimum wage in the United States|minimum wage]], and promoting broad social programs such as [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] and [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lipka |first1=Michael |last2=Smith |first2=Gregory A. |date=January 31, 2020 |title=Among Democrats, Christians lean toward Biden, while 'nones' prefer Sanders |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/01/31/among-democrats-christians-lean-toward-biden-while-nones-prefer-sanders/ |access-date=November 16, 2020 |website=[[Pew Research Center]] |archive-date=February 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211092938/https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/01/31/among-democrats-christians-lean-toward-biden-while-nones-prefer-sanders/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

This ideological group is strongly correlated with high educational attainment. According to the [[Pew Research Center]], 49% were college graduates, the highest figure of any typographical group.<ref name="Polarized by Degrees"/> It was also the fastest growing typological group since the late 1990s to the present.<ref name="Pew Research Center."/> Liberals include most of the academia<ref name="Kurtz, H. (March 29, 2005). College Faculties A Most Liberal Lot, Study Finds. ''The Washington Post''.">{{cite news|title=College Faculties A Most Liberal Lot, Study Finds|last=Kurtz|first=Howard|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8427-2005Mar28.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|agency=Washingtonpost.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604090510/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8427-2005Mar28.html|archive-date=June 4, 2012|access-date=July 2, 2007|date=March 29, 2005|url-status=dead}}</ref> and large portions of the professional class.<ref name="nymag.com"/>

=== Moderates ===
{{see also|New Democrats (United States)|New Democrat Coalition|Blue Dog Coalition}}

Moderate Democrats, or [[New Democrats (United States)|New Democrats]], are an ideologically [[Centrism|centrist]] faction within the Democratic Party that emerged after the victory of [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[George H. W. Bush]] in the [[1988 United States presidential election|1988 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web |title=DLC: The New American Choice Resolutions |url=http://www.dlc.org/ndol_cid211.html?kaid=86&subid=194&contentid=1251 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140111224830/http://www.dlc.org/ndol_cid211.html?kaid=86&subid=194&contentid=1251 |archive-date=January 11, 2014 |access-date=February 25, 2013 |work=Democratic Leadership Council}}</ref> Running as a New Democrat, Bill Clinton won the [[1992 United States presidential election|1992]] and [[1996 United States presidential election|1996]] presidential elections.<ref>Alvarez, R. Michael, and Jonathan Nagler. "Economics, Entitlements, and Social Issues: Voter Choice in the 1996 Presidential Election." ''American Journal of Political Science'' 42, no. 4 (1998): 1361.</ref> They are an economically [[Economic liberalism|liberal]] and "[[Third Way]]" faction that dominated the party for around 20 years, until the beginning of [[Presidency of Barack Obama|Obama's presidency]].<ref name="blue-dog-regroup"/><ref name="vox.com">{{cite web |last1=Yglesias |first1=Matthew |title=Bill Clinton is still a star, but today's Democrats are dramatically more liberal than his party|url=https://www.vox.com/2016/7/26/12280198/democrats-changed-since-1992 |website=Vox |date=July 26, 2016 |access-date=May 31, 2022}}</ref> They are represented by organizations such as the [[New Democrat Network]] and the [[New Democrat Coalition]].

The [[Blue Dog Coalition]] was formed during the [[104th United States Congress|104th Congress]] to give members from the Democratic Party representing conservative-leaning districts a unified voice after the Democrats' loss of Congress in the [[1994 United States House of Representatives elections|1994]] [[Republican Revolution]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dumain |first1=Emma |date=May 12, 2015 |title=20&nbsp;years in, Blue Dogs not ready to roll over |url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/blue-dogs |website=rollcall.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=http://ross.house.gov/BlueDog/history.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20120405021833/http://ross.house.gov/BlueDog/history.htm |archive-date=April 5, 2012 |access-date=April 10, 2012 |website=ross.house.gov/BlueDog/ |publisher=Blue Dog Coalition}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bendavid |first=Naftali |date=July 28, 2009 |title='Blue Dog' Democrats hold health care overhaul at bay |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref> However, in the late 2010s and early 2020s, the Coalition's focus shifted towards ideological [[centrism]]. One of the most influential centrist groups was the [[Democratic Leadership Council]] (DLC), a nonprofit organization that advocated centrist positions for the party. The DLC disbanded in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 7, 2011 |title=Democratic Leadership Council will fold |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0211/Democratic_Leadership_Council_will_fold.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626020036/http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0211/Democratic_Leadership_Council_will_fold.html |archive-date=June 26, 2015 |access-date=September 18, 2011 |website=Politico}}</ref>

Some Democratic elected officials have self-declared as being centrists, including former President Bill Clinton, former Vice President [[Al Gore]], Senator [[Mark Warner]], Kansas governor [[Laura Kelly]], former Senator [[Jim Webb]], and President [[Joe Biden]].<ref name="Members - New Democrat Coalition">{{cite web |title=Members – New Democrat Coalition |url=https://newdemocratcoalition-kind.house.gov/members |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907005152/https://newdemocratcoalition-kind.house.gov/members |archive-date=September 7, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Hale |first=Jon F. |date=January 1, 1995 |title=The Making of the New Democrats |journal=Political Science Quarterly |volume=110 |issue=2 |pages=207–232 |doi=10.2307/2152360 |jstor=2152360}}</ref> The New Democrat Network supports socially liberal and fiscally moderate Democratic politicians and is associated with the congressional [[New Democrat Coalition]] in the House.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Democrat Coalition |url=http://newdemocratcoalition.house.gov/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308074931/https://newdemocratcoalition.house.gov/ |archive-date=March 8, 2022 |access-date=March 11, 2022}}</ref> [[Annie Kuster]] is the chair of the coalition,<ref name="Members - New Democrat Coalition" /> and former senator and President [[Barack Obama]] was self-described as a New Democrat.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 10, 2009 |title=Obama: 'I am a New Democrat' |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2009/03/obama-i-am-a-new-democrat-019862#ixzz3o9jykSUe |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419161022/http://www.politico.com/story/2009/03/obama-i-am-a-new-democrat-019862#ixzz3o9jykSUe |archive-date=April 19, 2017 |access-date=April 16, 2017 |work=Politico.com}}</ref> In the 21st century, some former Republican moderates have switched to the Democratic Party.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tatum |first=Sophie |title=3 Kansas legislators switch from Republican to Democrat |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/19/politics/kansas-legislature-republican-democrat/index.html |website=CNN |date=December 20, 2018 |archive-date=October 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030091356/https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/19/politics/kansas-legislature-republican-democrat/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Weiner |first=Rachel |title=Charlie Crist defends party switch |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2012/12/10/charlie-crist-defends-party-switch/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225143218/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2012/12/10/charlie-crist-defends-party-switch/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{cite news |last=Davis |first=Susan |title=Meltdown On Main Street: Inside The Breakdown Of The GOP's Moderate Wing |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/08/23/753404051/meltdown-on-main-street-inside-the-breakdown-of-the-gops-moderate-wing  |work=[[NPR]] |date=August 23, 2019 |language=en |archive-date=June 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617124126/https://www.npr.org/2019/08/23/753404051/meltdown-on-main-street-inside-the-breakdown-of-the-gops-moderate-wing |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Progressives ===
{{see also|Congressional Progressive Caucus}}

[[Progressivism in the United States|Progressives]] are the most left-leaning faction in the party and support strong business regulations, [[Social programs in the United States|social programs]], and [[workers' rights]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bartleby.com/65/pr/progrsvsm.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080629030845/http://www.bartleby.com/65/pr/progrsvsm.html|archive-date=June 29, 2008|title=Progressivism|publisher=Columbia Encyclopaedia|year=2007|access-date=January 19, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www-personal.umd.umich.edu/~ppennock/Progressive%20Reforms.htm|title=Important Examples of Progressive Reforms|publisher=University of Michigan|access-date=April 2, 2014|archive-date=February 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212014328/http://www-personal.umd.umich.edu/~ppennock/Progressive%20Reforms.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2014, progressive Senator [[Elizabeth Warren]] set out "Eleven Commandments of Progressivism": tougher regulation on corporations; affordable education; scientific investment and environmentalism; [[net neutrality]]; increased wages; equal pay for women; collective bargaining rights; defending social programs; [[same-sex marriage in the United States|same-sex marriage]]; [[Immigration reform in the US|immigration reform]]; and unabridged access to reproductive healthcare.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/elizabeth-warren-s-11-commandments-of-progressivism-20140718|title=Elizabeth Warren's 11 Commandments of Progressivism|work=National Journal|access-date=October 22, 2014|archive-date=October 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020041916/http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/elizabeth-warren-s-11-commandments-of-progressivism-20140718|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Congressional Progressive Caucus]] (CPC) is a caucus of progressive Democrats chaired by [[Pramila Jayapal]] of [[Washington (state)|Washington]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/jayapal-joins-pocan-as-co-chair-of-congressional-progressive-caucus |title=Jayapal Joins Pocan As Co-Chair of Congressional Progressive Caucus |last=McPherson |first=Lindsey |date=November 29, 2018 |website=[[rollcall.com]] |access-date=January 20, 2019 |archive-date=January 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121064755/https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/jayapal-joins-pocan-as-co-chair-of-congressional-progressive-caucus |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Gerstle2022" /> Its members have included Representatives [[Dennis Kucinich]] of [[Ohio]], [[John Conyers]] of [[Michigan]], [[Jim McDermott]] of [[Washington (state)|Washington]], [[Barbara Lee]] of California, and Senator [[Paul Wellstone]] of [[Minnesota]]. Senators [[Sherrod Brown]] of [[Ohio]], [[Tammy Baldwin]] of [[Wisconsin]], [[Mazie Hirono]] of Hawaii, and [[Ed Markey]] of [[Massachusetts]] were members of the caucus when in the House of Representatives. As of March 2023, no Democratic senators belonged to the CPC, but independent Senator Bernie Sanders was a member.<ref>{{cite web |title=Caucus Members |url=https://progressives.house.gov/caucus-members |website=Congressional Progressive Caucus |access-date=March 21, 2023}}</ref> As of 2024, the CPC is the second-largest ideological caucus in the House Democratic Caucus by voting members, behind the New Democrat Coalition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2024-elections/378644/progressives-left-backlash-retreat-kamala-harris-pivot-center|title=The big political shift that explains the 2024 election|date=October 21, 2024|first1=Andrew|last1=Prokop|website=Vox|access-date=October 21, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.semafor.com/article/10/15/2024/no-matter-who-wins-the-country-is-moving-to-the-right|title=No matter who wins, the US is moving to the right|first1=David|last1=Weigel|date=October 15, 2024|access-date=October 24, 2024|website=Semafor}}</ref> In the aftermath of Trump winning the [[2024 United States presidential election|2024 presidential election]], the progressive movement has lost influence within the Democratic party.<ref name="Global Politics">{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/world/global-politics-conservative-right-shift-ea0e8d05|title=The Progressive Moment in Global Politics is Over|date=December 27, 2024|access-date=December 27, 2024|first1=Bertrand|last1=Benoit|first2=David|last2=Luhnow|first3=Vipal|last3=Monga|website=The Wall Street Journal|quote=Weak economic growth and record immigration are driving gains by the right, especially populists.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/politics/378977/kamala-harris-loses-trump-2024-election-democratic-party|title=If Harris loses, expect Democrats to move right|first1=Eric|last1=Levitz|website=Vox|date=Oct 22, 2024|access-date=December 2, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Are progressive groups sinking Democrats' electoral chances?|first1=Andrew|last1=Prokop|website=Vox|date=December 2, 2024|access-date=December 2, 2024|url=https://www.vox.com/politics/388752/democrats-groups-jentleson-favreau-klein-yglesias}}</ref>

== Democratic presidents ==
{{see also|List of presidents of the United States|Republican Party (United States)#Republican presidents}}
{{as of|2025}}, there have been a total of 16 Democratic presidents.
{|class="sortable wikitable"
|-
!style="text-align:center;"|<abbr title="Order of presidency">#</abbr>
!style="text-align:center;"|Name (lifespan)
!style="text-align:center;"|Portrait
!style="text-align:center;"|State
!style="text-align:center;"|Presidency<br />start date
!style="text-align:center;"|Presidency<br />end date
!style="text-align:center;"|Time in office
|-
|7
|[[Andrew Jackson]] (1767–1845)
|[[File:Andrew jackson head.jpg|65px]]
|[[Tennessee]]
|[[First inauguration of Andrew Jackson|March 4, 1829]]
|[[Inauguration of Martin Van Buren|March 4, 1837]]
|{{ayd|1829|3|4|1837|3|4}}
|-
|8
|[[Martin Van Buren]] (1782–1862)
|[[File:Martin Van Buren.jpg|65px]]
|[[New York (state)|New York]]
|[[Inauguration of Martin Van Buren|March 4, 1837]]
|[[Inauguration of William Henry Harrison|March 4, 1841]]
|{{ayd|1837|3|4|1841|3|4}}
|-
|11
|[[James K. Polk]] (1795–1849)
|[[File:Polk crop.jpg|65px]]
|[[Tennessee]]
|[[Inauguration of James K. Polk|March 4, 1845]]
|[[Inauguration of Zachary Taylor|March 4, 1849]]
|{{ayd|1845|3|4|1849|3|4}}
|-
|14
|[[Franklin Pierce]] (1804–1869)
|[[File:Mathew Brady - Franklin Pierce - alternate crop (cropped).jpg|65px]]
|[[New Hampshire]]
|[[Inauguration of Franklin Pierce|March 4, 1853]]
|[[Inauguration of James Buchanan|March 4, 1857]]
|{{ayd|1853|3|4|1857|3|4}}
|-
|15
|[[James Buchanan]] (1791–1868)
|[[File:James Buchanan.jpg|65px]]
|[[Pennsylvania]]
|[[Inauguration of James Buchanan|March 4, 1857]]
|[[First inauguration of Abraham Lincoln|March 4, 1861]]
|{{ayd|1857|3|4|1861|3|4}}
|-
|17
|[[Andrew Johnson]] (1808–1875)
|[[File:Andrew Johnson photo portrait head and shoulders, c1870-1880-Edit1.jpg|65px]]
|[[Tennessee]]
|[[Inauguration of Andrew Johnson|April 15, 1865]]{{Efn|Elected as Vice President with the [[National Union Party (United States)|National Union Party]] ticket in the 1864 presidential election. Ascended to the presidency after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. Rejoined the Democratic Party in 1868.}}
|[[First inauguration of Ulysses S. Grant|March 4, 1869]]
|{{ayd|1865|4|15|1869|3|4}}
|-
|22
|rowspan=2|[[Grover Cleveland]] (1837–1908)
|rowspan=2|[[File:StephenGroverCleveland.jpg|65px]]
|rowspan=2|[[New York (state)|New York]]
|[[First inauguration of Grover Cleveland|March 4, 1885]]
|[[Inauguration of Benjamin Harrison|March 4, 1889]]
|rowspan=2|{{ayd|1885|3|4|1893|3|4}}
|-
|24
|[[Second inauguration of Grover Cleveland|March 4, 1893]]
|[[First inauguration of William McKinley|March 4, 1897]]
|-
|28
|[[Woodrow Wilson]] (1856–1924)
|[[File:Thomas Woodrow Wilson, Harris & Ewing bw photo portrait, 1919 - black and white (cropped).jpg|65px]]
|[[New Jersey]]
|[[First inauguration of Woodrow Wilson|March 4, 1913]]
|[[Inauguration of Warren G. Harding|March 4, 1921]]
|{{ayd|1913|3|4|1921|3|4}}
|-
|32
|[[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] (1882–1945)
|[[File:FDR-1944-Campaign-Portrait (cropped).jpg|65px]]
|[[New York (state)|New York]]
|[[First inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt|March 4, 1933]]
|[[Death of Franklin D. Roosevelt|April 12, 1945]]{{efn|name=died|Died in office.}}
|{{ayd|1933|3|4|1945|4|12}}
|-
|33
|[[Harry S. Truman]] (1884–1972)
|[[File:TRUMAN 58-766-06 (cropped).jpg|65px]]
|[[Missouri]]
|[[First inauguration of Harry S. Truman|April 12, 1945]]
|[[First inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower|January 20, 1953]]
|{{ayd|1945|4|12|1953|1|20}}
|-
|35
|[[John F. Kennedy]] (1917–1963)
|[[File:John F. Kennedy, White House color photo portrait.jpg|65px]]
|[[Massachusetts]]
|[[Inauguration of John F. Kennedy|January 20, 1961]]
|[[Assassination of John F. Kennedy|November 22, 1963]]{{efn|name=died|Died in office.}}
|{{ayd|1961|1|20|1963|11|22}}
|-
|36
|[[Lyndon B. Johnson]] (1908–1973)
|[[File:37 Lyndon Johnson 3x4.jpg|65px]]
|[[Texas]]
|[[First inauguration of Lyndon B. Johnson|November 22, 1963]]
|[[First inauguration of Richard Nixon|January 20, 1969]]
|{{ayd|1963|11|22|1969|1|20}}
|-
|39
|[[Jimmy Carter]] (1924–2024)
|[[File:Carter cropped.jpg|65px]]
|[[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
|[[Inauguration of Jimmy Carter|January 20, 1977]]
|[[First inauguration of Ronald Reagan|January 20, 1981]]
|{{ayd|1977|1|20|1981|1|20}}
|-
|42
|[[Bill Clinton]] (born 1946)
|[[File:Bill Clinton.jpg|65px]]
|[[Arkansas]]
|[[First inauguration of Bill Clinton|January 20, 1993]]
|[[First inauguration of George W. Bush|January 20, 2001]]
|{{ayd|1993|1|20|2001|1|20}}
|-
|44
|[[Barack Obama]] (born 1961)
|[[File:President Barack Obama, 2012 portrait crop.jpg|65px]]
|[[Illinois]]
|[[First inauguration of Barack Obama|January 20, 2009]]
|[[First inauguration of Donald Trump|January 20, 2017]]
|{{ayd|2009|1|20|2017|1|20}}
|-
|46
|[[Joe Biden]] (born 1942)
|[[File:Joe Biden presidential portrait (cropped).jpg|65px]]
|[[Delaware]]
|[[Inauguration of Joe Biden|January 20, 2021]]
| ''Incumbent''<!--[[Second inauguration of Donald Trump|January 20, 2025]]-->
|{{ayd|2021|1|20}}
|}

== Recent electoral history ==

=== In congressional elections: 1950–present ===
{{see also|Party divisions of United States Congresses}}
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="3" |House of Representatives
| rowspan="999" |
! rowspan="2" |President
| rowspan="999" |
! colspan="3" |Senate
|-
!Election
year
!No. of
seats won
!+/–
!No. of
seats won
!+/–
!Election
year
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1950|1950]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|235|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 28
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Harry S. Truman]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|49|96|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 5
![[United States Senate elections, 1950|1950]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1952|1952]]
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|213|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 22
| rowspan="4" {{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|47|96|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 2
![[United States Senate elections, 1952|1952]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1954|1954]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|232|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 19
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|49|96|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 2
![[United States Senate elections, 1954|1954]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1956|1956]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|234|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 2
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|49|96|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{steady}} 0
![[United States Senate elections, 1956|1956]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1958|1958]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|283|437|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 49
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|64|98|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 15
![[United States Senate elections, 1958|1958]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1960|1960]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|262|437|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 21
| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[John F. Kennedy]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|64|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 1
![[United States Senate elections, 1960|1960]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1962|1962]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|258|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 4
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|66|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 3
![[United States Senate elections, 1962|1962]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1964|1964]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|295|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 37
| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Lyndon B. Johnson]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|68|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 2
![[United States Senate elections, 1964|1964]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1966|1966]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|248|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 47
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|64|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 3
![[United States Senate elections, 1966|1966]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1968|1968]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|243|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 5
| rowspan="3" {{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Richard Nixon]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|57|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 5
![[United States Senate elections, 1968|1968]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1970|1970]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|255|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 12
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|54|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 3
![[United States Senate elections, 1970|1970]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1972|1972]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|242|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 13
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|56|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 2
![[United States Senate elections, 1972|1972]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1974|1974]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|291|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 49
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Gerald Ford]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|60|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 4
![[United States Senate elections, 1974|1974]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1976|1976]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|292|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 1
| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Jimmy Carter]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|61|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{steady}} 0
![[United States Senate elections, 1976|1976]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1978|1978]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|277|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 15
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|58|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 3
![[United States Senate elections, 1978|1978]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1980|1980]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|243|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 34
| rowspan="4" {{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Ronald Reagan]]
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|46|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 12
![[United States Senate elections, 1980|1980]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1982|1982]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|269|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 26
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|46|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 1
![[United States Senate elections, 1982|1982]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1984|1984]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|253|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 16
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|47|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 2
![[United States Senate elections, 1984|1984]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1986|1986]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|258|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 5
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|55|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 8
![[United States Senate elections, 1986|1986]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1988|1988]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|260|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 2
| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |[[George H. W. Bush]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|55|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 1
![[United States Senate elections, 1988|1988]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1990|1990]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|267|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 7
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|56|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 1
![[United States Senate elections, 1990|1990]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1992|1992]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|258|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 9
| rowspan="4" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Bill Clinton]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|57|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 1
![[United States Senate elections, 1992|1992]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1994|1994]]
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|204|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 54
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|47|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 10
![[United States Senate elections, 1994|1994]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1996|1996]]
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|206|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 2
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|45|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 2
![[United States Senate elections, 1996|1996]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 1998|1998]]
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|211|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 5
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|45|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{steady}} 0
![[United States Senate elections, 1998|1998]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 2000|2000]]
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|212|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 1
| rowspan="4" {{Party shading/Republican}} |[[George W. Bush]]
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|50|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 5
![[United States Senate elections, 2000|2000]]{{efn|name=tie1|Republican Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] provided a [[List of tie-breaking votes cast by the vice president of the United States|tie-breaking vote]], giving Republicans a majority until June 6, 2001, when [[Jim Jeffords]] left Republicans to join the Democratic Caucus.}}
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 2002|2002]]
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|204|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 7
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|49|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 2
![[United States Senate elections, 2002|2002]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 2004|2004]]
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|202|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 2
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|45|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 4
![[United States Senate elections, 2004|2004]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 2006|2006]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|233|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 31
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|51|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 6{{efn|name=ind|Includes [[Independent Democrat|Independents caucusing with the Democrats]].}}
![[United States Senate elections, 2006|2006]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 2008|2008]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|257|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 21
| rowspan="4" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Barack Obama]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|59|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 8{{efn|name=ind}}
![[United States Senate elections, 2008|2008]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 2010|2010]]
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|193|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 63
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|53|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 6{{efn|name=ind}}
![[United States Senate elections, 2010|2010]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 2012|2012]]
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|201|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 8
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|55|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 2{{efn|name=ind}}
![[United States Senate elections, 2012|2012]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 2014|2014]]
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|188|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 13
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|46|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 9{{efn|name=ind}}
![[United States Senate elections, 2014|2014]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 2016|2016]]
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|194|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 6
| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Donald Trump]]
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|48|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 2{{efn|name=ind}}
![[United States Senate elections, 2016|2016]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 2018|2018]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|235|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 41
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|47|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 1{{efn|name=ind}}
![[United States Senate elections, 2018|2018]]
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 2020|2020]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|222|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 13
| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Joe Biden]]
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|50|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 3{{efn|name=ind}}
![[United States Senate elections, 2020|2020]]{{efn|name=tie2|Democratic Vice President [[Kamala Harris]] provided a [[List of tie-breaking votes cast by the vice president of the United States|tie-breaking vote]], giving Democrats a majority throughout the [[117th Congress]].}}
|-
![[United States House of Representatives elections, 2022|2022]]
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|213|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 9
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{Composition bar|51|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{increase}} 1{{efn|name=ind}}
![[United States Senate elections, 2022|2022]]
|-
![[2024 United States House of Representatives elections|2024]]
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|215|435|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}} 
|{{increase}} 2
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Donald Trump]]
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{Composition bar|47|100|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{decrease}} 4{{efn|name=ind}}
![[2024 United States Senate elections|2024]]
|}

=== In presidential elections: 1828–present ===
{{see also|List of United States Democratic Party presidential tickets}}

{|class="sortable wikitable"
|-
!style="text-align:center;"|Election<br />year
!Presidential ticket
!Votes
!Vote %
!Electoral votes
!+/–
!Result
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1828 United States presidential election|1828]]
|[[Andrew Jackson]]<br>[[John C. Calhoun]]
|style="text-align:center;"|642,553
|style="text-align:center;"|56.0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|178|261|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{increase}}178
|{{won}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1832 United States presidential election|1832]]
|[[Andrew Jackson]]<br>[[Martin Van Buren]]
|style="text-align:center;"|701,780
|style="text-align:center;"|54.2
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|219|286|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{increase}}41
|{{won}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1836 United States presidential election|1836]]
|[[Martin Van Buren]]<br>[[Richard Mentor Johnson]]
|style="text-align:center;"|764,176
|style="text-align:center;"|50.8
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|170|294|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}49
|{{won}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1840 United States presidential election|1840]]
|[[Martin Van Buren]]<br>''None''{{efn|While there was no official Democratic nominee, the majority of the Democratic electors still cast their electoral votes for incumbent Vice President [[Richard Mentor Johnson]].}}
|style="text-align:center;"|1,128,854
|style="text-align:center;"|46.8
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|60|294|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}110
|{{lost}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1844 United States presidential election|1844]]
|[[James K. Polk]]<br>[[George M. Dallas]]
|style="text-align:center;"|1,339,494
|style="text-align:center;"|49.5
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|170|275|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{increase}}110
|{{won}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1848 United States presidential election|1848]]
|[[Lewis Cass]]<br>[[William O. Butler]]
|style="text-align:center;"|1,223,460
|style="text-align:center;"|42.5
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|127|290|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}43
|{{lost}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1852 United States presidential election|1852]]
|[[Franklin Pierce]]<br>[[William R. King]]
|style="text-align:center;"|1,607,510
|style="text-align:center;"|50.8
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|254|296|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{increase}}127
|{{won}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1856 United States presidential election|1856]]
|[[James Buchanan]]<br>[[John C. Breckinridge]]
|style="text-align:center;"|1,836,072
|style="text-align:center;"|45.3
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|174|296|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}80
|{{won}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1860 United States presidential election|1860]]
|[[Stephen A. Douglas]]<br>[[Herschel Vespasian Johnson|Herschel V. Johnson]]
|style="text-align:center;"|1,380,202
|style="text-align:center;"|29.5
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|12|303|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}162
|{{lost}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1864 United States presidential election|1864]]
|[[George B. McClellan]]<br>[[George H. Pendleton]]
|style="text-align:center;"|1,812,807
|style="text-align:center;"|45.0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|21|233|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{increase}}9
|{{lost}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1868 United States presidential election|1868]]
|[[Horatio Seymour]]<br>[[Francis Preston Blair Jr.]]
|style="text-align:center;"|2,706,829
|style="text-align:center;"|47.3
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|80|294|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{increase}}59
|{{lost}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1872 United States presidential election|1872]]
|[[Horace Greeley]]<br>[[Benjamin G. Brown]] ([[Liberal Republican Party (United States)|Liberal Republican]])
|style="text-align:center;"|2,834,761
|style="text-align:center;"|43.8
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|69|352|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}11
|{{lost}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1876 United States presidential election|1876]]
|[[Samuel J. Tilden]]<br>[[Thomas A. Hendricks]]
|style="text-align:center;"|4,288,546
|style="text-align:center;"|50.9
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|184|369|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{increase}}115
|{{lost}}{{efn|group=upper-alpha|Although Tilden won a majority of the popular vote, Republican [[Rutherford B. Hayes]] won a majority of votes in the Electoral College.}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1880 United States presidential election|1880]]
|[[Winfield Scott Hancock]]<br>[[William H. English]]
|style="text-align:center;"|4,444,260
|style="text-align:center;"|48.2
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|155|369|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}29
|{{lost}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1884 United States presidential election|1884]]
|[[Grover Cleveland]]<br>[[Thomas A. Hendricks]]
|style="text-align:center;"|4,914,482
|style="text-align:center;"|48.9
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|219|401|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{increase}}64
|{{won}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1888 United States presidential election|1888]]
|[[Grover Cleveland]]<br>[[Allen G. Thurman]]
|style="text-align:center;"|5,534,488
|style="text-align:center;"|48.6
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|168|401|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}51
|{{lost}}{{efn|group=upper-alpha|Although Cleveland won a [[plurality (voting)|plurality]] of the popular vote, Republican [[Benjamin Harrison]] won a majority of votes in the Electoral College.}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1892 United States presidential election|1892]]
|[[Grover Cleveland]]<br>[[Adlai Stevenson I]]
|style="text-align:center;"|5,556,918
|style="text-align:center;"|46.0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|277|444|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{increase}}109
|{{won}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1896 United States presidential election|1896]]
|[[William Jennings Bryan]]<br>[[Arthur Sewall]]
|style="text-align:center;"|6,509,052
|style="text-align:center;"|46.7
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|176|447|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}101
|{{lost}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1900 United States presidential election|1900]]
|[[William Jennings Bryan]]<br>[[Adlai Stevenson I]]
|style="text-align:center;"|6,370,932
|style="text-align:center;"|45.5
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|155|447|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}21
|{{lost}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1904 United States presidential election|1904]]
|[[Alton B. Parker]]<br>[[Henry G. Davis]]
|style="text-align:center;"|5,083,880
|style="text-align:center;"|37.6
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|140|476|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}15
|{{lost}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1908 United States presidential election|1908]]
|[[William Jennings Bryan]]<br>[[John W. Kern]]
|style="text-align:center;"|6,408,984
|style="text-align:center;"|43.0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|162|483|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{increase}}22
|{{lost}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1912 United States presidential election|1912]]
|[[Woodrow Wilson]]<br>[[Thomas R. Marshall]]
|style="text-align:center;"|6,296,284
|style="text-align:center;"|41.8
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|435|531|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{increase}}273
|{{won}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1916 United States presidential election|1916]]
|[[Woodrow Wilson]]<br>[[Thomas R. Marshall]]
|style="text-align:center;"|9,126,868
|style="text-align:center;"|49.2
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|277|531|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}158
|{{won}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1920 United States presidential election|1920]]
|[[James M. Cox]]<br>[[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]
|style="text-align:center;"|9,139,661
|style="text-align:center;"|34.2
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|127|531|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}150
|{{lost}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1924 United States presidential election|1924]]
|[[John W. Davis]]<br>[[Charles W. Bryan]]
|style="text-align:center;"|8,386,242
|style="text-align:center;"|28.8
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|136|531|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{increase}}9
|{{lost}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1928 United States presidential election|1928]]
|[[Al Smith]]<br>[[Joseph T. Robinson]]
|style="text-align:center;"|15,015,464
|style="text-align:center;"|40.8
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|87|531|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}49
|{{lost}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1932 United States presidential election|1932]]
|[[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]<br>[[John Nance Garner]]
|style="text-align:center;"|22,821,277
|style="text-align:center;"|57.4
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|472|531|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{increase}}385
|{{won}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1936 United States presidential election|1936]]
|[[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]<br>[[John Nance Garner]]
|style="text-align:center;"|27,747,636
|style="text-align:center;"|60.8
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|523|531|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{increase}}51
|{{won}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1940 United States presidential election|1940]]
|[[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]<br>[[Henry A. Wallace]]
|style="text-align:center;"|27,313,945
|style="text-align:center;"|54.7
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|449|531|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}74
|{{won}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1944 United States presidential election|1944]]
|[[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]<br>[[Harry S. Truman]]
|style="text-align:center;"|25,612,916
|style="text-align:center;"|53.4
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|432|531|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}17
|{{won}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1948 United States presidential election|1948]]
|[[Harry S. Truman]]<br>[[Alben W. Barkley]]
|style="text-align:center;"|24,179,347
|style="text-align:center;"|49.6
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|303|531|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}129
|{{won}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1952 United States presidential election|1952]]
|[[Adlai Stevenson II]]<br>[[John Sparkman]]
|style="text-align:center;"|27,375,090
|style="text-align:center;"|44.3
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|89|531|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}214
|{{lost}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1956 United States presidential election|1956]]
|[[Adlai Stevenson II]]<br>[[Estes Kefauver]]
|style="text-align:center;"|26,028,028
|style="text-align:center;"|42.0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|73|531|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}16
|{{lost}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1960 United States presidential election|1960]]
|[[John F. Kennedy]]<br>[[Lyndon B. Johnson]]
|style="text-align:center;"|34,220,984
|style="text-align:center;"|49.7
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|303|537|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{increase}}230
|{{won}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1964 United States presidential election|1964]]
|[[Lyndon B. Johnson]]<br>[[Hubert Humphrey]]
|style="text-align:center;"|43,127,041
|style="text-align:center;"|61.1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|486|538|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{increase}}183
|{{won}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1968 United States presidential election|1968]]
|[[Hubert Humphrey]]<br>[[Edmund Muskie]]
|style="text-align:center;"|31,271,839
|style="text-align:center;"|42.7
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|191|538|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}295
|{{lost}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1972 United States presidential election|1972]]
|[[George McGovern]]<br>[[Sargent Shriver]]
|style="text-align:center;"|29,173,222
|style="text-align:center;"|37.5
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|17|538|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}174
|{{lost}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]
|[[Jimmy Carter]]<br>[[Walter Mondale]]
|style="text-align:center;"|40,831,881
|style="text-align:center;"|50.1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|297|538|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{increase}}280
|{{won}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]
|[[Jimmy Carter]]<br>[[Walter Mondale]]
|style="text-align:center;"|35,480,115
|style="text-align:center;"|41.0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|49|538|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}248
|{{lost}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]]
|[[Walter Mondale]]<br>[[Geraldine Ferraro]]
|style="text-align:center;"|37,577,352
|style="text-align:center;"|40.6
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|13|538|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}36
|{{lost}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]]
|[[Michael Dukakis]]<br>[[Lloyd Bentsen]]
|style="text-align:center;"|41,809,074
|style="text-align:center;"|45.6
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|111|538|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{increase}}98
|{{lost}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]
|[[Bill Clinton]]<br>[[Al Gore]]
|style="text-align:center;"|44,909,806
|style="text-align:center;"|43.0
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|370|538|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{increase}}259
|{{won}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]
|[[Bill Clinton]]<br>[[Al Gore]]
|style="text-align:center;"|47,401,185
|style="text-align:center;"|49.2
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|379|538|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{increase}}9
|{{won}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]
|[[Al Gore]]<br>[[Joe Lieberman]]
|style="text-align:center;"|50,999,897
|style="text-align:center;"|48.4
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|266|538|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}113
|{{lost}}{{efn|group=upper-alpha|Although Gore won a [[plurality (voting)|plurality]] of the popular vote, Republican [[George W. Bush]] won a majority of votes in the Electoral College.}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]
|[[John Kerry]]<br>[[John Edwards]]
|style="text-align:center;"|59,028,444
|style="text-align:center;"|48.3
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|251|538|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}15
|{{lost}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]
|[[Barack Obama]]<br>[[Joe Biden]]
|style="text-align:center;"|69,498,516
|style="text-align:center;"|52.9
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|365|538|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{increase}}114
|{{won}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]
|[[Barack Obama]]<br>[[Joe Biden]]
|style="text-align:center;"|65,915,795
|style="text-align:center;"|51.1
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|332|538|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}33
|{{won}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]
|[[Hillary Clinton]]<br>[[Tim Kaine]]
|style="text-align:center;"|65,853,514
|style="text-align:center;"|48.2
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|227|538|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}105
|{{lost}}{{efn|group=upper-alpha|Although Clinton won a [[plurality (voting)|plurality]] of the popular vote, Republican [[Donald Trump]] won a majority of votes in the Electoral College.}}
|-
|align=center|[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]
|[[Joe Biden]]<br>[[Kamala Harris]]
|style="text-align:center;"|81,283,501
|style="text-align:center;"|51.3
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|306|538|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{increase}}79
|{{won}}
|-
|align=center|[[2024 United States presidential election|2024]]
|[[Kamala Harris]]<br>[[Tim Walz]]
|style="text-align:center;"|75,019,257
|style="text-align:center;"|48.4
|style="text-align:left;"|{{Composition bar|226|538|hex={{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{decrease}}80
|{{lost}}
|}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Liberalism|Politics|United States}}
* [[Democratic Party (United States) organizations]]
* [[List of political parties in the United States]]
* [[List of United States Democratic Party presidential candidates]]
* [[List of United States Democratic Party presidential tickets]]
* [[Political party strength in U.S. states]]
* [[Politics of the United States]]
* [[List of major liberal parties considered centre-left]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
{{notelist-ua}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin|30em}}
* ''The Almanac of American Politics 2022'' (2022) details on members of Congress, and the governors: their records and election results; also state and district politics; revised every two years since 1975. see [[The Almanac of American Politics]]
* ''American National Biography'' (20 volumes, 1999) covers all politicians no longer alive; online at many academic libraries and at [https://wikipedialibrary.wmflabs.org/partners/84/ Wikipedia Library].
* Andelic, Patrick. ''Donkey Work: Congressional Democrats in Conservative America, 1974–1994'' (2019) [https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=5BCrEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR11&dq=Andelic,+Patrick.&ots=4rw8tSjvBy&sig=7N9JYFzqeEnx2OOSqEfeYziCIzc online]
* Baker, Jean H. ''Affairs of party: The political culture of northern Democrats in the mid-nineteenth century'' (Fordham UP, 1998).
* Bass Jr, Harold F. ''Historical dictionary of United States political parties'' (Scarecrow Press, 2009).
* {{cite journal|last1=Black|first1=Merle|year=2004|title=The transformation of the southern Democratic Party|journal=Journal of Politics|volume=66|issue=4|pages=1001–1017|doi=10.1111/j.1468-2508.2004.00287.x|s2cid=154506701}}
* Burner, David. ''The Politics of Provincialism: The Democratic Party in Transition, 1918–1932'' (Knopf, 1968).
* Congressional Quarterly. ''National Party Conventions, 1831–2000'' (2001).
* Congressional Quarterly. ''Presidential Elections 1789–2008'' (10th edition, 2009)
* Craig, Douglas. "Newton D. Baker and the Democratic Malaise, 1920–1937." ''Australasian Journal of American Studies'' (2006): 49–64. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/41054006 in JSTOR] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819101710/https://www.jstor.org/stable/41054006 |date=August 19, 2018}}
* Dowe, Pearl K. Ford, et al. ''Remaking the Democratic Party: Lyndon B. Johnson as a Native-Son Presidential Candidate'' (University of Michigan Press, 2016).
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* {{cite book |last=Gillon |first=Steven M. |author-link=Steven M. Gillon |year=1992 |title=The Democrats' Dilemma: Walter F. Mondale and the Liberal Legacy |location=New York |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=9780231076302 }} [https://archive.org/details/democratsdilemma0000gill online]
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{{refend}}

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