Democratic Party

Overview

The Democratic Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, alongside the Republican Party. Founded in 1828, it is the oldest active political party in the world. Over its history it has shifted considerably, but since the mid-twentieth century it has stood on the centre-left of American politics, associated with a more active role for the federal government in the economy and a broadly liberal position on social questions.

The party has no single national leader in the way parliamentary parties do. Its most visible figures are usually its president or its most recent presidential nominee, along with congressional leaders and state governors. Its national organisation, the Democratic National Committee, is chaired by Ken Martin, who was elected in early 2025.

History

The party traces its origins to the followers of Andrew Jackson in the 1820s, making it a direct descendant of the Jeffersonian tradition. For much of the nineteenth century it was the party of limited federal power and, in the South, of slavery and later segregation. That identity changed over the twentieth century.

The presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s reshaped the party around the New Deal, a programme of public works, financial regulation, and social insurance that included Social Security. In the 1960s, under Lyndon B. Johnson, the party embraced the civil rights movement and the Great Society, a decision that gradually moved conservative white Southern voters toward the Republicans. Since then the Democratic coalition has drawn heavily on urban voters, ethnic minorities, younger voters, and college graduates.

Economic Policy

Democrats generally support a mixed economy in which markets operate within a framework of regulation and public provision. The party favours progressive taxation, meaning higher rates on higher incomes, and uses federal spending to fund social programmes. It has championed the expansion of health coverage, most notably through the Affordable Care Act of 2010, and supports collective bargaining rights for workers. In recent years the party has placed growing emphasis on climate policy, backing public investment in clean energy.

Social Policy

On social issues the party is broadly liberal. It supports legal access to abortion, protections for LGBT people including same-sex marriage, and expanded voting access. It generally favours a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants alongside border enforcement. The party contains a spectrum of views, from moderates who emphasise pragmatism to a progressive wing associated with figures such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez that pushes for more ambitious redistribution and structural reform.

Foreign Policy

The Democratic Party has generally supported an internationalist foreign policy built around alliances such as NATO, multilateral institutions, and free trade agreements, though scepticism of trade deals has grown in parts of the party. It tends to favour diplomacy and international cooperation on issues like climate change while maintaining a strong military.

Where They Stand

• Supports a mixed economy with progressive taxation and a broad social safety net
• Backs expanding access to healthcare, building on the Affordable Care Act
• Treats climate change as a priority, favouring public investment in clean energy
• Supports abortion rights and legal protections for LGBT people
• Favours a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants alongside border enforcement
• Generally internationalist, supporting alliances and multilateral cooperation

Electoral Record

The party held the presidency under Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017 and under Joe Biden from 2021 to 2025. Its 2024 presidential nominee, Kamala Harris, lost to Donald Trump, returning the party to opposition at the federal level. The party remains highly competitive nationally, controlling numerous state governments and forming roughly half of Congress.

Position on the Political Compass

Democratic Party sits on the left-leaning side on economics and is moderate on questions of social freedom and authority.

These positions are approximate and meant as a guide. Take the test to see how your own views compare.

Key Figures

Sources and Further Reading

• Democratic Party (Wikipedia)en.wikipedia.org
• Official party websitedemocrats.org
• Democratic Party (Ballotpedia)ballotpedia.org

Other United States Parties