The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States, alongside the Republican Party. Founded in 1828, it is one of the oldest continuously operating political parties in the world. The party has undergone significant ideological shifts over its history, moving from a coalition associated with states' rights, agrarianism, and later segregationism in the South, to its current orientation emphasizing expanded federal programs, civil rights protections, labor interests, and progressive social policy. It competes at every level of American government, from local offices to the presidency.
The party is formally organized through the Democratic National Committee (DNC), which oversees national strategy, fundraising, and the presidential nominating process. State Democratic parties operate semi-independently, coordinating with the national committee. In Congress, the party organizes itself through the House Democratic Caucus and the Senate Democratic Caucus. Internal factions range from the centrist New Democrat Coalition and the Blue Dog Coalition to the progressive Congressional Progressive Caucus, reflecting ongoing internal debate about the party's direction and coalition.
The modern Democratic coalition draws support disproportionately from urban areas, college-educated voters, younger voters, and minority voters, particularly black and Hispanic voters. Union households have historically formed a core constituency, though the strength of that relationship has fluctuated. The party has lost ground in rural areas and among working-class voters without college degrees over recent decades, a shift that has reshaped the electoral map. Whether this realignment is durable or reversible is a matter of ongoing political analysis. See Democratic Party - History for a fuller account of how the coalition has evolved.
The party broadly supports expanded access to healthcare, including the Affordable Care Act and proposals for further government involvement in health insurance markets. It generally favors higher marginal tax rates on high earners and corporations, increased regulation of financial and environmental sectors, and federal investment in infrastructure and clean energy. On social policy, the national party supports abortion access, LGBTQ anti-discrimination protections, and pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. The degree to which these positions represent the views of the full Democratic electorate, as opposed to party leadership and activists, is contested. See Democratic Party - Debate for coverage of internal and external disputes over platform and direction.
The party's history spans nearly two centuries and includes periods of dominance and significant transformation. The Jacksonian Democrats of the 19th century, the Solid South of the post-Reconstruction era, the New Deal coalition of the mid-20th century, and the post-Civil Rights realignment each represent distinct phases. A full treatment is available at Democratic Party - History.
The ideological character of the Democratic Party, the composition and durability of its coalition, and the direction it should take are all actively contested - among voters, elected officials, scholars, and commentators. There is no settled consensus on whether the party is best understood as a center-left pragmatic coalition, a vehicle for progressive transformation, or something in flux between those poles. The causes and consequences of its recent working-class voter losses are similarly disputed.
Major viewpoints on the Democratic Party include: