Demographics of the Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party of the United States is one of the country's two major political parties. Over time, it has brought together many different groups of people who share similar ideas and goals.

These groups include many workers, families, and people who care about helping others and protecting the environment. The party has also attracted many younger people, people from different backgrounds, and those who believe in equal rights for everyone.

Because the Democratic Party includes so many different kinds of people, its ideas and policies can change to match what its members care about most. This makes the party an important part of American politics and society.

Ethnicity

In 2023, Pew found that 56% of Democrat voters were white, 18% Black and 16% Hispanic.

Originally, the Republican Party was favored by African Americans after the end of the civil war. This changed in the 1930s, with Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal programs. Support for the civil rights movement in the 1960s by Democratic presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson helped the Democrats gain more support from the Black community. Today, African Americans support the Democratic Party more than any other group. Prominent Black American Democrats include President Barack Obama, Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Raphael Warnock, Governor of Maryland Wes Moore, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

The Democratic Party also has support in the small but growing Asian American population. The Democratic Party made gains among Asian Americans starting in 1996 and won 62% of the Asian American vote in 2006. Exit polls after the 2008 election showed that Barack Obama won 62% of the Asian American vote. In 2012, 73% of Asian American voters chose Obama for reelection. Prominent Asian American Democrats include Senators Mazie Hirono and Tammy Duckworth.

The Hispanic American population has been a strong support for the Democratic Party. Hispanic Democrats often support liberal views on immigration. In the 1996 election, Democratic president Bill Clinton won 72% of the Hispanic vote. This continued in 2008, when Barack Obama got 67% of the Latino vote. Obama increased this to 71% in the 2012 election.

The Democratic Party also has support from some Native American tribes. Modern Democratic Native American leaders include former Secretary Deb Haaland and Representative Sharice Davids.

Religion

See also: Religious affiliations of presidents of the United States, Religious affiliations of vice presidents of the United States, Religious affiliation in the United States House of Representatives, and Religious affiliation in the United States Senate

Buddhist and Hindu Americans

Buddhist and Hindu Americans usually vote for the Democratic Party. In the 2008 election, most Buddhists and Hindus chose Barack Obama. In 2020, most chose Joe Biden. As of 2022, all Buddhist and Hindu members of Congress are Democrats.

Christian Americans

See also: Christian left

All Democratic presidents, vice presidents, and nominees have been Christian. Most Democrats are Christian too. But many white evangelical and Latter-day Saint Christians usually vote for the Republican Party.

Irreligious Americans

See also: Atheism in the United States, Irreligion in the United States, and List of atheists in politics and law

The Democratic Party gets support from many people who do not follow a religion. In 2008, many of these voters chose Barack Obama. In 2016, most people without a religion supported Hillary Clinton.

Jewish Americans

See also: National Jewish Democratic Council

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer

Senator Jon Ossoff

Senator Ron Wyden

Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Representative Jerry Nadler

Jewish Americans often vote for the Democratic Party. Most Jewish voters chose Democrats in elections from 1992 to 2016. Many Jewish members of Congress are Democrats.

Muslim Americans

Representative Ilhan Omar

Representative Rashida Tlaib

Representative André Carson

Attorney General of Minnesota Keith Ellison

Muslims are a small group in the United States. In 2008, most Muslim voters chose Barack Obama. Many Muslim Americans felt unfair treatment after the September 11 attacks. Most Muslim voters chose Democratic candidates in later elections. The first two Muslim women in Congress, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, are both Democrats.

Voters with higher education

See also: College Democrats of America and Law School Democrats of America

The Democratic Party has become more popular with voters who have college degrees since the 1970s. In the past, people with college degrees often voted for the Republican Party, but this changed over time.

Today, most voters with higher education, especially those with a Bachelor's degree or more, tend to support the Democratic Party. This change has been steady, and voters with graduate degrees have usually chosen Democratic candidates since the 1990s.

Economic groups

Voters without a college degree, often called "working class" voters, are an important group in the Democratic Party. They often have left-leaning views on money matters but may think differently about other issues. Many of these voters are from ethnic minorities.

Since 1980, support for the Democratic Party has changed among white voters without college degrees. In the 2008 election, Barack Obama got 40% of their votes. In 2012, he got 36%. In 2020, Biden got 32%.

Since the 1930s, organized labor has been a big part of the Democratic Party. Labor unions help with money, organizing, and support. But union membership has gone down a lot since 1954.

Gender demographics

See also: National Federation of Democratic Women, Women in the United States Senate, Women in the United States House of Representatives, List of female governors in the United States, and List of female speakers of legislatures in the United States

See also: Stonewall Democrats

Since the 1970s, many people in the LGBTQ+ community have supported the Democratic Party. In 1971, the first group for LGBTQ+ Democrats was formed. During the 1980 presidential primaries, some people felt that President Jimmy Carter was not doing enough for LGBTQ+ rights.

Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama both worked closely with LGBTQ+ voters. Surveys show that most LGBTQ+ voters prefer the Democratic Party. In 2012, Obama won most LGBTQ+ voters. In 2016, Hillary Clinton won most LGBTQ+ voters. In 2018, Democratic candidates for the House of Representatives won most LGBTQ+ voters.

In January 2021, Mauree Turner became the first openly non-binary state legislator.

Transgender Americans

At the 2000 Democratic National Convention, Jane Fee of Minnesota was the first transgender delegate. In 2008, the Democratic Party platform included “gender identity” for the first time. In 2009, the Democratic National Committee added gender identity to its non-discrimination policy. In 2010, President Obama appointed the first openly transgender person to a federal government position. In 2012, a group was formed to support President Obama’s re-election. During the 2015 State of the Union Address, President Obama became the first U.S. president to use the term “transgender.” At the 2016 Democratic National Convention, Sarah McBride became the first openly transgender person to speak. A survey found that many transgender Americans identified as Democrats. Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine was the first openly transgender person to hold an office that requires Senate confirmation.

Other demographic data

Unmarried people

Younger voters

See also: Young Democrats of America, High School Democrats of America, and Youth vote in the United States

[United States Senator](/wiki/United_States_Senate) [Jon Ossoff](/wiki/Jon_Ossoff)

Representative [Sara Jacobs](/wiki/Sara_Jacobs)

Representative [Maxwell Frost](/wiki/Maxwell_Frost)

Representative [Jake Auchincloss](/wiki/Jake_Auchincloss)

Ideological bases

Registered Democrats

See also: Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Democratic Governors Association, Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democrats Abroad, and National Conference of Democratic Mayors