History of the Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States political system. Founded in 1828, it is the oldest active voter-based political party in the world. In its early years, the party stood for individual rights and state sovereignty, often opposing banks and high tariffs. Under early leaders like Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, and James K. Polk, the Democrats often won elections by narrow margins.

Before the American Civil War, the party had views that supported slavery or left the decision to individual states. After the war, the party often opposed civil rights reforms to keep the support of voters in the Southern states. During this time, the Republicans were more successful in presidential elections, though Democrats remained competitive in Congress.

The party's big change began with Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s. In response to the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression, the Democrats created new programs to help families and fix the economy. This period, known as the New Deal era, brought many changes and helped the party win many elections. Leaders like Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson continued this work.

In recent years, Democrats have won several presidential elections. Bill Clinton served from 1993 to 2001, Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017, and Joe Biden from 2021 to 2025. The party has also won the popular vote in some elections but lost in the Electoral College, which decides the president. Through all these changes, the Democratic Party has played a major role in shaping the history and policies of the United States.

Foundation: 1820–1828

The modern Democratic Party began in the late 1820s from groups that were once part of the Democratic-Republican Party. This earlier party was formed around 1792 by Thomas Jefferson and his friends in response to the Federalist Party's ideas about a strong central government. It no longer existed after the 1824 election.

Martin Van Buren helped create the Democratic Party by bringing together many state groups. He did this to support Andrew Jackson from Tennessee in his run for president. The way the party formed was different in each state, but by the mid-1830s, the state Democratic parties looked quite similar. The year most people point to as the party's beginning is 1828 (January 8), which makes it the oldest political party in the world.

Jacksonian ascendancy: 1829–1841

Presidency of Andrew Jackson (1829–1837)

Main articles: Jacksonian democracy and Presidency of Andrew Jackson

The Democratic Party grew strong from the early 1830s to the 1850s, working against the Whig Party. After older parties like the Federalists disappeared, the Democrats and Whigs became the main two groups. The Democrats were a mix of farmers, city workers, and Irish Catholics. Both parties worked hard to get people to vote, sometimes getting 80 to 90 percent of voters to the polls. They used things like speeches and newspapers to share their ideas.

Democrats shared many ideas. They believed the government should not be too powerful and that it often helped rich people more than others. They did not trust banks or paper money. They also did not like reforms that needed the government to act more. The Democrats were weaker in places like New England but did well in big states like New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, as well as in new areas out west. They stood for the rights of ordinary people and were against big banks and modern programs that might hurt small farmers.

Presidency of Martin Van Buren (1837–1841)

Main article: Presidency of Martin Van Buren

Martin Van Buren’s time as president was difficult because of a big economic problem called the Panic of 1837. Van Buren’s administration supported using gold and silver for money, having the government play a smaller role in the economy, and selling land cheaply to settlers. They did not want high taxes to help industry grow. Van Buren’s administration continued some of Andrew Jackson’s policies, including moving American Indians from their homes. Although Van Buren did not like slavery, he did not change the rules about it, which made people in the South unhappy with him.

The 1840 Democratic National Convention was the first where the party made a list of beliefs. They said that each state should decide its own matters, and the federal government should only do what the Constitution said. This included things like taxes and whether to have a central bank. They believed states should decide for themselves about slavery, and they did not want the federal government to get involved in those decisions.

Harrison and Tyler (1841–1845)

The Panic of 1837 caused many people to dislike Van Buren and the Democrats. In 1840, the Whigs chose William Henry Harrison to run for president, and he won. Sadly, Harrison passed away just a month after becoming president, and John Tyler, the Vice President, took over. Tyler had switched from the Democrats to the Whigs, so he didn’t agree with many Whig ideas. He refused to support most of their important plans, which made the Whigs unhappy with him. Because of this, the Democrats were able to gain control again in 1845.

Presidency of James K. Polk (1845–1849)

Main article: Presidency of James K. Polk

In the 1840s, important debates happened about the country's borders, especially with Mexico over Texas and with Britain over Oregon. The Democratic Party, led by James K. Polk, strongly believed in expanding the United States, a idea called Manifest Destiny. In the 1844 election, Polk narrowly won against the Whig candidate Henry Clay, mainly because of the Texas issue.

During this time, there was a big difference between Democrats and Whigs. Many Democrats wanted to expand the country, while many Whigs, especially in the North, preferred to focus on building the country within its current borders. They were worried about the debates that could happen if the country expanded, especially about whether new areas would allow slavery. Democrats often worried about the changes brought by factories and industry, preferring instead to support farming in new lands.

Free Soil split

Main article: Free Soil Party

In the 1848 election, the Democrats created the Democratic National Committee to help organize their campaign. Their candidate, Senator Lewis Cass, lost to the Whig candidate, General Zachary Taylor. One reason for this loss was the appearance of the new Free Soil Party, which opposed the spread of slavery into new areas. This party took away some votes from both Democrats and Whigs, especially in the Northeast. Former President Van Buren ran for the Free Soil Party and did well in some states, showing how important the issue of slavery was in elections. The Free Soil Party believed that new lands should be kept "free" from slavery to protect farmers.

Taylor and Fillmore (1849–1853)

When Millard Fillmore became president after Taylor, Democrats in Congress led by Stephen Douglas helped pass the Compromise of 1850. This agreement aimed to prevent a big conflict by addressing issues about new lands gained after the war with Mexico.

During this time, the Democrats slowly gained more support in many states. The Whig Party, their main rival, became weaker because of disagreements about important issues. This weakness led to the election of Democrats Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan as presidents in the following years.

The presidencies of Franklin Pierce (1853–1857) and James Buchanan (1857–1861)

Main articles: Presidency of Franklin Pierce and Presidency of James Buchanan

The time when Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan were presidents was very difficult. Many people think they were among the worst presidents ever. During this time, the Democratic Party began to split, mainly because of disagreements about slavery in new areas. When the Republican Party started in 1854, many Democrats from the North who were against slavery joined them. By 1860, the United States was getting closer to civil war, and the Democrats even had two candidates in the presidential race.

Young America

Main article: Young America movement

In the 1840s and 1850s, a group of younger Democrats called "Young America" became very important. Leaders included Stephen A. Douglas, James K. Polk, Franklin Pierce, and August Belmont. They believed in new ideas like better transportation, new technology, and international friendships. They wanted to help farmers grow and succeed by supporting new roads, railways, and other improvements. They also believed in free trade and supported some government taxes to help the country.

Breakdown of the Second Party System (1854–1859)

As the 1850s went on, the country became more divided about slavery. The Democratic Party split between the North and the South. In 1854, Stephen A. Douglas helped pass a law called the Kansas–Nebraska Act, signed by President Franklin Pierce. This law let people in Kansas and Nebraska decide if slavery would be allowed there. This caused a lot of fighting between people who wanted slavery and those who did not, known as Bleeding Kansas. Many people left the old Whig Party and joined the new Republican Party, which did not want slavery to spread.

North and South pull apart

See also: 1860 United States presidential election, Southern Democrats, and Northern Democratic Party

By the late 1850s, the Democratic Party was struggling because Northern and Southern members had very different ideas about slavery. Southern Democrats wanted the government to support slavery even outside the South. President Buchanan agreed with them, but Stephen A. Douglas did not. This disagreement caused a big split in the party.

In 1860, when it was time to choose a new president, the Democrats could not agree. Some Southern Democrats left the party and chose their own candidate, John C. Breckinridge. The Northern Democrats chose Stephen A. Douglas. This split made it easier for Republican Abraham Lincoln to be elected president, which eventually led to the Civil War.

Presidency of Abraham Lincoln (1861–1865)

During the Civil War, Democrats in the North split into two groups. The War Democrats supported President Lincoln and his policies, while the Copperheads opposed the war strongly. In the South, regular party politics stopped when the Confederacy formed. Leaders there thought parties were not helpful during the war, so the Democratic Party stopped its activities in that area from 1861 to 1865.

Even with these divisions, support for Lincoln grew in the North. After attacks on Fort Sumter, many Northern Democrats joined the effort to support the Union. But after a leader named Douglas passed away, the party did not have a strong voice, and peace-minded views grew stronger. In elections in 1862, the Democrats did well, but in 1864, they chose General George McClellan as their candidate, who wanted peace. Many War Democrats instead supported Lincoln, who ran under the name National Union. As a result, Lincoln won, and some former Democrats even joined the Republican Party, including important soldiers like generals Ulysses S. Grant and John A. Logan.

Presidency of Andrew Johnson (1865–1869)

Main article: Presidency of Andrew Johnson

In the 1866 elections, the Radical Republicans won control of Congress. The Democrats, who were not in power, opposed the Radicals' plans for rebuilding the country after the war.

President Johnson, who was elected with a different group, did not join the Democratic Party right away. However, Democrats in Congress supported him and helped prevent him from being removed from office in 1868. After his time as president ended in 1869, he joined the Democratic Party.

Republican interlude 1869–1885

Main articles: Reconstruction era and Redeemers

War hero Ulysses S. Grant led the Republicans to big wins in the elections of 1868 and 1872.

When a big money problem hit the United States with the Panic of 1873, the Democratic Party made big gains across the country, took full control of the South, and took control of Congress.

The Democrats lost presidential elections from 1860 through 1880, but they did well in the popular vote in 1876. Although the races after 1872 were very close, they did not win the presidency until 1884. The party was weakened by its record of opposition to the war, but it still got support from many White Southerners who were upset about Reconstruction and did not like the Republican Party. The big money problem across the country in 1873 helped the Democrats take back control of the House in the big win of 1874.

The Redeemers gave the Democrats control of every Southern state by the Compromise of 1877. From 1880 to 1960, the "Solid South" voted Democratic in presidential elections, except in 1928. After 1900, winning a Democratic primary was almost the same as being elected because the Republican Party was very weak in the South.

Cleveland, Harrison, Cleveland (1885–1897)

Main articles: First presidency of Grover Cleveland and Second presidency of Grover Cleveland

After not holding the presidency since 1861, the Democrats won the popular vote in three elections in a row. They won the presidency in both 1884 and 1892.

The first presidency of Grover Cleveland (1885–1889)

Main article: First presidency of Grover Cleveland

Even though Republicans held the presidency until 1884, the Democrats stayed strong, especially in the mid-Atlantic and lower Midwest, and they controlled the House of Representatives for most of that time. In the election of (/wiki/1884_United_States_presidential_election), Grover Cleveland, the reform-minded Democratic Governor of New York, became President. He tried again in (/wiki/1892_United_States_presidential_election) after losing in (/wiki/1888_United_States_presidential_election).

Cleveland led a group called the Bourbon Democrats. They supported businesses, banks, and railroads. They believed in letting businesses operate freely (laissez-faire) and opposed expanding the country abroad (imperialism) or taking over Hawaii. They wanted to use only gold for money (gold standard) and fought against using both gold and silver (Bimetallism). They also pushed for fair government jobs (Civil Service Reform) and worked against corrupt leaders like the Tweed Ring.

Republican Benjamin Harrison narrowly won in 1888. His administration raised taxes and spending so much that it hurt them in the 1890 elections. Harrison lost his reelection bid in 1892 to Cleveland.

The second presidency of Grover Cleveland (1893–1897)

Main article: Second presidency of Grover Cleveland

When a big economic problem called the Panic of 1893 happened, Cleveland's group got the blame. The party split between Cleveland's supporters, who liked business and the gold standard, and others, especially in the West and South, who wanted to use silver for money. This fight caused big losses for both groups in 1894 and led to a major conflict in 1896. The economic downturn from 1893 to 1897 helped the Republicans win big, taking control of the House. The Democrats lost many seats in the Northeast. Although Cleveland's opponents took control of the Democratic Party in many states, his allies kept control in places like Wisconsin and Massachusetts.

The rise and fall of William Jennings Bryan

At the 1896 national convention, the Democrats were close to having enough votes to choose their own candidate. But they were not united and lacked a national leader.

A young congressman named William Jennings Bryan gave a powerful speech that won him the nomination. Though he lost the election, he remained a popular figure in the Democratic Party and was nominated again in 1900 and 1908. During this time, Bryan and his supporters had a strong influence on the party.

Free silver movement

Main article: Free silver

Grover Cleveland led a group of conservative Democrats, but as the economy struggled, many turned against him. At the 1896 convention, a group supporting free silver chose Bryan as their candidate. Free silver meant allowing more silver to be used for money, which they believed would help end the economic troubles. Cleveland’s supporters formed their own party, called the National Democratic Party.

Bryan traveled widely, giving many speeches to support his ideas. While many in the South and Midwest supported him, others, especially in big cities, were concerned. Republican William McKinley offered plans to bring back prosperity, focusing on supporting businesses and banks.

Though Bryan lost the election, he remained popular with many Democrats and was nominated again in later years. The Republican win in 1896 began a time known as the "Progressive Era", when Republicans often led the country.

The GOP presidencies of William McKinley (1897–1901), Theodore Roosevelt (1901–1909), and William Howard Taft (1909–1913)

The 1896 election changed politics, with Republicans holding the presidency for many years. They were strong in many parts of the country, while Bryan’s support stayed mainly in the South and some western areas.

With Bryan not running and Theodore Roosevelt as a popular president, the Democrats struggled. In 1904, they nominated Alton B. Parker, but he lost badly to Roosevelt.

Different religious groups often supported different parties. Some Protestant groups tended to support Republicans, while Catholic and some Lutheran groups often supported Democrats. These differences led to debates over issues like prohibition.

1908: "Yet another farewell tour"

When popular President Roosevelt stepped down, the Democrats nominated Bryan for a third time, but he lost again. In 1912, the Republican Party split between Roosevelt and William Howard Taft, allowing the Democrats to win and elect their first Democratic president in many years.

Democrats in Congress supported many reforms during this time, like rules for big businesses, changes to how senators were chosen, and new taxes.

Presidency of Woodrow Wilson (1913–1921)

Main article: Presidency of Woodrow Wilson

The Democratic Party took control of the government in 1910 and elected Woodrow Wilson as president in 1912 and again in 1916. Wilson worked with Congress to pass important new laws. These laws included lowering taxes on imports, creating stronger rules to stop big companies from being unfair, and new support for farmers. He also helped pass laws to improve working conditions for railroad workers and to stop unfair treatment of children at work, although some of these rules were later changed.

Wilson also played a big role during World War I. He helped create a plan for peace called the Versailles Treaty, which included an idea for a group of countries to work together to keep peace, called the League of Nations. However, the U.S. Senate did not agree to join the League. During Wilson's second term, some problems happened, like disagreements and difficult times for many people. As a result, the Democrats lost the next election in 1920.

The Roaring Twenties: Democratic defeats

The 1920s were tough years for the Democratic Party. They were a small group in Congress and not very strong in many northern states.

After losing badly in 1920, the Democrats got some of their strength back in the elections of 1922. They did well in places where many people had families from Ireland or Germany, and in big industrial cities. New immigrants were also starting to support them more. Many of these families had someone who fought in wars, so they cared more about big national issues, like whether veterans should get extra help. People were also unhappy about laws that stopped them from drinking beer or wine and closing down places where people could gather to drink.

In 1924, there was a big argument inside the Democratic Party about a group of people who were treating others unfairly. This argument showed how the party was divided over important cultural issues, which helped the other party win big in the elections of 1924 and 1928. However, a man named Al Smith gained a lot of support in big cities in 1928, and another man, Franklin D. Roosevelt, became an important leader when he was elected Governor of New York the same year. Books written by a historian named Claude Bowers helped remind Democrats of their history and why they believed in their party. One of his books even inspired Franklin D. Roosevelt to build a special memorial for Thomas Jefferson, the party's founder.

The Great Depression and a Second World War: Democratic hegemony (1930–1953)

Main articles: Great Depression in the United States, New Deal, and New Deal coalition

The Great Depression marked a tough time for President Hoover, but the Democratic Party gained much support in the 1930 elections and won by a large margin in 1932.

Main articles: Presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–1941) and Presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt (1941–1945)

The stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression led to changes in the government. Franklin D. Roosevelt won big in the 1932 election, promising help for jobs, the economy, and long-term changes to avoid another Depression. This became known as "The New Deal".

The Democrats also won many seats in Congress and among state governors. Roosevelt changed the party’s focus to support for economic rules and help during hard times. Words like “liberal” began to mean supporting these new ideas, while “conservative” meant opposing them.

Some conservative Democrats disagreed and formed the American Liberty League in 1934 but did not succeed. Most either left politics or joined the Republican Party.

In 1933, Roosevelt started programs called “the First New Deal,” trying to help many groups. By 1934, he began “The Second New Deal,” which included building up labor unions, creating Social Security, and adding more rules for businesses.

Roosevelt’s plans focused on creating jobs through public works and social welfare like Social Security. These changes brought together many different groups, like labor unions, liberals, and many minorities, forming the New Deal coalition. This strong support helped Democrats win elections for many years.

After winning again in 1936, Roosevelt tried to add more members to the Supreme Court, but faced strong opposition and failed. He also tried to remove some conservative Democrats from the party in 1938 but was not successful.

Under Roosevelt, the Democratic Party became known for supporting social welfare, labor unions, civil rights, and business rules, as well as helping farmers and ethnic leaders. Those who wanted less government involvement began calling themselves “conservatives”.

Main article: World War II

Facing challenges at home and the approach of World War II, Roosevelt broke tradition and ran for a third and then a fourth term, keeping a Democratic majority in Congress.

Main article: Presidency of Harry S. Truman

Harry S. Truman became president after Roosevelt’s death in 1945. The party had many different groups, including big city leaders, Southern states, and labor unions.

In 1946, Republicans criticized Truman’s policies and won back Congress. In 1948, after General Dwight D. Eisenhower refused to run, Truman surprised everyone by winning re-election. However, many of his plans, like universal health care, were blocked by Congress.

See also: Cold War (1947–1953)

Truman worked with internationalist Republicans to support a strong foreign policy during the early Cold War. Former Vice President Henry A. Wallace left the party to run for president in 1948, calling for friendlier relations with the Soviet Union, but did not succeed.

Truman led the country during the Korean War, which began after China’s change in government in 1949. Republicans criticized his handling of the war and some scandals, which hurt his image. Truman did not run in 1952, and the Democrats nominated Adlai Stevenson, who lost to Eisenhower.

Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953–1961)

When General Dwight D. Eisenhower won the election against Adlai Stevenson, he became one of the most popular leaders of his time and moved into the White House. During his time, the Republican Party briefly controlled both parts of Congress for one term. However, in Congress, important leaders like House Speaker Sam Rayburn and Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson kept the Democratic Party united, often by making compromises with Eisenhower.

In 1958, the Democratic Party made big gains in the elections and seemed to strongly control Congress, helped by organized labor. Democrats held more seats in the House of Representatives almost every year from 1930 to 1992, except for two years. Many lawmakers from the South were conservative Democrats and often worked with conservative Republicans, forming a group that stopped many new laws aimed at helping people until the 1970s, except for a short time in 1964–1965. The Democratic Study Group worked to change Congress and help pass many important laws suggested by Presidents Kennedy and Johnson.

Even though the Republican Party briefly controlled Congress in 1952, the Democrats took control again in 1954. During this time, Speaker Sam Rayburn and Senate Leader Lyndon B. Johnson worked closely with President Eisenhower, making political fights less intense than at other times in the 20th century.

Presidency of John F. Kennedy (1961–1963)

Main article: Presidency of John F. Kennedy

The election of John F. Kennedy in 1960 brought new energy to the party. People were excited about his youth, strength, and smart ideas. He started new programs like the Peace Corps to help people around the world.

During his time in office, Kennedy faced many challenges. He tried to stop other countries from taking over areas where America was not strong, and he sent soldiers to help in Vietnam. He also pushed America to try to be the first to land a person on the Moon. Kennedy worked to improve fairness for everyone, such as helping people travel safely during protests in the South. Sadly, Kennedy's time as president was short, and he faced many difficult moments during his leadership.

Presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–1969)

Main articles: Presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson, Civil rights movement, and Great Society

Lyndon B. Johnson became president after serving as vice president. He worked hard to pass many important laws, known as the Great Society, which helped bring equal rights to all Americans, especially in the South. However, he also made the decision to get more involved in the Vietnam War. This caused big disagreements within his party, the Democratic Party, especially during the elections of 1968.

During this time, the Democratic Party faced many changes. As more leaders supported equal rights, some traditional supporters, especially from the South, began to leave the party. This shift was part of a larger change in how Americans voted, with many African Americans supporting the Democratic Party because of its stand on civil rights. These changes would shape the party for many years to come.

McGovern-Fraser Commission and George McGovern's presidential campaign (1969–1972)

Main articles: McGovern–Fraser Commission and George McGovern 1972 presidential campaign

After losing in 1968, the Democrats made big changes to how they chose their presidential candidate. They gave more power to ordinary members and made primary elections much more important. In 1972, the Democrats chose Senator George McGovern as their candidate. He wanted the United States to leave Vietnam quickly and supported a plan to ensure everyone had enough money to live on.

McGovern faced some challenges during his campaign. He had to change his running mate after some concerns came up. Despite these efforts, McGovern lost the election badly to President Richard Nixon, only winning in Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.

Presidencies of Richard Nixon (1969–1974) and Gerald Ford (1974–1977)

The loss of George McGovern in the 1972 election affected the Democratic Party, but this was changed by the Nixon scandal. The Watergate scandal led to the end of Nixon's time as president. After Gerald Ford took over and pardoned Nixon in 1974, the Democrats focused on issues of fairness to win more support in elections. Later, in 1976, Jimmy Carter, the former Governor of Georgia, won the presidency by promising honest leadership, especially during tough economic times known as "stagflation".

Presidency of Jimmy Carter (1977–1981)

Main article: Presidency of Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter became president in 1977 with limited national experience. As president, he created a national energy policy and two new government departments: the United States Department of Energy and the United States Department of Education. He helped make rules easier for many industries and supported programs to help older people. He also appointed many women and people from different backgrounds to important jobs.

In world affairs, Carter helped make peace between two countries at Camp David, made agreements about a canal, and started friendly ties with China. He also worked to protect people’s rights around the world. However, some of his plans, like a health program, did not work out. His popularity dropped when prices rose and jobs were hard to find. A difficult situation with another country led to many Americans being held for over a year, and a plan to help them failed. Later, another country’s actions made things harder for Carter. He lost the election in 1980 to Ronald Reagan, and the other party took control of one part of Congress.

Presidency of Ronald Reagan (1981–1989)

1980s: Battling Reaganism

Some Democrats supported Republican President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s. These Democrats, called "Reagan Democrats", were mostly white people from the Northeast and Midwest. They liked Reagan's social conservatism on issues such as abortion and his strong foreign policy. They voted for Reagan in 1980 and for George H. W. Bush in 1988, helping them win big. But they didn't keep voting Republican after that, so the term "Reagan Democrats" is mostly used to talk about the 1980s.

A Democratic pollster studied voters in Macomb County, Michigan, who voted for Reagan in 1984. He found that these voters felt the Democratic Party wasn't working for people like them anymore, but instead seemed to focus more on helping others, like African Americans, advocacy groups of the political left, and the very poor.

In 1984, Reagan won in 49 states against Democratic candidate Walter Mondale. To try to win back voters, the Democratic Leadership Council was created in 1985. They wanted to move the party towards the center to attract more support. But in 1988, Democratic candidate Michael Dukakis still lost to George H. W. Bush.

South becomes Republican

Main article: Southern Democrats

For almost a century after the Civil War, people in the South strongly supported the Democratic Party. This was called the Solid South. But things began to change with the civil rights movement. President Harry S. Truman and later John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson supported civil rights, which made many white Southerners unhappy.

As the South changed with new industries and more people moving in, many white Southerners felt the Democratic Party no longer represented them. They started voting for the Republican Party instead. Meanwhile, newly enfranchised Black voters began supporting Democratic candidates at high levels, leading to Democratic leaders such as Julian Bond, John Lewis of Georgia and Barbara Jordan of Texas.

Presidency of George H. W. Bush (1989–1993)

Opposition to Gulf War

Many Democrats grew up opposing wars, like the Vietnam War, and they often did not support American military actions. In 1990, Iraq, under Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait. President Bush worked with other countries to form a group that would push Iraq out. In early 1991, Congress voted on whether to use military force against Iraq. The vote was close. Most Republicans supported the action, but many Democrats did not. The final decision allowed the use of force, and the conflict began.

Presidency of Bill Clinton (1993–2001)

Main articles: Presidency of Bill Clinton and New Democrats (United States)

In the 1990s, the Democratic Party made a comeback by shifting some of its economic policies. In 1992, for the first time in 12 years, a Democrat, Bill Clinton, became President of the United States. During his time as President, Congress managed to balance the federal budget for the first time since the 1960s, and the U.S. economy grew strongly, improving incomes for many people.

President Clinton signed important laws, including measures related to safety for buyers of certain items and leave for workers with family needs. He also worked on international issues, such as helping to create peace agreements in different parts of the world. In 1996, Clinton became the first Democratic president to be re-elected since Franklin D. Roosevelt.

However, in 1994, Democrats lost their majority in Congress. Clinton later signed a law about changing some government support programs. In 1998, Clinton faced serious accusations, but was cleared by the Senate.

Free markets

During Clinton's time, the U.S. continued policies that supported free markets, which began in the 1980s. Some say Clinton helped these policies become stronger after the Cold War ended. Others note that both major parties moved toward supporting free markets starting in the 1970s. Both Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton focused less on strong support for workers and unions, and more on balancing budgets and supporting business.

Election of 2000

Main article: 2000 United States presidential election

In the 2000 election, the Democrats chose Vice President Al Gore to run for president. He ran against George W. Bush. Although Gore received more total votes, he lost in a close and controversial election. Many felt that a third-party candidate played a role in the outcome. Despite Gore’s defeat, the Democrats made gains in the Senate, but later lost their majority again. This election also showed growing differences in voting patterns based on education levels.

Presidency of George W. Bush (2001–2009)

After big events happened, like attacks on important buildings, the Democratic Party worked closely with the government on safety issues. Many Democrats voted to support actions in other countries and new laws to keep the country safe. They had different opinions about some of these actions, especially about a big operation in a faraway country.

Democrats also focused on fixing problems in business practices after some big companies did wrong things. They helped pass new rules to prevent this from happening again. During this time, they tried to help the economy recover from job losses and business failures. Some elections went well for them, and they won control of important government jobs in many states.

Election of 2004

Main articles: 2004 United States presidential election, John Kerry 2004 presidential campaign, and 2004 Democratic Party presidential primaries

The race for president in 2004 began early. One candidate, who was against a faraway war, had some problems that hurt his chances. The Democratic Party chose Senator John Kerry to be their candidate. He talked a lot about issues with the war, but he lost the election. However, a new face, Senator Barack Obama, won an important election in Illinois and began to get more attention.

Howard Dean and the fifty-state strategy (2005–2007)

Main article: 2006 United States elections

After some discussions, the Democrats chose Howard Dean to lead their party. He wanted to build stronger teams in every state, even in places where they didn’t usually win. During this time, there were problems with some leaders of the other party, which the Democrats used to their advantage. Because many people were unhappy with how things were going, the Democrats won more seats in Congress and many state jobs in the 2006 elections. Nancy Pelosi became the first woman to lead the group of leaders in one part of Congress.

2008 presidential election

Main articles: 2008 United States presidential election, Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign, and 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries

In 2008, two main candidates fought for the Democratic nomination: Senator Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton. Both broke new ground as the most supported African American and female candidates ever. Obama became the likely choice of the party and later faced John McCain for president. With many people worried about the economy, Obama won the election by a big margin and also helped his party win more seats in Congress.

Presidency of Barack Obama (2009–2017)

Main article: Presidency of Barack Obama

Further information: Public image of Barack Obama

See also: Speeches of Barack Obama

On January 20, 2009, Obama became the 44th president of the United States in front of nearly 2 million people, the largest crowd ever to witness a new president’s inauguration. That same day, leaders from the Republican Party met to discuss their future during Obama’s time as president.

One of Obama’s first actions was to stop many rules that were being made by the previous president, George W. Bush, so they could be reviewed. He also started making weekly video messages on Saturday mornings, similar to the radio talks made by past presidents.

During his first 100 days, Obama signed important laws such as the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, the Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2009, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. He also changed some policies from the Bush administration, like supporting a statement about people’s rights around the world and allowing more research with special cells. Obama also planned to close a special prison, though it stayed open during his time as president.

Obama made stricter rules about people who try to influence government decisions. He also announced plans to send more soldiers to Afghanistan and promised to bring troops home from Iraq by the end of 2011.

Obama chose a judge for the highest court in the country and signed laws about protecting people from unfair treatment and saving money. He also signed a major law to change how healthcare works in the United States.

In 2010, Democrats lost some seats in Congress during elections. In 2011, Obama sent more troops to Afghanistan, and the United States began stopping its military action in a nearby country.

During Obama’s time as president, there were debates about different issues, including laws about marriage and free trade. In 2012, Obama was re-elected as president, but in 2014, Democrats lost some seats in Congress again.

2016 United States elections

2016 Democratic Party presidential primaries

Main articles: Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign, Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign, and 2016 United States presidential election

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders during the 2016 primaries

From 2013 to 2015, polls showed Hillary Clinton leading among possible candidates. Her main opponent was Senator Bernie Sanders, who gained support, especially from younger voters. Clinton was seen as the establishment candidate, while Sanders was seen as an outsider. Clinton had support from many elected officials, while Sanders’ supporters were often younger and more progressive.

The differences between the two showed the divide within the Democratic Party. Clinton was part of the New Democrat group, while Sanders described himself as a democratic socialist and represented the more progressive side of the party. During the primaries, Sanders criticized Clinton for her ties to big banks and her past support of certain policies, while Clinton criticized Sanders for his voting record on some issues. As the campaign continued, Clinton adopted some of Sanders’ ideas, especially on issues like trade and college costs.

Although Clinton won the popular vote by two percent, she lost the general election to Donald Trump in the Electoral College votes by state.

Hillary Clinton’s loss was mainly because of Trump’s strong support among white voters without college degrees in key states such as Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

The 2016 election showed a divide among white voters based on education and region, with Clinton winning among those with college degrees and Trump winning among those without.

First presidency of Donald Trump (2017–2021)

Main article: First presidency of Donald Trump

Initiatives

On January 12, 2017, the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, a group that works on changing how voting districts are drawn, was started. It is linked to the Democratic Party. Former Attorney General Eric Holder leads this group. In May 2017, Hillary Clinton began a project called Onward Together to support groups that aim to help liberal causes.

Response to the Donald Trump administration

Protests

Main article: Protests against Donald Trump

When Donald Trump was sworn in as president, 67 Democratic members of Congress did not attend the ceremony. This was the largest such boycott in many years. The 2017 Women's March was a big event supporting women's rights and showing disagreement with Trump's policies. Many Democratic senators joined this march. The George Floyd protests and other events against unfair treatment by police also had support from many Democrats, even though they faced opposition from the Trump administration.

Impeachments of Donald Trump

Main articles: First impeachment of Donald Trump and Second impeachment of Donald Trump

In 2019, Democrats in the House of Representatives began looking into claims that President Trump tried to influence another country's leader for his own benefit. They voted to formally question Trump's actions, but he was cleared by the Senate. In 2021, Democrats voted again to question Trump because of his actions related to an event at the United States Capitol, but once more, he was cleared by the Senate.

116th United States Congress

Main article: 116th United States Congress

In the 2018 elections, Democrats won many more seats in the House of Representatives and took control of it again. A record number of women were elected, with most of them being Democrats. The Democrats promised to work on important issues like healthcare and voting rights. They also talked about supporting the Green New Deal, which includes plans to reduce pollution and create new jobs.

2020 United States elections

Main articles: 2020 United States presidential election, Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign, and 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries

In the 2020 elections, many candidates ran to be the Democratic Party's choice for president. After several rounds of voting, the race came down to Senator Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden. Biden won the nomination and promised to bring strong leadership during tough times. He also said he could win against Trump.

Biden won the election on November 3, 2020, defeating Trump. He became the first president to have a woman, Kamala Harris, as his vice president. Harris made history as the first woman and the first person of African and South Asian descent to hold that role. Democrats also kept control of the House of Representatives and took control of the Senate, meaning they led both parts of Congress and the presidency for the first time in many years.

Presidency of Joe Biden (2021–2025)

Main article: Presidency of Joe Biden

On January 20, 2021, Joe Biden became the 46th president of the United States. He began his time with control of the government, including the House and Senate. Early in his presidency, he passed laws to help the country during the COVID-19 pandemic and to improve jobs and infrastructure.

Biden worked on important issues like climate change, healthcare, and supporting Ukraine. In 2024, he chose to not run for re-election and supported Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. Although Harris lost the election, Democrats still did well in other races across the country.

Second presidency of Donald Trump (2025-present)

Main article: Second presidency of Donald Trump

After Donald Trump won the election in 2024, the Democratic Party faced challenges and many felt it lacked clear leadership. Even so, the party still holds influence in some states. In 2025, fresh leaders began to step forward, such as Zohran Mamdani who became Mayor of New York City, Mikie Sherrill as Governor of New Jersey, and Abigail Spanberger as Governor of Virginia.