Conservative Democrat
In American politics, a conservative Democrat is a member of the Democratic Party with more conservative views than most Democrats. Traditionally, conservative Democrats have been elected to office from the Southern states, rural areas, the Rust Belt, and the Midwest.[1] In 2019, the Pew Research Center found that 14% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning registered voters identify as conservative or very conservative, 38% identify as moderate, and 47% identify as liberal or very liberal.[2]
This article is about conservative members of the Democratic Party of the United States. For other parties with similar names, see Conservative Democratic Party.
Before 1964, the Democratic Party and Republican Party each had influential liberal, moderate, and conservative wings. During this period, conservative Democrats formed the Democratic half of the conservative coalition. After 1964, the Democratic Party retained its conservative wing through the 1970s with the help of urban machine politics. In the 21st century, the number of conservative Democrats decreased as the party moved leftward.[3][4]
The Blue Dog Coalition represents centrist and conservative Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives.[5][6]
Ideology and polls[edit]
In 2019, the Pew Research Center found that 14% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning registered voters identify as conservative or very conservative, 38% identify as moderate, and 47% identify as liberal or very liberal.[2]
According to a 2015 poll from the Pew Research Center, 54% of conservative and moderate Democrats supported same-sex marriage in 2015. This figure represented an increase of 22% from a decade earlier.[44]
. Democrats in New York state in 1850s
Barnburners and Hunkers
Black conservatism in the United States
Blue Dog Coalition
Boll weevil (politics)
late 19th century
Bourbon Democrat
in 20c Virginia
Byrd Machine
Conservative coalition
Conservative Democrat (South Korea)
Conservative Manifesto
Copperheads (politics)
Democrat in Name Only
Democrats for Life of America
1948
Dixiecrat
Factions in the Democratic Party (United States)
Fire-Eaters
Hispanic and Latino conservatism in the United States
History of the United States Senate
Jeffersonian democracy
LaRouche movement
LGBT conservatism in the United States
Libertarian Democrat
National Democratic Party (United States)
New Democrats
in 20c Florida
Pork Chop Gang
Reagan Democrat
Redeemers
violent opposition to Reconstruction
Red Shirts (United States)
Regular Democratic Organization
Rockefeller Republican
Southern Democrats
Southern Manifesto
Straight-Out Democratic Party
Texas Regulars
Yellow dog Democrat
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