Republican Party (United States): Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Major contemporary political party in the United States}}
{{Redirect|GOP}}
{{Distinguish|American Republican Party (1843)|Democratic-Republican Party|National Republican Party|Republicanism in the United States}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox political party
{{Infobox political party
| name = Republican Party
| name = Republican Party
| abbreviation = GOP (Grand Old Party)
| abbreviation = GOP (Grand Old Party)
| logo = [[File:GOP logo.svg|180px]]
| logo = Republican Disc.svg
| symbol = [[File:Republican Disc.svg|100px]]
| colorcode = {{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}
| colorcode = {{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}
| chairperson = [[Ronna McDaniel]] ([[Michigan|MI]])
| chairperson = [[Ronna McDaniel]] ([[Michigan|MI]])<ref name=leadershipRNC>{{cite web |url=https://www.gop.com/leaders/national/ |title=National Leadership |author= |website= |publisher=Republican National Committee |accessdate=25 January 2017}}</ref>
| leader2_title = {{nowrap|[[Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives|House Minority Leader]]}}
| leader3_title = [[Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives|House Minority Leader]]
| leader2_name = [[Kevin McCarthy (California politician)|Kevin McCarthy]] ([[California|CA]])
| leader3_name = [[Kevin McCarthy (California politician)|Kevin McCarthy]] ([[California|CA]])<ref name=leadershipRNC/>
| leader1_title = {{nowrap|[[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Senate Minority Leader]]}}
| leader4_title = [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Senate Minority Leader]]
| leader1_name = [[Mitch McConnell]] ([[Kentucky|KY]])
| leader4_name = [[Mitch McConnell]] ([[Kentucky|KY]])<ref name=leadershipRNC/>
| founders = [[Alvan E. Bovay]]<ref>[http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/tp&CISOPTR=46379&CISOSHOW=46363 ''The Origin of the Republican Party''] by Prof. A. F. Gilman, Ripon College, WI, 1914.</ref><br />[[Horace Greeley]]<br />[[Abraham Lincoln]]<br />[[Edwin D. Morgan]]<br />[[Henry Jarvis Raymond]]<br />[[Amos Tuck]]
| foundation = {{start date and age|1854|3|20}}
| foundation = {{start date and age|1854|3|20}}<br />[[Ripon, Wisconsin]], U.S.
| predecessor = [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig Party]]<br />[[Free Soil Party]]
| predecessor = [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig Party]] (majority)<br />[[Free Soil Party]]<br />[[Liberty Party (United States, 1840)|Liberty Party]]<br />[[Anti-Nebraska movement|Anti-Nebraska Party]]<br />[[1856 United States presidential election#North American Party nomination|North American Party]]
| headquarters = 310 First Street SE<br />[[Washington, D.C.]] 20003
| headquarters = 310 First Street SE<br />[[Washington, D.C.]] 20003
| student_wing = [[College Republicans]]
| student_wing = [[College Republicans]]
| youth_wing = [[Young Republicans]]<br />[[Teen Age Republicans]]
| youth_wing = [[Young Republicans]]<br />[[High School Republicans]]
| womens_wing = [[National Federation of Republican Women]]
| womens_wing = [[National Federation of Republican Women]]
| wing1_title = Overseas wing
| wing1_title = Overseas wing
| wing1 = [[Republicans Overseas]]
| wing1 = [[Republicans Overseas]]
| membership_year = 2021
| membership_year = 2018
| position = <!--Longstanding consensus is not to include a political position here.-->
| membership = {{increase}}32,854,496<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ballot-access.org/2018/12/03/november-2018-ballot-access-news-print-edition/|title=FALL 2018 VOTER REGISTRATION TOTALS|accessdate=May 30, 2019|work=Ballot Access News}}</ref>
| membership = {{increase}} 36,132,743<ref>{{Cite web |last=Winger |first=Richard |title=March 2021 Ballot Access News Print Edition |url=http://ballot-access.org/2021/03/28/march-2021-ballot-access-news-print-edition/ |access-date=April 1, 2021 |website=Ballot Access News}}</ref>
| ideology = '''[[Republican Party (United States)#Positions|Majority]]''':<br />{{•}} [[Conservatism in the United States|Conservatism]]<ref name="Paul Gottfried 2009 p. 12">[[Paul Gottfried]], ''Conservatism in America: Making Sense of the American Right'', p. 9, "Postwar conservatives set about creating their own synthesis of free-market capitalism, Christian morality, and the global struggle against Communism." (2009); Gottfried, ''Theologies and moral concern'' (1995) p. 12.</ref><br />{{•}}[[Social conservatism in the United States|Social conservatism]]<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2013/2/5/Nair-conservatism/|title=No Country for Old Social Conservatives?|publisher=Nair|website=thecrimson.com|accessdate=August 17, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=[[Politico]]|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/gop-platform-social-conservatives-225782|date=July 18, 2016|title=Social conservatives win on GOP platform}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=[[History (U.S. TV network)|History]]|url=https://www.history.com/topics/us-politics/republican-party|title=Republican Party|accessdate=March 16, 2019}}</ref><br />{{•}}[[Economic liberalism]]<ref>{{cite book|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|first=Philip|last=Manow|year=2018|title=Welfare Democracies and Party Politics|page=76}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|page=78|first=Robin|last=Pettitt|title=Contemporary Party Politics|year=2014|publisher=[[Macmillan Education]]}}</ref><br />
| ideology = {{ubl|class=nowrap|
'''[[Factions in the Republican Party (United States)|Factions]]''':<br />{{•}} [[Centrism]]<ref name="auto1">{{cite news|last=Siegel|first=Josh|title=Centrist Republicans and Democrats meet to devise bipartisan healthcare plan|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/centrist-republicans-and-democrats-meet-to-devise-bipartisan-healthcare-plan|work=[[The Washington Examiner]]|date=July 18, 2017}}</ref><br />{{•}} [[Fiscal conservatism in the United States|Fiscal conservatism]]<ref name="Fiscal Conservatism">{{cite book|publisher=AuthorHouse|first=Kennneth L.|last=Hill|year=2012|page=172|title=An Essential Guide To American Politics And The American Political System}}</ref><br />
|'''[[#Political positions|Majority]]:'''
{{•}} [[Fascism]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newsweek.com/robert-paxton-trump-fascist-1560652 | title=I've hesitated to call Donald Trump a fascist. Until now &#124; Opinion | website=[[Newsweek]] | date=11 January 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/republican-party-donald-trump-voter-suppression-b1868426.html | title=The Republican Party has turned fascist – it is now the most dangerous threat in the world &#124; Patrick Cockburn | website=[[Independent.co.uk]] | date=23 June 2021 }}</ref><br>
|{{•}} [[Conservatism in the United States|American conservatism]]<ref name="Paul Gottfried 2009 p. 12">[[Paul Gottfried]], ''Conservatism in America: Making Sense of the American Right'', p. 9, "Postwar conservatives set about creating their own synthesis of free-market capitalism, Christian morality, and the global struggle against Communism." (2009); Gottfried, ''Theologies and moral concern'' (1995) p. 12.</ref>
{{•}} [[Fusionism]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Devine|first=Donald|title=A New Birth of Fusionism|url=http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/a-new-birth-of-fusionism/|work=[[The American Conservative]]|date=April 16, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=[[National Review]]|title=Fusionism, 60 Years Later|first=Jonah|last=Goldberg|date=November 5, 2015|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/426606/fusionism-60-years-later-jonah-goldberg}}</ref><br />{{•}} [[Libertarianism in the United States|Libertarianism]]<ref name="gopfuture">{{cite book|first=William J.|last=Miller|publisher=Lexington Books|title=The 2012 Nomination and the Future of the Republican Party|year=2013|page=39}}</ref><br />{{•}} [[Neoconservatism]]<ref name="gopfuture"/><br />{{•}} [[Paleoconservatism]]<ref name="paleo">{{cite book|first=Gregory|last=Schneider|publisher=[[NYU Press]]|title=Conservatism in America Since 1930: A Reader|year=2003|page=387}}</ref><br />{{•}}[[Right-wing populism in the United States|Right-wing populism]]<ref><br />{{•}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/donald-trump-is-transforming-the-g-o-p-into-a-populist-nativist-party|title=Donald Trump is Transforming the G.O.P. Into a Populist, Nativist Party|last=Cassidy|first=John|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|date=February 29, 2016}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/07/populism-american-right/489800/|title= Why Is Populism Winning on the American Right?|website=[[The Atlantic]]|last=Gould|first=J.J.|date=July 2, 2016}}</ref><br />{{•}}[[Economic nationalism]]<ref>{{Cite news|work=[[Politico]]|title=The Urge to Purge|date=October 17, 2017|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/10/17/bannon-republicans-elections-purge-215721}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=[[Financial Times]]|title=Trump's trade hawk prepares to swoop on Beijing|date=November 19, 2018|url=https://www.ft.com/content/0cf1948c-ebba-11e8-89c8-d36339d835c0}}</ref>
|'''[[Factions in the Republican Party (United States)|Factions]]:'''
| european = [[Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe]]<ref name="AECR membership">{{cite web|url=http://www.aecr.eu/members|title=Members|publisher=AECR|access-date=January 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016050413/http://www.aecr.eu/members/|archive-date=October 16, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> (regional partner)
|{{•}} [[Centrism]]<ref name="auto1">{{cite news|last=Siegel|first=Josh|title=Centrist Republicans and Democrats meet to devise bipartisan healthcare plan|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/centrist-republicans-and-democrats-meet-to-devise-bipartisan-healthcare-plan|work=[[The Washington Examiner]]|date=July 18, 2017|access-date=May 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505135032/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/centrist-republicans-and-democrats-meet-to-devise-bipartisan-healthcare-plan|archive-date=May 5, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| international = {{nowrap|[[International Democrat Union]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://idu.org/member-parties/|title=Members|publisher=IDU|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716031006/http://idu.org/member-parties/|archivedate=July 16, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref>}}
|{{•}} [[Neoconservatism]]<ref name="gopfuture" />
|{{•}} [[Libertarianism in the United States|Libertarianism]]<ref name="gopfuture">{{cite book|first=William J.|last=Miller|publisher=Lexington Books|title=The 2012 Nomination and the Future of the Republican Party|year=2013|page=39}}</ref>
|{{•}}[[Right-wing populism in the United States|Right-wing populism]]<ref name="Cassidy">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/donald-trump-is-transforming-the-g-o-p-into-a-populist-nativist-party|title=Donald Trump is Transforming the G.O.P. Into a Populist, Nativist Party|last=Cassidy|first=John|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|date=February 29, 2016|access-date=July 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304225035/http://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/donald-trump-is-transforming-the-g-o-p-into-a-populist-nativist-party|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/07/populism-american-right/489800/|title=Why Is Populism Winning on the American Right?|website=[[The Atlantic]]|last=Gould|first=J.J.|date=July 2, 2016|access-date=March 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312065834/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/07/populism-american-right/489800/|archive-date=March 12, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
| international = {{nowrap|[[International Democrat Union]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://idu.org/member-parties/|title=Members|publisher=IDU|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716031006/http://idu.org/member-parties/|archive-date=July 16, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref>}}
| affiliation1_title = Regional affiliation
| affiliation1_title = Regional affiliation
| affiliation1 = [[Asia Pacific Democrat Union]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://idu.org/members/regional-unions/apdu/|title=International Democrat Union » APDU|work=International Democrat Union|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702053517/https://idu.org/members/regional-unions/apdu/|archive-date=July 2, 2015|df=mdy-all|date=May 22, 2018}}</ref>
| affiliation1 = [[Asia Pacific Democrat Union]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://idu.org/members/regional-unions/apdu/|title=International Democrat Union » APDU|work=International Democrat Union|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702053517/https://idu.org/members/regional-unions/apdu/|archivedate=July 2, 2015|df=mdy-all|date=May 22, 2018}}</ref>
| european = [[European Conservatives and Reformists Party]]<ref name="AECR membership">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ecrparty.eu/about|title=About|website=ECR Party|access-date=2020-04-01}}</ref> (regional partner)
| colors = {{color box|{{Republican Party (US)/meta/color}}|border=darkgray}} [[Red states and blue states|Red]]
| colors = {{color box|{{Republican Party (US)/meta/color}}|border=darkgray}} [[Red states and blue states|Red]]
| seats1_title = [[United States Senate|Senate]]
| seats1_title = [[United States Senate|Seats in the Senate]]
| seats1 = {{composition bar|50|100|hex={{Republican Party (US)/meta/color}}|ref={{Efn|The Republicans are the minority party in the Senate because of Vice President [[Kamala Harris]]'s tie-breaking vote, as independents [[Bernie Sanders]] and [[Angus King]] caucus with the 48 Democrats, effectively making the Senate 50–50.|name=|group=}}}}
| seats1 = {{composition bar|50|100|hex={{Republican Party (US)/meta/color}}}}
| seats2_title = [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
| seats2_title = [[United States House of Representatives|Seats in the House]]
| seats2 = {{composition bar|212|435|hex={{Republican Party (US)/meta/color}}}}
| seats2 = {{composition bar|211|435|hex={{Republican Party (US)/meta/color}}}}
| seats3_title = [[Governor (United States)|State governorships]]
| seats3_title = [[Governor (United States)|State Governorships]]
| seats3 = <!--Don't change numbers, until terms begin--> {{composition bar|27|50|hex={{Republican Party (US)/meta/color}}}}
| seats3 = {{composition bar|27|50|hex={{Republican Party (US)/meta/color}}}}
| seats4_title = [[State legislature (United States)|State upper chambers]]
| seats4_title = [[State legislature (United States)|State Upper Chamber Seats]]
| seats4 = <!--Don't change numbers, until terms begin--> {{composition bar|1091|1972|hex={{Republican Party (US)/meta/color}}}}
| seats4 = {{composition bar|1080|1972|hex={{Republican Party (US)/meta/color}}}}
| seats5_title = [[State legislature (United States)|State lower chambers]]
| seats5_title = [[State legislature (United States)|State Lower Chamber Seats]]
| seats5 = <!--Don't change numbers, until terms begin--> {{composition bar|2918|5411|hex={{Republican Party (US)/meta/color}}}}
| seats5 = {{composition bar|2773|5411|hex={{Republican Party (US)/meta/color}}}}
| seats6_title = [[Governor (United States)|Territorial governorships]]
| seats6_title = [[State legislature (United States)|Total State Legislature Seats]]
| seats6 = <!--Don't change numbers, until terms begin--> {{composition bar|1|6|hex={{Republican Party (US)/meta/color}}}}
| seats6 = {{composition bar|3853|7366|hex={{Republican Party (US)/meta/color}}}}
| seats7_title = [[Territories of the United States|Territorial]] upper chambers
| seats7_title = [[Governor (United States)|Territorial Governorships]]
| seats7 = <!--Don't change numbers, until terms begin--> {{composition bar|12|97|hex={{Republican Party (US)/meta/color}}}}
| seats7 = {{composition bar|1|6|hex={{Republican Party (US)/meta/color}}}}
| seats8_title = [[Territories of the United States|Territorial]] lower chambers
| seats8_title = [[Territories of the United States|Territorial Upper Chamber Seats]]
| seats8 = <!--Don't change numbers, until terms begin--> {{composition bar|9|91|hex={{Republican Party (US)/meta/color}}}}
| seats8 = {{composition bar|12|97|hex={{Republican Party (US)/meta/color}}}}
| seats9_title = [[Territories of the United States|Territorial Lower Chamber Seats]]
| seats9 = {{composition bar|14|91|hex={{Republican Party (US)/meta/color}}}}
| website = [https://www.gop.com/ gop.com]
| website = [https://www.gop.com/ gop.com]
| country = United States
| country = United States
}}
}}
The '''United States Republican Party''' is one of the two dominant [[political parties]] in the [[United States of America]], along with the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic party]], the Republican Party's main opponent. The United States has many other small parties known as [[Third party (politics)|third parties]].


The '''Republican Party''', also referred to as the '''GOP''' ("'''Grand Old Party'''"), is one of the [[Two-party system|two]] [[Major party|major]] contemporary [[political parties in the United States]], along with its main historic rival, the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]].
The '''Republicans''' are often called "the right" or "[[conservatism|conservatives]]". The Republican Party itself is also known as the '''GOP''', which stands for "Grand Old Party". The symbol of the Republican party is the [[elephant]]. This symbol was first used in 1874 in a political cartoon by [[Thomas Nast]].<ref>[http://www.harpweek.com/09Cartoon/BrowseByDateCartoon.asp?Year=2003&Month=November&Date=7 Cartoon of the Day: "The Third-Term Panic"]. Retrieved on 2008-09-01.</ref>


The GOP was founded in 1854 by opponents of the [[Kansas–Nebraska Act]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://prospect.org/api/content/e2d2b2ef-bba8-58e7-a60a-61ceaca31c7f/|title=Where the Republican Party Began|first=Ronald|last=Brownstein|date=November 22, 2017|website=The American Prospect}}</ref> which allowed for the potential expansion of [[Slavery#Chattel slavery|chattel slavery]] into the western territories. The party supported [[economic reform]] and [[classical liberalism]] while opposing the expansion of slavery.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Joseph R. Fornieri|author2=Sara Vaughn Gabbard|title=Lincoln's America: 1809–1865|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xarqzbuf43sC&pg=PA19|year=2008|publisher=SIU Press|page=19|isbn=978-0-8093-8713-7|access-date=February 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724082654/https://books.google.com/books?id=Xarqzbuf43sC&pg=PA19|archive-date=July 24, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[[James G. Randall]]; ''Lincoln the Liberal Statesman'' (1947).</ref> [[Abraham Lincoln]] was the first Republican president. Under the leadership of Lincoln and a Republican Congress, slavery was [[Ban (law)|banned]] in the United States in 1865. The GOP was generally dominant during the [[Third Party System|Third]] and the [[Fourth Party System]] periods. It was strongly committed to [[protectionism]] and [[tariffs]] at its founding, but grew more supportive of [[free trade]] in the 20th century.
The [[Republican National Committee]], or "RNC", is the main organization for the Republican Party in all 50 [[U.S. state|states]].The Republican Party is not the same political party as the [[Democratic-Republican Party]]. A state where most [[Voting|voters]] vote for Republican [[politician]]s is sometimes called a "red state".


After 1912, the Republican Party began to undergo an ideological shift to the [[right-wing|right]].<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1894529_1894528_1894519,00.html|title=The Ol' Switcheroo. Theodore Roosevelt, 1912.|journal=Time|date=April 29, 2009|access-date=February 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005180052/http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1894529_1894528_1894519,00.html|archive-date=October 5, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]] and the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]], the party's core base shifted, with southern states [[Southern strategy|becoming more reliably Republican]] in presidential politics.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Zingher|first=Joshua N.|date=2018|title=Polarization, Demographic Change, and White Flight from the Democratic Party|journal=The Journal of Politics|volume=80|issue=3|pages=860–72|doi=10.1086/696994|s2cid=158351108|issn=0022-3816}}</ref> After the Supreme Court's 1973 decision in ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'', the Republican Party opposed abortion in its party platform and grew its support among [[evangelical Christianity|evangelicals]].<ref name="The Great Divide: Religious and Cultural Conflict in American Party Politics2" /> Its 21st-century ideology is [[American conservatism]], which incorporates both [[Social conservatism in the United States|social conservatism]] and [[fiscal conservatism]]. The GOP supports lower taxes, [[free-market capitalism]], [[Opposition to immigration#United States|restrictions on immigration]],<ref>{{cite book|first1=Paula|last1=Baker|first2=Donald T.|last2=Critchlow|title=The Oxford Handbook of American Political History|pages=387|quote="Contemporary debate is fueled on one side by immigration restrictionists, led by President Donald Trump and other elected republicans, whose rhetorical and policy assults on undocumented Latin American immigrants, Muslim refugees, and family-based immigration energized their conservative base."|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=547UDwAAQBAJ|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2020|isbn=978-0-19-062869-7|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|first1=Zoltan|last1=Hajnal|title=Immigration & the Origins of White Backlash|journal=Daedalus|date=4 January 2021|issn=0011-5266|pages=23–39|volume=150|issue=2|doi=10.1162/daed_a_01844|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first1=Gary M.|last1=Reich|title=The Politics of Immigration Across the United States: Every State a Border State?|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YWkQEAAAQBAJ|publisher=Routledge|year=2021|isbn=978-1-000-33580-4|via=Google Books}}</ref> increased [[Military budget of the United States|military spending]], [[Right to keep and bear arms|gun rights]], [[Anti-abortion movement|restrictions on abortion]], [[deregulation]], and restrictions on [[Labor unions in the United States|labor unions]].<ref>{{cite journal|first1=Gary C.|last1=Jacobson|first2=Huchen|last2=Liu|title=Dealing with Disruption: Congressional Republicans' Responses to Donald Trump's Behavior and Agenda|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/psq.12630|journal=Presidential Studies Quarterly|date= n.d. |issn=1741-5705|pages=4–29|volume=50|issue=1|doi=10.1111/psq.12630}}</ref> <!-- THE CONTEMPORARY DEMOGRAPHICS SENTENCE HAS BEEN DISCUSSED SEVERAL TIMES AT TALK. PLEASE OBTAIN CONSENSUS FOR CHANGES. -->
==History==
[[File:NastRepublicanElephant.jpg|300px|thumb|left|1874 cartoon in ''Harpers Weekly'', first use of the elephant as symbol for the Republican party.]]
The Republican Party was founded in [[Ripon, Wisconsin]] in 1853,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/republican-party-founded|title=Republican Party founded|publisher=History.com|accessdate=September 21, 2014}}</ref> with the help of [[Francis Preston Blair]]. The Republican Party was formed by people who did not like the [[Kansas-Nebraska Act]] of 1854, which would let each territory allow [[slavery]]. The Republican Party was founded by past members of the [[Free Soil Party]] and the [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig Party]] who wanted to stop the expansion of slavery. The founders of the Republican Party wanted to stop the expansion of slavery because they believed it was against the ideals of the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]] and [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]]. Some founders of the Republican Party wanted to [[Abolitionism|abolish slavery]] everywhere in the United States. The Republican Party's first candidate for [[President of the United States]] was [[John C. Frémont]] in 1856.


In the 21st century, the demographic base skews toward men,<ref>{{cite book|first1=Kenneth|last1=Janda|title=A Tale of Two Parties: Living Amongst Democrats and Republicans Since 1952|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RnwSEAAAQBAJ|publisher=Routledge|date=2021|isbn=978-1-000-33882-9|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2016/09/13/2-party-affiliation-among-voters-1992-2016/|title=Party affiliation among U.S. voters: 1992–2016|date=September 13, 2016}}</ref> people living in [[Rural areas in the United States|rural areas]], members of the [[Silent Generation]], and [[white Americans]], particularly [[Evangelicalism in the United States#Politics and social issues|white evangelical Christians]].<ref>Multiple sources:
As the Whig Party collapsed, the Republicans became one of two major political parties in the United States (the Democratic Party was the other major political party). In 1860 [[Abraham Lincoln]], the first Republican president, was [[1860 United States presidential election|elected]]. For the rest of the second half of the [[19th century]], the country had mostly Republican presidents. From 1860 until 1912 the Republicans lost the presidential election just twice (non-consecutively to Democrat [[Grover Cleveland]] in 1884 and 1892).
*{{cite web|url=http://www.people-press.org/2018/03/20/1-trends-in-party-affiliation-among-demographic-groups/|title=1. Trends in party affiliation among demographic groups |work=Pew Research Center|date=2018-03-20|access-date=2018-12-29}}
*{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/president|title=Presidential Election Results: Donald J. Trump Wins|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=September 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227084943/http://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/president|archive-date=February 27, 2017|url-status=live}}
*{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/28/us/religion-politics-evangelicals.html|title=Religion and Right-Wing Politics: How Evangelicals Reshaped Elections|first=Clyde|last=Haberman|newspaper=The New York Times|date=October 28, 2018}}
*{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/mischiefs-of-faction/2019/4/24/18513213/trump-evangelicals-gop|title=Evangelicals are now the key constituency in the Republican Party. They are reaping the benefits.|first=Marty|last=Cohen|date=April 24, 2019|website=Vox}}</ref> Its most recent presidential nominee was [[Donald Trump]], who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.


There have been 19 Republican presidents, the most from any one political party. As of early 2021, the GOP controls 27 state governorships, 30 state legislatures, and 23 state [[government trifecta]]s (governorship and both legislative chambers). Six of the nine sitting [[U.S. Supreme Court]] justices were nominated by Republican presidents.
Republicans believed in [[protectionism]] (the belief that raising [[tax]]es on trades with other countries would protect the [[economy]]) during the second half of the 19th century and during the early half of the [[20th century]].


== History ==
After [[World War I]], the [[1920s]] had three Republican presidents: [[Warren Harding]], [[Calvin Coolidge]], and [[Herbert Hoover]]. It was called the Republican Decade for that reason. Harding and Coolidge made a plan for the economy which lowered taxes, made the [[Federal government of the United States|government]] spend less [[money]], and got rid of rules and [[law]]s that affected the economy.
{{Main|History of the Republican Party (United States)}}


=== 19th century ===
Near the end of the 1920s, the [[Wall Street Crash of 1929|stock market crashed]] and the [[Great Depression]] began. During the Great Depression, the Republican Party became less popular. No Republicans were president between 1933 and 1953, when [[Dwight Eisenhower]] began his first of two consecutive terms as president (he was [[1956 United States presidential election|re-elected]] in 1956). [[Richard Nixon]] lost the [[1960 United States presidential election|election]] in 1960, but was [[1968 United States presidential election|elected]] president on the Republican ticket in 1968 and [[1972 United States presidential election|again]] in 1972.
{{Further|Third Party System|National Union Party (United States)}}
[[File:Abraham Lincoln head on shoulders photo portrait.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Abraham Lincoln]], [[List of presidents of the United States|16th]] [[President of the United States]] (1861–1865) and the first Republican to hold the office]]


The Republican Party was founded in the northern states in 1854 by forces opposed to the expansion of chattel slavery, ex-[[Whig Party (United States)|Whigs]] and ex-[[Free Soil Party|Free Soil]]ers. The Republican Party quickly became the principal opposition to the dominant [[History of the Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] and the briefly popular [[Know Nothing]] Party. The party grew out of opposition to the [[Kansas–Nebraska Act]], which repealed the [[Missouri Compromise]] and opened [[Kansas Territory]] and [[Nebraska Territory]] to chattel slavery and future admission as slave states.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Kansas_Nebraska_Act.htm|title=U.S. Senate: The Kansas-Nebraska Act|website=www.senate.gov|access-date=March 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329002617/https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Kansas_Nebraska_Act.htm|archive-date=March 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/wealthy-activist-who-helped-turn-bleeding-kansas-free-180964494/|title=The Wealthy Activist Who Helped Turn "Bleeding Kansas" Free|website=Smithsonian|access-date=March 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327195015/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/wealthy-activist-who-helped-turn-bleeding-kansas-free-180964494/|archive-date=March 27, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The Republicans called for economic and social [[modernization]]. They denounced the expansion of chattel slavery as a great evil, but did not call for ending it in the southern states. The first public meeting of the general [[anti-Nebraska movement]], at which the name Republican was proposed, was held on March 20, 1854, at the [[Little White Schoolhouse]] in [[Ripon, Wisconsin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/tp&CISOPTR=46379&CISOSHOW=46363|title=The Origin of the Republican Party, A. F. Gilman, Ripon College, 1914|publisher=Content.wisconsinhistory.org|access-date=January 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322223415/http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=%2Ftp&CISOPTR=46379&CISOSHOW=46363|archive-date=March 22, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The name was partly chosen to pay homage to [[Thomas Jefferson]]'s [[Democratic-Republican Party]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gop.com/history/|title=History of the GOP|publisher=GOP|access-date=May 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129081758/https://gop.com/history/|archive-date=January 29, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The first official party convention was held on July 6, 1854, in [[Jackson, Michigan]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1879/07/07/archives/birth-of-republicanism-the-michigan-convention-of-1854-twentyfifth.html|title=Birth of Republicanism|newspaper=NY Times|year=1879}}</ref>
[[Ronald Reagan]], an [[actor]] and conservative [[political activist]], was [[1980 United States presidential election|elected]] as president in 1980. Ronald Reagan became the first Republican president who was a former member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]. Ronald Reagan served two terms and his successor [[George H.W. Bush]] served one term. Reagan wanted fewer laws to affect the economy, and wanted the [[Military of the United States|military]] to be stronger.


[[File:CharlesRJennison.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Charles R. Jennison]], an anti-slavery militia leader associated with the [[Jayhawkers]] from [[Kansas]] and an early Republican politician in the region]]
[[Bill Clinton]] (a Democrat) was [[1992 United States presidential election|elected]] president in 1992, and [[1996 United States presidential election|re-elected]] in 1996. However, a new [[United States Congress|Congress]] was elected in [[1996|1994]], and Republicans gained control of both the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] and the [[United States Senate|Senate]]. They voted against many of Clinton's ideas and proposed ideas of their own such as a [[line item veto]] and a [[balanced budget amendment]].


The party emerged from the great political realignment of the mid-1850s. Historian [[William Gienapp]] argues that the great realignment of the 1850s began before the Whigs' collapse, and was caused not by politicians but by voters at the local level. The central forces were ethno-cultural, involving tensions between pietistic [[Protestantism|Protestants]] versus liturgical [[Catholic Church|Catholics]], [[Lutheranism|Lutherans]] and [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopalians]] regarding Catholicism, [[Prohibition in the United States|prohibition]] and [[Nativism (politics)|nativism]]. [[Abolitionism in the United States|Abolition]] did play a role but it was less important at first. The Know Nothing Party embodied the social forces at work, but its weak leadership was unable to solidify its organization, and the Republicans picked it apart. Nativism was so powerful that the Republicans could not avoid it, but they did minimize it and turn voter wrath against the threat that slave owners would buy up the good farm lands wherever chattel slavery was allowed. The realignment was powerful because it forced voters to switch parties, as typified by the rise and fall of the Know Nothings, the rise of the Republican Party and the splits in the Democratic Party.<ref>William Gienapp, ''The Origins of the Republican Party, 1852–1856'' (Oxford UP, 1987)</ref><ref>William Gienapp, "Nativism and the Creation of a Republican Majority in the North before the Civil War." ''Journal of American History'' 72.3 (1985): 529–59 [http://faculty.winthrop.edu/huffmons/RelAndPolReadings/Gienapp_KnowNothingsAndCreationOfRepublicanParty.pdf online]</ref>
After elections held in 2006, Republicans lost control of Congress. Democrat [[Barack Obama]] was [[2008 United States presidential election|elected]] in 2008 and [[2012 United States presidential election|re-elected]] in 2012. Republican [[John Boehner]] was elected the [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House of Representatives]] in 2010 and re-elected in 2012. In 2014, Republicans gained control of the senate and the house. Boehner resigned in early [[October]] 2015 and was eventually succeeded by [[Paul Ryan]] of [[Wisconsin]] on October 29, 2015. On November 9, 2016, [[Donald Trump]] was [[United States presidential election, 2016|elected]] president, defeating Democrat [[Hillary Clinton]] in the [[U.S. Electoral College|Electoral College]]. Trump was the first Republican to take office as president since January 20, 2001, when [[George W. Bush]] was inaugurated. The Republicans lost the House and won the Senate in 2018. Paul Ryan retired in 2019 and was succeeded by [[Nancy Pelosi]], who is a member of the Democratic Party.


At the [[1856 Republican National Convention]], the party adopted a national platform emphasizing opposition to the expansion of chattel slavery into U.S. territories.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/rr/main/polcon/republicanindex.html|title=Republican National Political Conventions 1856–2008 (Library of Congress)|website=www.loc.gov|access-date=March 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220063038/https://www.loc.gov/rr/main/polcon/republicanindex.html|archive-date=February 20, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> While Republican nominee [[John C. Frémont]] lost the [[1856 United States presidential election]] to Democrat [[doughface]] [[James Buchanan]], Buchanan only managed to win four of the fourteen northern states, winning his home state of [[Pennsylvania]] narrowly.<ref name="auto4">{{cite web|url=https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-republican-national-convention-ends|title=First Republican national convention ends|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|website=[[History (American TV network)|History]]|date=February 9, 2010|access-date=March 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322173855/https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-republican-national-convention-ends|archive-date=March 22, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Cooper">{{cite web|url=https://millercenter.org/president/buchanan/campaigns-and-elections|title=James Buchanan: Campaigns and Elections|first=William|last=Cooper|date=October 4, 2016|author-link=William J. Cooper Jr.|publisher=[[Miller Center of Public Affairs]]|access-date=May 31, 2021}}</ref>
== Current Republican beliefs ==
Currently, the Republican Party is identified by [[classical liberalism]], [[conservatism]], and [[right-wing]] policies.


The Republicans were eager for [[1860 United States elections|the elections of 1860]].<ref name="Burlingame">{{cite web|url=https://millercenter.org/president/lincoln/campaigns-and-elections|title=Abraham Lincoln: Campaigns and Elections|first=Michael|last=Burlingame|date=October 4, 2016|author-link=Michael Burlingame (historian)|publisher=[[Miller Center of Public Affairs]]|access-date=May 31, 2021}}</ref> Former [[Illinois]] Representative [[Abraham Lincoln]] spent several years building support within the party, campaigning heavily for Frémont in 1856 and making a bid for the [[United States Senate|Senate]] in [[1858 and 1859 United States Senate elections|1858]], losing to Democrat [[Stephen A. Douglas]] but gaining national attention for the [[Lincoln–Douglas debates]] it produced.<ref name="Cooper" /><ref>{{cite book|last=Guelzo|first=Allen C.|author-link=Allen C. Guelzo|title=''Lincoln and Douglas: The Debates that Defined America''|url=https://archive.org/details/lincolndouglasde00alle|url-access=registration|year=2008|publisher=Simon and Schuster|location=New York|pages=[https://archive.org/details/lincolndouglasde00alle/page/285 285]|isbn=9780743273206}}</ref> At the [[1860 Republican National Convention]], Lincoln consolidated support among opponents of [[New York (state)|New York]] Senator [[William H. Seward]], a fierce abolitionist who some Republicans feared would be too radical for crucial states such as Pennsylvania and [[Indiana]], as well as those who disapproved of his support for Irish immigrants.<ref name="Burlingame" /> Lincoln won on the third ballot and was ultimately elected president in the [[1860 United States presidential election|general election]] in a rematch against Douglas. Lincoln had not been on the ballot in a single southern state, and even if the vote for Democrats had not been split between Douglas, [[John C. Breckinridge]] and [[John Bell (Tennessee politician)|John Bell]], the Republicans would've still won but without the [[popular vote (United States presidential election)|popular vote]].<ref name="Burlingame" /> This election result helped kickstart the [[American Civil War]] which lasted from 1861 until 1865.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2010/12/02/the-election-that-led-to-the-civil-war-mallie-jane-kim|title=The Election That Led to the Civil War|first=Mallie Jane|last=Kim|work=[[U.S. News & World Report]]|date=December 2, 2010|access-date=May 31, 2021}}</ref>
Not all Republicans believe in the same things, but generally, these are the things many Republicans support:
*Small government.
* [[Federalism]] and [[subsidiarity]]
* Individual responsibility, strong family values, and community organizations
* [[Capitalism]], [[laissez-faire]], and pro-growth or [[supply-side economics]]
* Reduced government spending
* Aiding the State of Israel, the United States' allies, and defending American interests in the Middle East.
* Lower taxes.
* A strong military and strong national defense with increased military spending.
* The [[Second Amendment to the United States Constitution|2nd Amendment]] and allowing people to protect themselves with a firearm.
* Educational Choice, e.g. a voucher system such as the [[D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program]].
* Oppose [[Illegal immigrant|illegal immigration]] and support of lawful deportation of illegal immigrants.
* Oppose government-run [[health care]].
* Oppose letting students go to [[college]] or [[university]] for free.  
* Oppose declaring [[Washington D.C.]] an official state.  
* Pro-life and have a more restrictive view on [[Abortion]].


The [[1864 United States presidential election|election of 1864]] united [[War Democrats]] with the GOP and saw Lincoln and [[Tennessee]] Democratic Senator [[Andrew Johnson]] get nominated on the [[National Union Party (United States)|National Union Party]] ticket;<ref name="auto4" /> Lincoln was re-elected.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lincoln-reelected|title=Lincoln reelected|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|website=[[History (American TV network)|History]]|date=November 13, 2009|access-date=March 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322174942/https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lincoln-reelected|archive-date=March 22, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Under Republican congressional leadership, the [[Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution]]—which banned chattel slavery in the United States—passed the Senate in 1864 and the [[United States House of Representatives|House]] in 1865; it was ratified in December 1865.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.history.com/news/congress-passes-13th-amendment-150-years-ago|title=Congress Passes 13th Amendment, 150 Years Ago|first=Christopher|last=Klein|website=History|access-date=March 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330070601/https://www.history.com/news/congress-passes-13th-amendment-150-years-ago|archive-date=March 30, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
Most supporters for the Republican Party come from states in the [[Southern United States|Southern]], [[Deep South]], parts of the Midwest, and the rural Northeast areas of the US, as well as from [[Montana]]; though they come from all over the United States, including the northern portion of California.


====Reconstruction, the gold standard and the Gilded Age====
== U.S. Presidents ==
{{Main|Radical Republicans|Half-Breeds (politics)|Stalwarts (politics)|Mugwumps}}
'''Republican presidents in the 19th Century'''
{{Further|Reconstruction era|Coinage Act of 1873|Gilded Age}}


[[File:Ulysses S. Grant 1870-1880.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Ulysses S. Grant]], 18th President of the United States (1869–1877)]]
* [[Abraham Lincoln]] (1861–1865) (under the name the [[National Union Party (United States)|National Union Party]])[[File:Abraham Lincoln head on shoulders photo portrait.jpg|thumb|197x197px|President [[Abraham Lincoln]]]]
* [[Andrew Johnson]] (1865–1868) (Johnson in 1868 switched to the Democratic Party)
*[[Ulysses S. Grant]] (1868–1877)
*[[Rutherford B. Hayes]] (1877–1881)
*[[James A. Garfield]] (March 4, 1881–September 19, 1881)
*[[Chester A. Arthur]] (1881–1885)
*[[Benjamin Harrison]] (1889–1893)
*[[William McKinley]] (1897–1901)
'''Republican presidents in the 20th Century'''


[[Radical Republicans]] during Lincoln's presidency felt he wasn't going far enough in his eradication of slavery and opposed his [[ten percent plan]]. Radical Republicans passed the [[Wade–Davis Bill]] in 1864, which sought to enforce the taking of the [[Ironclad Oath]] for all former [[Confederate States of America|Confederates]]. Lincoln vetoed the bill, believing it would jeopardize the peaceful reintegration of the Confederate states into the United States.<ref>{{cite book |last=Harris |first= William C. |title= With Charity for All: Lincoln and the Restoration of the Union |date= 1997 |publisher=[[University Press of Kentucky]] |pages= 123–70}}</ref>
* [[Theodore Roosevelt]] (1901–1909)
* [[William Howard Taft]] (1909–1913)
* [[Warren G. Harding]] (1921–1923) (died in office of natural causes)
* [[Calvin Coolidge]] (1923–1929)
* [[Herbert Hoover]] (1929–1933)
* [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] (1953–1961)
* [[Richard Nixon]] (1969–1974) (resigned in 1974)
* [[Gerald Ford]] (1974–1977)
* [[Ronald Reagan]] (1981–1989)
* [[George H. W. Bush]] (1989–1993)


Following the [[Assassination of Abraham Lincoln|assassination of Lincoln]], Johnson ascended to the presidency and was deplored by Radical Republicans. Johnson was vitriolic in his criticisms of the Radical Republicans during a national tour ahead of the [[1866 United States elections|1866 midterm elections]].<ref name="Varnon">{{cite web|url=https://millercenter.org/president/johnson/campaigns-and-elections|title=Andrew Johnson: Campaigns and Elections|first=Elizabeth R.|last=Varon|date=October 4, 2016|author-link=Elizabeth R. Varon|publisher=[[Miller Center of Public Affairs]]|access-date=May 31, 2021}}</ref> In his view, Johnson saw Radical Republicanism as the same as [[secession in the United States|secessionism]], both being two extremist sides of the political spectrum.<ref name="Varnon" /> Anti-Johnson Republicans won a two-thirds majority in both chambers of Congress following the elections, which helped lead the way toward his [[impeachment of Andrew Johnson|impeachment]] and near ouster from office in 1868.<ref name="Varnon" /> That [[1868 United States presidential election|same year]], former [[Union Army]] General [[Ulysses S. Grant]] was elected as the next Republican president.
'''Republican presidents in the 21st Century'''
*[[George W. Bush]] (2001–2009)
*[[Donald J. Trump|Donald Trump]] (2017–2021)
[[File:Donald Trump official portrait.jpg|thumb|150x150px|Former President [[Donald Trump|Donald J.Trump]]|link=Special:FilePath/Official_Portrait_of_Former President_Donald_J._Trump.jpg]]


Grant was a Radical Republican which created some division within the party, some such as [[Massachusetts]] Senator [[Charles Sumner]] and Illinois Senator [[Lyman Trumbull]] opposed most of his [[Reconstruction era|Reconstructionist]] policies.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1863035|title=Grant or Greeley? The Abolitionist Dilemma in the Election of 1872|first=James M.|last=McPherson|journal=[[The American Historical Review]]|date=October 1965|volume=71|number=1|pages=42–61|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|doi=10.2307/1863035|jstor=1863035|access-date=May 31, 2021}}</ref> Others found contempt with the [[Grant administration scandals|large-scale corruption]] present in [[Presidency of Ulysses S. Grant|Grant's administration]], with the emerging [[Stalwarts (politics)|Stalwart]] faction defending Grant and the [[spoils system]], whereas the [[Half-Breeds (politics)|Half-Breeds]] pushed for reform of the [[civil service]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2016/7/20/12233454/christie-trump-purge-federal-employees|title=Donald Trump and Chris Christie are reportedly planning to purge the civil service|first=Dylan|last=Matthews|date=July 20, 2016|website=Vox|access-date=March 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322175810/https://www.vox.com/2016/7/20/12233454/christie-trump-purge-federal-employees|archive-date=March 22, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Republicans who opposed Grant branched off to form the [[Liberal Republican Party (United States)|Liberal Republican Party]], nominating [[Horace Greeley]] in [[1872 United States presidential election|1872]]. The Democratic Party attempted to capitalize on this divide in the GOP by co-nominating Greeley under their party banner. Greeley's positions proved inconsistent with the Liberal Republican Party that nominated him, with Greeley supporting high [[Tariff in United States history|tariffs]] despite the party's opposition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://millercenter.org/president/grant/campaigns-and-elections|title=Ulysses S. Grant: Campaigns and Elections|first=Joan|last=Waugh|date=October 4, 2016|author-link=Joan Waugh|publisher=[[Miller Center of Public Affairs]]|access-date=May 31, 2021}}</ref> Grant was easily re-elected.
==Other famous Republicans==
[[File:Barry Goldwater photo1962.jpg|thumb|right|120px|Former Senator<br>[[Barry Goldwater]]]]


The [[1876 United States presidential election|1876 general election]] saw a contentious conclusion as both parties claimed victory despite three southern states still not officially declaring a winner at the end of election day. [[Voter suppression in the United States|Voter suppression]] had occurred in the south to depress the black and white Republican vote, which gave Republican-controlled [[returning officer]]s enough of a reason to declare fraud, intimidation and violence soiled the states' results. They proceeded to throw out enough Democratic votes for Republican [[Rutherford B. Hayes]] to be declared the winner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/educational-resources/disputed-election-1876|title=Disputed Election of 1876|first=Shelia|last=Blackford|date=September 30, 2020|publisher=[[Miller Center of Public Affairs]]|access-date=May 31, 2021}}</ref> Still, Democrats refused to accept the results and an [[Electoral Commission (United States)|Electoral Commission]] made up of members of Congress was established to decide who would be awarded the states' electors. After the Commission voted along party lines in Hayes' favor, Democrats threatened to delay the counting of electoral votes indefinitely so no president would be inaugurated on March 4. This resulted in the [[Compromise of 1877]] and Hayes finally became president.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://millercenter.org/president/hayes/campaigns-and-elections|title=Rutherford B. Hayes: Campaigns and Elections|first=Robert D.|last=Johnston|date=October 4, 2016|publisher=[[Miller Center of Public Affairs]]|access-date=May 31, 2021}}</ref>
[[File:John McCain official portrait 2009.jpg|thumb|right|120px|Former Senator<br>[[John McCain]]]]
*
*[[Spiro T. Agnew]] (Vice President under President Richard Nixon)
*[[Buzz Aldrin]] (US astronaut)
*[[Susan B. Anthony]] (women's rights activist, abolitionist activist)
*[[Clara Barton]] (Union Army Civil War nurse, humanitarian, Red Cross founder)
* [[Jeb Bush]] (Former governor of Florida, son of Former President George H. W. Bush and brother of Former President George W. Bush)
* [[Jan Brewer]] (Former Governor of Arizona)
*[[Ben Carson|Dr. Ben Carson]] (U.S. Secretary of HUD under President Trump, retired neurosurgeon)
* [[Dick Cheney]] (Vice President under President George W. Bush)
* [[Chris Christie]] (Former Governor of New Jersey)
*[[Bing Crosby]] (American singer and actor)
* [[Thomas Dewey]] (Presidential candidate in 1944 and 1948)
* [[Bob Dole]] (presidential candidate in 1996, former Senator from Kansas)
*[[Elizabeth Dole]] (former Senator from North Carolina, former U.S. Secretary of Labor under President George Bush, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation under President Reagan)
*[[John Ford]] (American film director and producer)
* [[Newt Gingrich]] (former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives)
* [[Rudy Giuliani]] (former mayor of New York City, former presidential candidate, former US attorney)
* [[Barry Goldwater]] (presidential candidate in 1964, former Senator from Arizona)
* [[Chuck Hagel]] (a former senator from Nebraska, former U.S. Secretary of Defense)
*[[Nikki Haley]] (UN Ambassador, former Governor of South Carolina)
*[[Sean Hannity]] (a well-known talk show host on Fox News)
* [[Dennis Hastert]] (former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives)
*[[Orrin Hatch]] (former President Pro-tempore of the Senate)
* [[Jack Kemp]] (vice-presidential candidate in 1996)
*[[Jeane Kirkpatrick]] (former UN Ambassador, professor)
* [[Henry Kissinger]] (former U.S. Secretary of State)
* [[Rush Limbaugh]] (a radio talk show host)
* [[Richard Lugar]] (former senator from Indiana)
* [[John McCain]] (presidential candidate in 2008, former Senator from Arizona)
* [[Mitch McConnell]] (Senate Majority Leader)
* [[Sarah Palin]] (vice presidential candidate in 2008, former Governor of Alaska)
*[[Rand Paul|Dr. Rand Paul]] (Senator from Kentucky, physician)
*[[Ron Paul|Dr. Ron Paul]] (former U.S. Congressman from Texas, physician, author)
* [[Colin Powell]] (general during Persian Gulf War, Secretary of State)
*[[Paul Robeson]] (American singer, actor, and Civil Rights activist)
* [[Nelson Rockefeller]] (Vice President under President Gerald Ford, former Governor of New York)
* [[Mitt Romney]] (former Governor of Massachusetts, presidential candidate in 2012, Senator from Utah)
* [[Paul Ryan]] (former Speaker of the US House of Representatives, vice presidential candidate in 2012, U.S. Congressman)
* [[Condoleezza Rice]] (former U.S. Secretary of State)
* [[Karl Rove]] (former strategist to President George W. Bush)
* [[Donald Rumsfeld]] (U.S. Secretary of Defense under President George W. Bush)
* [[Mark Sanford]] (Governor of South Carolina)
*[[Elizabeth Cady Stanton]] (abolitionist activist, women's rights activist)
* [[Kenneth Starr]] (U.S. prosecutor of Democrat Bill Clinton)
* [[Michael Steele]] (Former chairman of the Republican National Committee)
* [[Ted Stevens]] (Former Senator from Alaska)
*[[Mary Edwards Walker|Dr. Mary Edwards Walker]] (Union Army Civil War doctor and surgeon, abolitionist activist, women's rights activist)
*[[John Wayne]] (American actor)
*[[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] (American actor, Former governor of California)


[[File:James G. Blaine - Brady-Handy.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[James G. Blaine]], [[List of secretaries of state of the United States|28th]] & 31st [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] (1881; 1889–1892)]]
==References==
{{reflist}}


Hayes doubled down on the [[gold standard]], which had been signed into law by Grant with the [[Coinage Act of 1873]], as a solution to the depressed American economy in the aftermath of the [[Panic of 1873]]. He also believed [[Greenback (1860s money)|greenback]]s posed a threat; greenbacks being money printed during the Civil War that was not backed by [[Bullion coin|specie]], which Hayes objected to as a proponent of [[Hard money (policy)|hard money]]. Hayes sought to restock the country's gold supply, which by January 1879 succeeded as gold was more frequently exchanged for greenbacks compared to greenbacks being exchanged for gold.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://millercenter.org/president/hayes/domestic-affairs|title=Rutherford B. Hayes: Domestic Affairs|first=Robert D.|last=Johnston|date=October 4, 2016|publisher=[[Miller Center of Public Affairs]]|access-date=May 31, 2021}}</ref> Ahead of the [[1880 United States presidential election|1880 general election]], Republican [[James G. Blaine]] ran for the party nomination supporting Hayes' gold standard push and supporting his civil reforms. Both falling short of the nomination, Blaine and opponent [[John Sherman]] backed Republican [[James A. Garfield]], who agreed with Hayes' move in favor of the gold standard, but opposed his civil reform efforts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1876/02/the-currency-conflict/519558/|title=The Currency Conflict|first=James A.|last=Garfield|author-link=James A. Garfield|magazine=[[The Atlantic]]|date=February 1876|access-date=May 31, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal| last = Peskin| first = Allan| date = Spring 1980| title = The Election of 1880| journal = [[The Wilson Quarterly]]| volume = 4| issue = 2| pages = 172–181| jstor = 40255831}}</ref>
==External links==
* [http://www.rnc.org Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515222000/http://www.rnc.org/ |date=2009-05-15 }}


Garfield was elected but [[Assassination of James A. Garfield|assassinated]] early into his term, however his death helped create support for the [[Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act]], which was passed in 1883;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/16/pendleton-act-inaugurates-us-civil-service-system-jan-16-1883-340488|title=Pendleton Act inaugurates U.S. civil service system, Jan. 16, 1883|last=Andrew Glass|website=Politico}}</ref> the bill was signed into law by Republican President [[Chester A. Arthur]], who succeeded Garfield.
[[Category:United States Republican Party| ]]
 
[[File:Mckinley.jpg|thumb|upright|[[William McKinley]], 25th President of the United States (1897–1901)]]
 
Blaine once again ran for the presidency, winning the nomination but losing to Democrat [[Grover Cleveland]] in [[1884 United States presidential election|1884]], the first Democrat to be elected president since Buchanan. Dissident Republicans, known as [[Mugwumps]], had defected Blaine due to corruption which had plagued his political career.<ref>{{cite book|title=Critical Americans: Victorian Intellectuals and Transatlantic Liberal Reform|first=Leslie|last=Butler|date=2009|publisher=[[University of North Carolina Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1893145|title=The Mind of the Boston Mugwump|journal=[[The Journal of American History|The Mississippi Valley Historical Review]]|first=Geoffrey T.|last=Blodgett|year=1962|volume=48|number=4|pages=614–634|doi=10.2307/1893145|jstor=1893145}}</ref> Cleveland stuck to the gold standard policy, which eased most Republicans,<ref>{{cite book|title=Letters of Grover Cleveland, 1850–1908|first=Allan|last=Nevins|author-link=Allan Nevins|date=1933|page=269}}</ref> but he came into conflict with the party regarding budding [[American imperialism]].<ref>{{Cite journal |jstor = 1891336|title = Was the Presidential Election of 1900 a Mandate on Imperialism?|last1 = Bailey|first1 = Thomas A.|journal = [[The Mississippi Valley Historical Review]]|volume = 24|issue = 1|pages = 43–52|year = 1937|doi = 10.2307/1891336}}</ref> Republican [[Benjamin Harrison]] was able to reclaim the presidency from Cleveland in [[1888 United States presidential election|1888]]. During his presidency, Harrison signed the [[Dependent and Disability Pension Act]], which established pensions for all veterans of the Union who had served for more than 90 days and were unable to perform manual labor.<ref>{{Cite journal |jstor = 2152487|title = America's First Social Security System: The Expansion of Benefits for Civil War Veterans|last1 = Skocpol|first1 = Theda|journal = [[Political Science Quarterly]]|volume = 108|issue = 1|pages = 85–116|year = 1993|doi = 10.2307/2152487}}</ref>
 
A majority of Republicans supported the [[Newlands Resolution|annexation of Hawaii]], under the [[Provisional Government of Hawaii|new governance]] of Republican [[Sanford B. Dole]], and Harrison, following his loss in [[1892 United States presidential election|1892]] to Cleveland, attempted to pass a treaty annexing [[Hawaii]] before Cleveland was to be inaugurated again.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3636837|title=Benjamin Harrison and Hawaiian Annexation: A Reinterpretation|first=George W.|last=Baker; Jr.|journal=[[Pacific Historical Review]]|volume=33|number=3|date=August 1964|pages=295–309|doi=10.2307/3636837|jstor=3636837}}</ref> Cleveland [[Opposition to the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom|opposed]] annexation, though Democrats were split geographically on the issue, with most northeastern Democrats proving to be the strongest voices of opposition.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40400511|title=Anti-Imperialism and the Democrats|first=Harold|last=Bacon|journal=[[Science & Society]]|volume=21|date=Summer 1957|issue=3|pages=222–239|jstor=40400511}}</ref>
 
In [[1896 United States presidential election|1896]], Republican [[William McKinley]]'s platform supported the gold standard and high tariffs, having been the creator and namesake for the [[McKinley Tariff]] of 1890. Though having been divided on the issue prior to the [[1896 Republican National Convention]], McKinley decided to heavily favor the gold standard over [[free silver]] in his campaign messaging, but promised to continue [[bimetallism]] to ward off continued skepticism over the gold standard, which had lingered since the [[Panic of 1893]].<ref>{{cite book| last = Phillips| first = Kevin| author-link = Kevin Phillips (political commentator)| year = 2003| title = William McKinley| page=53|publisher = Times Books| location = New York| isbn = 978-0-8050-6953-2| ref = {{sfnRef|Phillips}}| url = https://archive.org/details/williammckinley00phil}}</ref><ref>Walter Dean Burnham, "Periodization schemes and 'party systems': the 'system of 1896' as a case in point." ''Social Science History'' 10.3 (1986): 263–314.</ref> Democrat [[William Jennings Bryan]] proved to be a devoted adherent to the free silver movement, which cost Bryan the support of Democrat institutions such as [[Tammany Hall]], the ''[[New York World]]'' and a large majority of the Democratic Party's upper and middle-class support.<ref>{{cite book| last = Williams| first = R. Hal| year = 2010| title = Realigning America: McKinley, Bryan and the Remarkable Election of 1896| pages=56; 121| publisher = [[University Press of Kansas]]| location = Lawrence, Kan.| isbn = 978-0-7006-1721-0}}</ref> McKinley defeated Bryan and returned the [[White House]] to Republican control until [[1912 United States presidential election|1912]].
 
=== 20th century ===
{{Further|Fourth Party System|Progressive Era|Standpatter Republican}}
[[File:President Theodore Roosevelt, 1904.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Theodore Roosevelt]], 26th President of the United States (1901–1909)]]
[[File:President Hoover portrait.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Herbert Hoover]], 31st President of the United States (1929–1933)]]
 
The 1896 realignment cemented the Republicans as the party of big businesses while [[Theodore Roosevelt]] added more small business support by his embrace of [[trust busting]]. He handpicked his successor [[William Howard Taft]] in [[1908 United States presidential election|1908]], but they became enemies as the party split down the middle. Taft defeated Roosevelt for the [[1912 Republican Party presidential primaries|1912 nomination]] and Roosevelt ran on the ticket of his new [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912)|Progressive ("Bull Moose") Party]]. He called for [[Modern liberalism in the United States|social reforms]], many of which were later championed by [[New Deal Coalition|New Deal Democrats]] in the 1930s. He lost and when most of his supporters returned to the GOP they found they did not agree with the new [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative economic thinking]], leading to an ideological shift to the right in the Republican Party.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1894529_1894528_1894519,00.html|title=The Ol' Switcheroo. Theodore Roosevelt, 1912.|journal=Time|publisher=Time.com|date=April 29, 2009|access-date=February 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005180052/http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1894529_1894528_1894519,00.html|archive-date=October 5, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The Republicans returned to the White House throughout the 1920s, running on platforms of normalcy, business-oriented efficiency and high tariffs. The national party platform avoided mention of [[Prohibition in the United States|prohibition]], instead issuing a vague commitment to law and order.<ref>David E. Kyvig, ''Repealing National Prohibition'' (2000) pp. 63–65.</ref>
 
[[Warren G. Harding]], [[Calvin Coolidge]] and [[Herbert Hoover]] were resoundingly elected in [[1920 United States presidential election|1920]], [[1924 United States presidential election|1924]] and [[1928 United States presidential election|1928]], respectively. The [[Teapot Dome scandal]] threatened to hurt the party, but Harding died and the opposition splintered in 1924. The pro-business policies of the decade seemed to produce an unprecedented prosperity until the [[Wall Street Crash of 1929]] heralded the [[Great Depression]].<ref>{{cite book|author=James Ciment, ed.|title=Encyclopedia of the Jazz Age: From the End of World War I to the Great Crash|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S2nxBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA446|year=2015|publisher=Routledge|page=446|isbn=978-1-317-47165-3}}</ref>
 
==== New Deal era, the Moral Majority and the Republican Revolution ====
{{Main|Old Right (United States)|Fifth Party System|History of the United States Republican Party#Fighting the New Deal Coalition: 1932–1980|Moral Majority|Republican Revolution}}
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The [[New Deal coalition]] of Democrat [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] controlled American politics for most of the next three decades, excluding the two-term presidency of Republican [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]. After Roosevelt took office in 1933, New Deal legislation sailed through Congress and the economy moved sharply upward from its nadir in early 1933. However, long-term unemployment remained a drag until 1940. In the 1934 midterm elections, 10 Republican senators went down to defeat, leaving the GOP with only 25 senators against 71 Democrats. The House of Representatives likewise had overwhelming Democratic majorities.<ref>Lewis Gould, ''Grand Old Party: A History of the Republicans '' (2003) pp. 271–308.</ref>
 
The Republican Party factionalized into a majority "Old Right" (based in the midwest) and a liberal wing based in the northeast that supported much of the New Deal. The Old Right sharply attacked the "Second New Deal" and said it represented [[class warfare]] and [[Socialism in the United States|socialism]]. Roosevelt was re-elected in a landslide in 1936; however, as his second term began, the economy declined, strikes soared, and he failed to take control of the Supreme Court and purge the southern conservatives from the Democratic Party. Republicans made a major comeback in the [[United States House of Representatives elections, 1938|1938 elections]] and had new rising stars such as [[Robert A. Taft]] of [[Ohio]] on the right and [[Thomas E. Dewey]] of [[New York (state)|New York]] on the left.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uncpress.org/book/9781469618968/the-roots-of-modern-conservatism|title=The Roots of Modern Conservatism {{!}} Michael Bowen|website=University of North Carolina Press|access-date=2019-05-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170522220118/https://www.uncpress.org/book/9781469618968/the-roots-of-modern-conservatism/|archive-date=May 22, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Southern conservatives joined with most Republicans to form the [[conservative coalition]], which dominated domestic issues in Congress until 1964. Both parties split on foreign policy issues, with the anti-war isolationists dominant in the Republican Party and the interventionists who wanted to stop [[Adolf Hitler]] dominant in the Democratic Party. Roosevelt won a third and fourth term in 1940 and 1944, respectively. Conservatives abolished most of the New Deal during the war, but they did not attempt to do away with Social Security or the agencies that regulated business.<ref>Gould, pp. 271–308.</ref>
 
Historian [[George H. Nash]] argues: <blockquote>Unlike the "moderate", internationalist, largely eastern bloc of Republicans who accepted (or at least acquiesced in) some of the "Roosevelt Revolution" and the essential premises of President [[Harry S. Truman]]'s foreign policy, the Republican Right at heart was counterrevolutionary. Anti-collectivist, anti-Communist, anti-New Deal, passionately committed to limited government, free market economics, and congressional (as opposed to executive) prerogatives, the G.O.P. conservatives were obliged from the start to wage a constant two-front war: against liberal Democrats from without and "me-too" Republicans from within.<ref>Quote on p. 261 {{cite journal |jstor = 2702450|title = The Republican Right from Taft to Reagan|last1 = Nash|first1 = George H.|last2 = Reinhard|first2 = David W.|journal = Reviews in American History|volume = 12|issue = 2|pages = 261–65|year = 1984|doi = 10.2307/2702450}} Nash references David W. Reinhard, ''The Republican Right since 1945'', (University Press of Kentucky, 1983).</ref></blockquote>
 
After 1945, the internationalist wing of the GOP cooperated with Truman's [[Cold War]] foreign policy, funded the [[Marshall Plan]] and supported NATO, despite the continued isolationism of the Old Right.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://mises-media.s3.amazonaws.com/The%20Betrayal%20of%20the%20American%20Right_2.pdf | title=The Betrayal of the American Right | publisher=Mises Institute | author=Murray Rothbard | year=2007 | pages=85}}</ref>
 
The second half of the 20th century saw the election or succession of Republican presidents [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], [[Richard Nixon]], [[Gerald Ford]], [[Ronald Reagan]] and [[George H. W. Bush]]. Eisenhower had defeated conservative leader Senator Robert A. Taft for the 1952 nomination, but conservatives dominated the domestic policies of the Eisenhower administration. Voters liked Eisenhower much more than they liked the GOP and he proved unable to shift the party to a more moderate position. Since 1976, liberalism has virtually faded out of the Republican Party, apart from a few northeastern holdouts.<ref name="Nicol C. Rae 1989">Nicol C. Rae, ''The Decline and Fall of the Liberal Republicans: From 1952 to the Present'' (1989)</ref> Historians cite the [[1964 United States presidential election]] and its respective [[1964 Republican National Convention]] as a significant shift, which saw the conservative wing, helmed by Senator [[Barry Goldwater]] of [[Arizona]], battle the liberal New York Governor [[Nelson Rockefeller]] and his eponymous [[Rockefeller Republican]] faction for the party presidential nomination. With Goldwater poised to win, Rockefeller, urged to mobilize his liberal faction, relented, "You’re looking at it, buddy. I’m all that’s left."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/1964-republican-convention-revolution-from-the-right-915921/|title=How the 1964 Republican Convention Sparked a Revolution From the Right|first=Rick|last=Perlstein|work=[[Smithsonian (magazine)|Smithsonian Magazine]]|date=August 2008|access-date=February 15, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/george-will-recalling-rockefeller/2014/11/21/1a615a04-711a-11e4-8808-afaa1e3a33ef_story.html|title=George F. Will: Recalling Rockefeller|first=George F.|last=Will|author-link=George Will|work=[[The Washington Post]]|date=November 21, 2014|access-date=February 15, 2021}}</ref> Though Goldwater lost in a landslide, Reagan would make himself known as a prominent supporter of his throughout the campaign, delivering the "[[A Time for Choosing]]" speech for him. He'd go on to become [[governor of California]] two years later, and in [[1980 United States presidential election|1980]], win the presidency.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-ronald-reagans-a-time-for-choosing-endures-after-all-this-time/2014/10/23/d833c49e-587a-11e4-bd61-346aee66ba29_story.html|title=Why Ronald Reagan's 'A Time for Choosing' endures after all this time|first=Steven F.|last=Hayward|work=[[The Washington Post]]|date=October 23, 2014|access-date=February 15, 2021}}</ref>
[[File:Official Portrait of President Reagan 1981.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Ronald Reagan]], 40th President of the United States (1981–1989)]]
 
The [[Presidency of Ronald Reagan|presidency of Reagan]], lasting from 1981 to 1989, constituted what is known as the "[[Reagan Era|Reagan Revolution]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/12/news/transcript-of-reagan-s-farewell-address-to-american-people.html|title=Transcript of Reagan's Farewell Address to American People|date=January 12, 1989|website=The Washington Post|quote=They called it the Reagan revolution. Well, I'll accept that, but for me it always seemed more like the great rediscovery, a rediscovery of our values and our common sense.}}</ref> It was seen as a fundamental shift from the [[stagflation]] of the 1970s preceding it, with the introduction of [[Reaganomics]] intended to cut taxes, prioritize government [[deregulation]] and shift funding from the domestic sphere into the military to check the [[Soviet Union]] by utilizing [[deterrence theory]]. A defining moment in Reagan's term of office was his speech in then-[[West Berlin]] where he demanded Soviet [[General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union|General Secretary]] [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] to "[[tear down this wall!]]", referring to the [[Berlin Wall]] constructed to separate West and [[East Berlin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.stanford.edu/2019/11/06/reagans-mr-gorbachev-tear-down-this-wall-was-almost-left-unsaid/|title=Reagan's 'Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall' was almost left unsaid, recalls former speechwriter, now Hoover fellow|first=Melissa|last=de Witte|website=Stanford.edu|date=November 6, 2019|access-date=June 17, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/11/reagan-challenges-gorbachev-to-tear-down-berlin-wall-june-12-1987-239376|title=Reagan challenges Gorbachev to 'tear down' Berlin Wall, June 12, 1987|first=Andrew|last=Glass|website=Politico|date=June 11, 2017|access-date=June 17, 2020}}</ref>
 
After he left office in 1989, Reagan became an iconic conservative Republican. Republican presidential candidates would frequently claim to share his views and aim to establish themselves and their policies as the more appropriate heir to his legacy.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jbU2mBCgfXkC&pg=PA133|title=American Culture Transformed: Dialing 9/11|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|isbn=978-1-137-03349-9|year= 2012|access-date=June 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406235334/http://books.google.com/books?id=jbU2mBCgfXkC&pg=PA133|archive-date=April 6, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Vice President Bush scored a landslide in the [[1988 United States presidential election|1988 general election]]. However his term would see a divide form within the Republican Party. Bush's vision of [[economic liberalization]] and international cooperation with foreign nations saw the negotiation and signing of the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] (NAFTA) and the conceptual beginnings of the [[World Trade Organization]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2018/12/02/how-george-hw-bush-pushed-united-states-embrace-free-trade/|title=How George H.W. Bush pushed the United States to embrace free trade|first=Amanda|last=Erickson|work=[[The Washington Post]]|date=December 2, 2018|access-date=May 30, 2021}}</ref> [[Independent politician]] and businessman [[Ross Perot]] decried NAFTA and prophesied it would lead to [[outsourcing]] American jobs to [[Mexico]], while Democrat [[Bill Clinton]] found agreement in Bush's policies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-trade-nafta-timeline/opposed-from-the-start-the-rocky-history-of-nafta-idUSKCN1AW09M|title=Opposed from the start, the rocky history of NAFTA|author=Reuters Staff|work=[[Reuters]]|date=August 16, 2017|access-date=May 30, 2021}}</ref> Bush lost reelection in [[1992 United States presidential election|1992]] with 37 percent of the [[popular vote (United States presidential election)|popular vote]], with Clinton garnering a plurality of 43 percent and Perot in third with 19 percent. While debatable if Perot's candidacy cost Bush reelection, [[Charlie Cook]] of ''[[The Cook Political Report]]'' attests Perot's messaging held more weight with Republican and conservative voters at-large.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/did-perot-spoil-1992-election-for-bush-its-complicated-11562714375|title=Did Perot Spoil 1992 Election for Bush? It's Complicated.|first=Eliza|last=Collins|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=July 10, 2019|access-date=May 30, 2021}}</ref> Perot formed the [[Reform Party of the United States of America|Reform Party]] and those who had been or would become prominent Republicans saw brief membership, such as former [[White House Communications Director]] [[Pat Buchanan]] and later President [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/05/donald-trump-reform-party-2000-president|title=How Trump's political playbook evolved since he first ran for president in 2000|first=Edward|last=Helmore|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=February 5, 2017|access-date=May 30, 2021}}</ref>
 
In the [[Republican Revolution]] of [[1994 United States elections|1994]], the party—led by House Minority Whip [[Newt Gingrich]], who campaigned on the "[[Contract with America]]"—won majorities in both chambers of Congress, gained 12 governorships and regained control of 20 state legislatures. It was the first time the Republican Party had achieved a majority in the House since [[1952 United States House of Representatives elections|1952]].<ref name="Kennedy">{{cite web|url=https://www.history.com/news/midterm-elections-1994-republican-revolution-gingrich-contract-with-america|title=The 1994 Midterms: When Newt Gingrich Helped Republicans Win Big|first=Lesley|last=Kennedy|work=[[History (American TV network)|History]]|date=October 9, 2018|access-date=May 29, 2021}}</ref> Gingrich was made [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House]], and within the first 100 days of the Republican majority every proposition featured in the Contract with America was passed, with the exception of term limits for members of Congress.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2007/11/congress-runs-into-republican-revolution-nov-8-1994-006757|title=Congress runs into 'Republican Revolution' Nov. 8, 1994|first=Andrew|last=Glass|work=[[Politico]]|date=November 8, 2007|access-date=May 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2010/09/23/130068500/watching-washington-gop-pledge|title=GOP's 'Pledge' Echoes 'Contract'; But Much Myth Surrounds '94 Plan|first=Ron|last=Elving|publisher=[[NPR]]|date=September 23, 2010|access-date=May 29, 2021}}</ref> One key to Gingrich's success in 1994 was nationalizing the election,<ref name="Kennedy" /> in turn, Gingrich became a national figure during the [[1996 United States House of Representatives elections|1996 House elections]], with many Democratic leaders proclaiming Gingrich was a zealous radical.<ref name="Baer">{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1996-11-07-1996312030-story.html|title=Revolutionary Gingrich suddenly is a centrist offering to help Clinton Election showed speaker to be 'slightly more popular than Unabomber'; ELECTION 1996|first=Susan|last=Baer|work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|date=November 7, 1996|access-date=May 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hoover.org/research/1996-house-elections-reaffirming-conservative-trend|title=The 1996 House Elections: Reaffirming the Conservative Trend|first1=John F.|last1=Cogan|first2=David|last2=Brady|publisher=[[Hoover Institute]]|date=March 1, 1997|access-date=May 29, 2021}}</ref> The Republicans maintained their majority for the first time since [[1928 United States House of Representatives elections|1928]] despite the presidential ticket of [[Bob Dole]]-[[Jack Kemp]] losing handily to President Clinton in the [[1996 United States presidential election|general election]]. However, Gingrich's national profile proved a detriment to the Republican Congress, which enjoyed majority approval among voters in spite of Gingrich's relative unpopularity.<ref name="Baer" />
 
After Gingrich and the Republicans struck a deal with Clinton on the [[Balanced Budget Act of 1997]] with added tax cuts included, the Republican House majority had difficulty convening on a new agenda ahead of the [[1998 United States House of Representatives elections|1998 midterm elections]].<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/07/us/the-speaker-steps-down-the-career-the-fall-of-gingrich-an-irony-in-an-odd-year.html |title = The Speaker Steps Down: The Career; the Fall of Gingrich, an Irony in an Odd Year|newspaper = [[The New York Times]]|date = November 7, 1998|last1 = Mitchell|first1 = Alison}}</ref> During the ongoing [[impeachment of Bill Clinton]] in 1998, Gingrich decided to make Clinton's misconduct the party message heading into the midterms, believing it would add to their majority. The strategy proved mistaken and the Republicans lost five seats, though whether it was due to poor messaging or Clinton's popularity providing a [[coattail effect]] is debated.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/06/did-talk-of-impeaching-clinton-damage-republicans-in-1998.html|title=Did Impeachment Plans Damage Republicans in 1998?|first=Ed|last=Kilgore|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|date=June 6, 2019|access-date=May 29, 2021}}</ref> Gingrich was ousted from party power due to the performance, ultimately deciding to resign from Congress altogether. For a short time afterward it appeared [[Louisiana]] Representative [[Bob Livingston]] would become his successor. Livingston, however, stepped down from consideration and resigned from Congress after damaging reports of affairs threatened the Republican House's legislative agenda if he were to serve as Speaker.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/12/clinton-impeachment/573940/|title=The Clinton Impeachment, As Told By The People Who Lived It|first1=David A.|last1=Graham|first2=Cullen|last2=Murphy|magazine=[[The Atlantic]]|date=December 2018|access-date=May 29, 2021}}</ref> [[Illinois]] Representative [[Dennis Hastert]] was promoted to Speaker in Livingston's place, and served in that position until 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://time.com/3900854/dennis-hastert-livingston-scandal/|title=How a Scandal Made Dennis Hastert the Speaker of the House|first=Lily|last=Rothman|work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=May 28, 2015|access-date=May 29, 2021}}</ref>
 
=== 21st century ===
{{See also|Sixth Party System}}
A Republican ticket of [[George W. Bush]] and [[Dick Cheney]] won the [[2000 United States presidential election|2000]] and [[2004 United States presidential election|2004]] presidential elections.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://prospect.org/api/content/6eed4c7a-00cb-50b3-b624-80f59403addb/|title=Movement Interruptus|first=John|last=Judis|date=December 20, 2004|website=The American Prospect}}</ref> Bush campaigned as a "[[Compassionate conservatism|compassionate conservative]]" in 2000, wanting to better appeal to immigrants and minority voters.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/147694/compassionate-conservatism-wont-back-anytime-soon|title='Compassionate Conservatism' Won't Be Back Anytime Soon|first=Graham|last=Vyse|magazine=New Republic|date=March 30, 2018|access-date=June 15, 2020}}</ref> The goal was to prioritize drug rehabilitation programs and aide for prisoner reentry into society, a move intended to capitalize on President [[Bill Clinton]]'s tougher crime initiatives such as the [[Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act|1994 crime bill]] passed under his administration. The platform failed to gain much traction among members of the party during his presidency.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/06/08/last-stand-law-and-order-republicans-306333|title=Is This the Last Stand of the 'Law and Order' Republicans?|first=Tim|last=Alberta|website=Politico|date=June 8, 2020|access-date=June 13, 2020}}</ref>
 
With the inauguration of Bush as president, the Republican Party remained fairly cohesive for much of the 2000s as both strong [[Economic liberalism|economic libertarians]] and [[Social conservatism in the United States|social conservatives]] opposed the Democrats, whom they saw as the party of bloated, secular, and liberal government.<ref name=Wooldridge>Wooldridge, Adrian and John Micklethwait. ''The Right Nation'' (2004).</ref> This period saw the rise of "pro-government conservatives"—a core part of the Bush's base—a considerable group of the Republicans who advocated for increased government spending and greater regulations covering both the economy and people's personal lives as well as for an activist, [[Interventionism (politics)|interventionist foreign policy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/how-bush-destroyed-the-republican-party-162234/|title=How Bush Destroyed the Republican Party|first=Sean|last=Wilentz|work=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=September 4, 2008|access-date=February 15, 2021}}</ref> Survey groups such as the [[Pew Research Center]] found that social conservatives and free market advocates remained the other two main groups within the party's coalition of support, with all three being roughly equal in number.<ref>{{cite book|title=In Search of Progressive America|page=97|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press|year=2013|isbn=978-0-8122-0909-9|editor=Michael Kazin}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people-press.org/2005/05/10/profiles-of-the-typology-groups/|title=Profiles of the Typology Groups &#124; Pew Research|website=People-press.org|access-date=December 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111215859/http://www.people-press.org/2005/05/10/profiles-of-the-typology-groups/|archive-date=January 11, 2017|url-status=live|date=May 10, 2005}}</ref> However, [[Libertarian Republican|libertarians]] and [[Libertarian conservatism|libertarian-leaning conservatives]] increasingly found fault with what they saw as Republicans' restricting of vital [[Civil liberties in the United States|civil liberties]] while [[corporate welfare]] and the [[United States national debt|national debt]] hiked considerably under Bush's tenure.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/righteous-anger-conservative-case-against-george-w-bush|title=Righteous Anger: The Conservative Case Against George W. Bush|publisher=[[The American Conservative]] ([[Cato Institute]] Re-printing)|date=December 11, 2003|access-date=May 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705025111/http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/righteous-anger-conservative-case-against-george-w-bush|archive-date=July 5, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In contrast, some social conservatives expressed dissatisfaction with the party's support for economic policies that conflicted with their moral values.<ref name="scare">[http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/12/huckabees_rebellion.html "How Huckabee Scares the GOP"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918153203/http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/12/huckabees_rebellion.html |date=September 18, 2008 }}. By [[E. J. Dionne]]. [[Real Clear Politics]]. Published December 21, 2007. Retrieved August 22, 2008.</ref>
 
The Republican Party lost its Senate majority in 2001 when the Senate became split evenly; nevertheless, the Republicans maintained control of the Senate due to the tie-breaking vote of Republican Vice President [[Dick Cheney]]. Democrats gained control of the Senate on June 6, 2001, when Republican Senator [[Jim Jeffords]] of [[Vermont]] switched his party affiliation to Democrat. The Republicans regained the Senate majority in the 2002 elections. Republican majorities in the House and Senate were held until the Democrats regained control of both chambers in the [[United States elections, 2006|mid-term elections of 2006]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/policy/senate-majorities-change-faster-than-the-rules|title=Today's Senate Roadblock Is Tomorrow's Safeguard|first1=Jason|last1=Dick|date=January 19, 2016|newspaper=Roll Call}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/opinion/house-republicans-came-back-from-being-written-off-before-they-can-again|title=House Republicans came back from being written off before. They can again|first1=David|last1=Winston|date=January 4, 2019|newspaper=Roll Call}}</ref>
{{multiple image
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|image1=George H. W. Bush presidential portrait (cropped).jpg
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|caption1=[[George H. W. Bush]], 41st President of the United States (1989–1993)
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|caption2=[[George W. Bush]], 43rd President of the United States (2001–2009)
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|footer=Former president George H. W. Bush was the father of former president George W. Bush. (Only one other son of a president has been elected president, to wit [[John Quincy Adams]].)
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In [[2008 United States presidential election|2008]], Republican Senator [[John McCain]] of [[Arizona]] and Governor [[Sarah Palin]] of [[Alaska]] were defeated by Democratic Senators [[Barack Obama]] and [[Joe Biden]] of [[Illinois]] and [[Delaware]], respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny-ent-sarah-palin-john-mccain-funeral-20180829-story.html|title=Sarah Palin was not invited to John McCain's funeral|first=Brian|last=Niemietz|website=nydailynews.com}}</ref>
 
The Republicans experienced electoral success in the wave election of [[2010 United States elections|2010]], which coincided with the ascendancy of the [[Tea Party movement]],<ref>{{Cite magazine | url=https://newrepublic.com/article/78903/how-the-republicans-did-it |title = How the Republicans Did It|magazine = The New Republic|date = November 3, 2010|last1 = Kilgore|first1 = Ed}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/nov/03/us-midterm-election-results-tea-party |title = US midterm election results herald new political era as Republicans take House|newspaper = The Guardian|date = November 3, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-11317202 |title = What exactly is the Tea Party?|work = BBC News|date = September 16, 2010|last1 = Connolly|first1 = Katie}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.npr.org/2012/02/12/146780150/strong-in-2010-where-is-the-tea-party-now |title = Strong in 2010, Where is the Tea Party Now?}}</ref> an [[Protests against Barack Obama|anti-Obama]] protest movement of [[Fiscal conservatism|fiscal conservatives]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Blum|first=Rachel M.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1-r5DwAAQBAJ|title=How the Tea Party Captured the GOP: Insurgent Factions in American Politics|date=2020|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=978-0-226-68752-0}}</ref> Members of the movement called for lower [[Taxation in the United States|taxes]], and for a reduction of the [[national debt of the United States]] and [[federal budget deficit]] through decreased [[United States federal budget|government spending]].<ref name="Gallup">[http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/107193-gallup-tea-partys-top-concerns-are-debt-size-of-government Gallup: Tea Party's top concerns are debt, size of government] ''The Hill'', July 5, 2010</ref><ref name="thefiscaltimes.com">Somashekhar, Sandhya (September 12, 2010). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/12/AR2010091201425.html Tea Party DC March: "Tea party activists march on Capitol Hill"]. ''[[The Washington Post]]''. Retrieved November 5, 2011.</ref> It was also described as a popular constitutional movement<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Somin|first=Ilya|date=2011-05-26|title=The Tea Party Movement and Popular Constitutionalism|location=Rochester, NY|ssrn=1853645}}</ref> composed of a mixture of [[Libertarianism in the United States|libertarian]], [[Right-wing populism|right-wing populist]], and [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] activism. That success began with the upset win of [[Scott Brown (politician)|Scott Brown]] in the Massachusetts special Senate election for a seat that had been held for decades by the Democratic [[Kennedy family|Kennedy brothers]].<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2010/0119/Scott-Brown-the-tea-party-s-first-electoral-victory|title=Scott Brown: the tea party's first electoral victory|date=January 19, 2010|journal=Christian Science Monitor}}</ref> In the [[United States elections, 2010|November elections]], Republicans recaptured control of the House, increased their number of seats in the Senate and gained a majority of governorships.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/republicans-historic-win-state-legislatures-vote-2010-election/story?id=12049040#.T4eD_NnhdeM|title=Will Redistricting Be a Bloodbath for Democrats?|publisher=ABC News|access-date=April 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412053633/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/republicans-historic-win-state-legislatures-vote-2010-election/story?id=12049040#.T4eD_NnhdeM|archive-date=April 12, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The Tea Party would go on to strongly influence the Republican Party, in part due to the replacement of establishment Republicans with Tea Party-style Republicans.<ref name=":0" />
 
When Obama and Biden won [[2012 United States presidential election|re-election in 2012]], defeating a [[Mitt Romney]]-[[Paul Ryan]] ticket,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2013-jan-04-la-pn-obama-biden-officially-win-second-term-20130104-story.html|title=It's official: Obama, Biden win second term|date=January 4, 2013|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> the Republicans lost seven seats in the House in the [[United States elections, 2012|November congressional elections]], but still retained control of that chamber.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.quorum.us/data-driven-insights/under-obama-democrats-suffer-largest-loss-in-power-since-eisenhower/291/|title=Under Obama, Democrats suffer largest loss in power since Eisenhowe...|first1=Quorum Analytics|last1=Inc|website=Quorum}}</ref> However, Republicans were not able to gain control of the Senate, continuing their minority status with a net loss of two seats.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/07/senate-results-2012_n_2039118.html|title=Democrats Retain Senate Control On Election Night|date=November 7, 2012|website=HuffPost}}</ref> In the aftermath of the loss, some prominent Republicans spoke out against their own party.<ref>[http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/olympia-snowe-bob-dole-91930.html "Olympia Snowe: Bob Dole is right about GOP" – Kevin Robillard] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605115245/http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/olympia-snowe-bob-dole-91930.html |date=June 5, 2013 }}. Politico.Com (May 29, 2013). Retrieved on 2013-08-17.</ref><ref>[http://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-live/2013/01/powell-gop-has-a-dark-vein-of-intolerance-154019.html Powell: GOP has 'a dark vein of intolerance'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520213100/http://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-live/2013/01/powell-gop-has-a-dark-vein-of-intolerance-154019.html |date=May 20, 2013 }}. Politico.Com. Retrieved on August 17, 2013.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://images.skem1.com/client_id_32089/Grand_Old_Party_for_a_Brand_New_Generation.pdf|title=Grand Old Party for a Brand New Generation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610132357/http://images.skem1.com/client_id_32089/Grand_Old_Party_for_a_Brand_New_Generation.pdf|archive-date=2013-06-10|date=June 10, 2013}}</ref> A 2012 election post-mortem by the Republican Party concluded that the party needed to do more on the national level to attract votes from minorities and young voters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/03/what-you-need-to-read-in-the-rnc-election-autopsy-report/274112/|title=What You Need to Read in the RNC Election-Autopsy Report|last=Franke-Ruta|first=Garance|date=2013-03-18|website=The Atlantic|access-date=2019-07-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707101956/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/03/what-you-need-to-read-in-the-rnc-election-autopsy-report/274112/|archive-date=July 7, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2013, National Committee Chairman [[Reince Priebus]] gave a stinging report on the party's electoral failures in 2012, calling on Republicans to reinvent themselves and officially endorse immigration reform. He said: "There's no one reason we lost. Our message was weak; our ground game was insufficient; we weren't inclusive; we were behind in both data and digital, and our primary and debate process needed improvement." He proposed 219 reforms that included a $10&nbsp;million marketing campaign to reach women, minorities and gays as well as setting a shorter, more controlled primary season and creating better data collection facilities.<ref>Rachel Weiner, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/03/18/reince-priebus-gives-gop-prescription-for-future/ "Reince Priebus gives GOP prescription for future", ''The Washington Post'' March 18, 2013] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723051117/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/03/18/reince-priebus-gives-gop-prescription-for-future/ |date=July 23, 2015 }}</ref>
 
Following the [[United States elections, 2014|2014 midterm elections]], the Republican Party took control of the Senate by gaining nine seats.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/republicans-keep-edge-in-latest-senate-midterm-estimate/|title=Republicans keep edge in latest Senate midterm estimate|publisher=CBS News|access-date=September 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907234121/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/republicans-keep-edge-in-latest-senate-midterm-estimate/|archive-date=September 7, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> With a final total of 247 seats (57%) in the House and 54 seats in the Senate, the Republicans ultimately achieved their largest majority in the Congress since the [[71st United States Congress|71st Congress]] in 1929.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/11/05/its-all-but-official-this-will-be-the-most-dominant-republican-congress-since-1929/|title=It's all but official: This will be the most dominant Republican Congress since 1929|work=The Washington Post|access-date=December 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213082316/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/11/05/its-all-but-official-this-will-be-the-most-dominant-republican-congress-since-1929/|archive-date=December 13, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
==== The Trump era ====
{{Main|Trumpism}}
[[File:Donald Trump official portrait.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Donald Trump]], 45th President of the United States (2017–2021)]]
 
The election of Republican [[Donald Trump]] to the presidency in [[2016 United States presidential election|2016]] marked a populist shift in the Republican Party.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trumps-win-starts-a-new-era-for-republicans-1478738769|title=Donald Trump's Win Starts a New Era for Republicans|first=Reid J. Epstein and Janet|last=Hook|website=WSJ}}</ref> Trump's defeat of Democratic candidate [[Hillary Clinton]] was unexpected, as polls had shown Clinton leading the race.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/12-days-stunned-nation-how-hillary-clinton-lost-n794131|title=12 days that stunned a nation: How Hillary Clinton lost|website=NBC News}}</ref> Trump's victory was fueled by narrow victories in three states—[[Michigan]], [[Pennsylvania]] and [[Wisconsin]]—that had traditionally been part of the Democratic [[Blue wall (politics)|blue wall]] for decades. According to [[NBC News]], "Trump’s power famously came from his 'silent majority'—working-class white voters who felt mocked and ignored by an establishment loosely defined by special interests in Washington, news outlets in New York and tastemakers in [[Hollywood]]. He built trust within that base by abandoning Republican establishment orthodoxy on issues like trade and government spending in favor of a broader nationalist message".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/specials/donald-trump-republican-party/presidency|title=How Trump won and proved everyone wrong with his populist message|website=NBC News Specials}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/10/upshot/why-trump-won-working-class-whites.html|title=Why Trump Won: Working-Class Whites|first=Nate|last=Cohn|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 9, 2016|access-date=February 15, 2021}}</ref>
 
After the [[United States elections, 2016|2016 elections]], Republicans maintained a majority in the [[United States Senate elections, 2016|Senate]], [[United States House of Representatives elections, 2016|House]], and state [[United States gubernatorial elections, 2016|governorships]], wielding newly acquired [[Executive (government)|executive]] power with Trump's election as president. The Republican Party controlled 69 of 99 state legislative chambers in 2017, the most it had held in history;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/12/us/republicans-expand-control-in-a-deeply-divided-nation.html?_r=0|title=Republicans Expand Control in a Deeply Divided Nation|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119193906/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/12/us/republicans-expand-control-in-a-deeply-divided-nation.html?_r=0|archive-date=November 19, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> and at least 33 governorships, the most it had held since 1922.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2016-11-09/republicans-expand-control-of-governorships-legislatures|title=Republicans Governorships Rise to Highest Mark Since 1922|work=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=September 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915132840/https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2016-11-09/republicans-expand-control-of-governorships-legislatures|archive-date=September 15, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The party had total control of government (legislative chambers and governorship) in 25 states,<ref>{{cite news|title=Republican governorships rise to highest mark since 1922|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2016-11-09/republicans-expand-control-of-governorships-legislature|work=U.S. News & World Report|date=November 6, 2016|author=David A. Lieb|agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Phillips|first=Amber|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/12/these-3-maps-show-just-how-dominant-republicans-are-in-america-after-tuesday/|title=These 3 maps show just how dominant Republicans are in America after Tuesday|work=The Washington Post|date=November 12, 2016|access-date=November 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113061740/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/12/these-3-maps-show-just-how-dominant-republicans-are-in-america-after-tuesday/|archive-date=November 13, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> the most since 1952;<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lieb|first1=David A.|title=GOP-Controlled States Aim to Reshape Laws|url=https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-tribune/20161229/281822873464433|date=December 29, 2016|agency=Associated Press|access-date=December 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231075054/https://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-tribune/20161229/281822873464433|archive-date=December 31, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> the opposing Democratic Party had full control in only five states.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Greenblatt|first1=Alan|title=Republicans Add to Their Dominance of State Legislatures|url=http://www.governing.com/topics/elections/gov-republicans-add-dominance-state-legislatures.html|date=November 9, 2016|work=[[Governing (magazine)|Governing]]|access-date=November 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116125852/http://www.governing.com/topics/elections/gov-republicans-add-dominance-state-legislatures.html|archive-date=November 16, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the results of the [[2018 midterm elections]], the Republicans lost control of the House yet maintained hold of the Senate.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/11/2018-election-results-democrats-regain-control-house/575122/|title=The Democrats Are Back, and Ready to Take On Trump|first=David A.|last=Graham|work=[[The Atlantic]]|date=November 7, 2018|access-date=November 17, 2020}}</ref>
 
Over the course of his term, Trump appointed three justices to the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]]: [[Neil Gorsuch]] replacing [[Antonin Scalia]], [[Brett Kavanaugh]] replacing [[Anthony Kennedy]], and [[Amy Coney Barrett]] replacing [[Ruth Bader Ginsburg]] – the most appointments of any president in a single term since fellow Republican [[Richard Nixon]]. Trump was seen as solidifying a 6–3 [[Ideological leanings of United States Supreme Court justices|conservative majority]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/26/trump-legacy-supreme-court-422058|title=Trump's legacy is now the Supreme Court|first=Anita|last=Kumar|work=[[Politico]]|date=September 26, 2020|access-date=November 17, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/82a02a618343c98b80ca2b6bf9eafe07|title=Barrett confirmed as Supreme Court justice in partisan vote|first=Lisa|last=Mascaro|work=[[Associated Press]]|date=October 26, 2020|access-date=November 17, 2020}}</ref> He appointed [[List of federal judges appointed by Donald Trump|260 judges]] in total, creating [[Judicial appointment history for United States federal courts|overall Republican-appointed majorities on every branch of the federal judiciary]] except for the [[United States Court of International Trade|Court of International Trade]] by the time he left office, shifting the judiciary to the [[Right-wing politics|right]]. Other notable achievements during his presidency included passing the [[Tax Cuts and Jobs Act]] in 2017, [[Jerusalem Embassy Act|moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem]], creating the [[United States Space Force]] – the first new independent military service since 1947 – and brokering the [[Abraham Accords]], a series of normalization agreements between [[Israel]] and various [[Arab world|Arab states]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-signs-tax-cut-bill-first-big-legislative-win-n832141|title=Trump signs tax cut bill, first big legislative win|website=NBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/17/after-us-embassy-move-to-jerusalem-more-countries-follow-its-lead.html|title=After US embassy makes controversial move to Jerusalem, more countries follow its lead|first=Ashley|last=Turner|date=May 17, 2018|website=CNBC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.space.com/trump-creates-space-force-2020-defense-bill.html|title=Trump Officially Establishes US Space Force with 2020 Defense Bill Signing|first=Leonard David 21|last=December 2019|website=Space.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/15/trump-abraham-accords-palestinians-peace-deal-415083|title='The dawn of a new Middle East': Trump celebrates Abraham Accords with White House signing ceremony|first=Quint|last=Forgey|website=POLITICO}}</ref>
 
Trump was impeached on December 18, 2019, on charges of [[abuse of power]] and [[obstruction of Congress]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/18/trump-impeached-by-house-for-high-crimes-and-misdemeanors.html|title=President Trump is impeached in a historic vote by the House, will face trial in the Senate|first=Christina|last=Wilkie|date=December 19, 2019|website=CNBC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/president-trump-impeached-house-of-representatives|title=President Donald Trump impeached|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->s|website=History}}</ref> He was acquitted by the Senate on February 5, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/05/trump-acquitted-in-impeachment-trial.html|title=Trump acquitted of both charges in Senate impeachment trial|first=Christina Wilkie, Kevin|last=Breuninger|date=February 5, 2020|website=CNBC}}</ref> 195 of the 197 Republicans within the House voted against the charges with none voting in favor; the two abstaining Republicans were due to external reasons unrelated to the impeachment itself.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2019-12-18/3-lawmakers-miss-historic-impeachment-votes |title=3 Lawmakers Miss Historic Impeachment Votes |first=Matthew |last=Daly |date=December 18, 2019 |agency=Associated Press |work=US News & World Report |access-date=May 7, 2020 }}</ref> 52 of the 53 Republicans within the Senate voted against the charges as well, successfully acquitting Trump as a result, with only Senator Mitt Romney of [[Utah]] dissenting and voting in favor of one of the charges (abuse of power).<ref>{{cite report |date=February 5, 2020 |title=Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 116th Congress, Second Session |publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office]] |volume=166 |number=24 |pages=S937–38 |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2020-02-05/pdf/CREC-2020-02-05.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Fandos |first=Nicholas |date=February 5, 2020 |title=Trump Acquitted of Two Impeachment Charges in Near Party-Line Vote |website=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/05/us/politics/trump-acquitted-impeachment.html}}</ref> Following his refusal to concede his loss in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 elections]], which led to the [[2021 storming of the United States Capitol|U.S. Capitol being stormed by his supporters]] on January 6, 2021, the House [[Second impeachment of Donald Trump|impeached Trump for a second time]] on charges of [[Sedition|incitement of insurrection]], making him the only federal officeholder in the history of the United States to be impeached twice.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/trump-impeachment-effort-live-updates/2021/01/13/956449072/house-impeaches-trump-a-2nd-time-citing-insurrection-at-u-s-capitol|title=House Impeaches Trump A 2nd Time, Citing Insurrection At U.S. Capitol|first=Bill|last=Chappell|work=[[NPR]]|date=January 13, 2021|access-date=February 14, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/13/us/politics/trump-impeached.html|title=Trump Impeached for Inciting Insurrection|first=Nicholas|last=Fandos|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 13, 2021|access-date=February 14, 2021}}</ref> He left office on January 20, 2021, but the impeachment trial continued into the early weeks of the [[Presidency of Joe Biden|Biden administration]], with Trump being ultimately acquitted a second time by the Senate on February 13, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-acquitted-impeachment-trial-7-gop-senators-vote-democrats-convict-n1257876|title=Trump acquitted in impeachment trial; 7 GOP Senators vote with Democrats to convict|first=Dareh|last=Gregorian|work=[[NBC News]]|date=February 13, 2021|access-date=February 14, 2021}}</ref> Seven Republican Senators voted to convict, including Romney once again, [[Richard Burr]], [[Bill Cassidy]], [[Susan Collins]], [[Lisa Murkowski]], [[Ben Sasse]] and [[Pat Toomey]]. Their states' respective Republican parties condemned them for doing so. Additionally, Republican U.S. Representative [[Liz Cheney]] was censured by her [[Wyoming Republican Party|state GOP]] for her impeachment vote in the House.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/14/gop-senators-who-voted-to-impeach-trump-facing-heat-at-home.html|title=GOP senators who voted to convict Trump are now facing backlash in their home states|first=Tucker|last=Higgins|work=[[CNBC]]|date=February 14, 2021|access-date=February 14, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-capitol-siege-censures-rawlins-wyoming-3d2a5ad3377bb748c22f632642ba23f1|title=Wyoming GOP censures Rep. Liz Cheney over impeachment vote|first=Mead|last=Gruver|work=[[Associated Press]]|date=February 6, 2021|access-date=February 14, 2021}}</ref> In response to Trump's [[Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election|efforts to overturn the 2020 elections]] and the subsequent storming of the U.S. Capitol, dozens of Republican former members of the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]] made their abandonment of the party public, calling it the "cult of Trump."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-republicans-exclusive-idUSKBN2A1275|title=Exclusive: Dozens of former Bush officials leave Republican Party, calling it 'Trump cult'|first=Tim|last=Reid|work=[[Reuters]]|date=February 1, 2021|access-date=February 15, 2021}}</ref> In 2021, the party used Trump's [[Stop the Steal|false assertions of a stolen election]] as justification to impose new [[Republican efforts to restrict voting following the 2020 presidential election|voting restrictions]] in its favor, and to remove Cheney from her [[House Republican Conference]] leadership position.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-republicans-vote-liz-cheney-s-future-leadership-rebuking-trump-n1266992|title=Cheney defiant as Republicans oust her from leadership for rebuking Trump|website=NBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/13/us/politics/disinformation-voting-laws.html|title='A Perpetual Motion Machine': How Disinformation Drives Voting Laws|first=Maggie|last=Astor|date=May 13, 2021|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref><ref>Multiple sources:
* {{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/michael-pence-donald-trump-election-2020-government-and-politics-0c07947f9fd2b9911b3006f0fc128ffd|title=Trump's 'Big Lie' imperils Republicans who don't embrace it|website=AP NEWS}}
*{{Cite news|last=Block|first=Melissa|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/01/16/957291939/can-the-forces-unleashed-by-trumps-big-election-lie-be-undone|title=Can The Forces Unleashed By Trump's Big Election Lie Be Undone?|work=NPR|date=January 16, 2021|access-date=March 3, 2021|quote=Among the thousands of falsehoods Trump has uttered during his presidency, this one in particular has earned the distinction of being called the 'big lie'.}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/25/opinions/big-lie-ben-ghiat/index.html |date=January 25, 2021 |title=Opinion: Trump's big lie wouldn't have worked without his thousands of little lies|first=Ruth|last=Ben-Ghiat|website=CNN |access-date=2 April 2021 }}
* {{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/09/magazine/trump-coup.html|title=The American Abyss|first=Timothy|last=Snyder|date=9 January 2021 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=2 April 2021}}
* {{Cite news|last=Stelter|first=Brian|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/11/media/trump-lies-reliable-sources/index.html|title=Experts warn that Trump's 'big lie' will outlast his presidency|work=CNN|date=January 11, 2021|access-date=March 3, 2021}}
* {{cite news |last1=Castronuovo |first1=Celine |title=Biden says Cruz, other Republicans responsible for 'big lie' that fueled Capitol mob|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/533449-biden-says-cruz-other-republicans-responsible-for-big-lie-that-fueled |date=January 8, 2021 |access-date=10 January 2021 |work=The Hill}}</ref>
 
== Name and symbols ==
{{multiple image|align=right|direction=vertical|width=220|image1=NastRepublicanElephant.jpg|caption1=1874 [[Thomas Nast|Nast]] cartoon featuring the first notable appearance of the Republican elephant<ref name=harpweek>{{cite web|title=The Third-Term Panic|work=Cartoon of the Day|date=November 7, 2003|url=http://www.harpweek.com/09Cartoon/BrowseByDateCartoon.asp?Year=2003&Month=November&Date=7|access-date=September 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921045800/http://www.harpweek.com/09Cartoon/BrowseByDateCartoon.asp?Year=2003&Month=November&Date=7|archive-date=September 21, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>|image2=Republicanlogo.svg|caption2=The red, white and blue Republican [[elephant]], still a primary logo for many state GOP committees|image3=GOP Logo1.svg|caption3=The circa 2013 GOP logo|200px}}
 
The party's founding members chose the name Republican Party in the mid-1850s as homage to the values of [[Republicanism in the United States|republicanism]] promoted by [[Thomas Jefferson]]'s [[Democratic-Republican Party]].<ref name=Rutland>{{cite book|last=Rutland|first=RA|title=The Republicans: From Lincoln to Bush|year=1996|page=[https://archive.org/details/republicansfroml00rutl_0/page/2 2]|isbn=0-8262-1090-2|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/republicansfroml00rutl_0/page/2}}</ref> The idea for the name came from an editorial by the party's leading publicist, Horace Greeley, who called for "some simple name like 'Republican' [that] would more fitly designate those who had united to restore the Union to its true mission of champion and promulgator of Liberty rather than propagandist of slavery".<ref name=ushistory>{{cite web|url=http://www.ushistory.org/gop/origins.htm|title=The Origins of the Republican Party|publisher=UShistory.org|date=July 4, 1995|access-date=October 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930194002/http://www.ushistory.org/gop/origins.htm|archive-date=September 30, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The name reflects the 1776 republican values of civic virtue and opposition to aristocracy and corruption.<ref name=Gould2003p14>Gould, pp. 14–15</ref> It is important to note that "republican" has a variety of meanings around the world and the Republican Party has evolved such that the meanings no longer always align.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/10/the-changing-definition-of-conservative/246652/?single_page=true|title=The Changing Definition of 'Conservative'|last=Joyner|first=James|work=The Atlantic|access-date=May 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525034711/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/10/the-changing-definition-of-conservative/246652/?single_page=true|archive-date=May 25, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Republican-Party|title=Republican Party {{!}} political party, United States [1854–present]|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=May 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505234240/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Republican-Party|archive-date=May 5, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
The term "Grand Old Party" is a traditional nickname for the Republican Party and the abbreviation "GOP" is a commonly used designation. The term originated in 1875 in the ''Congressional Record'', referring to the party associated with the successful military defense of the Union as "this gallant old party." The following year in an article in the ''[[Cincinnati Commercial Tribune|Cincinnati Commercial]]'', the term was modified to "grand old party." The first use of the abbreviation is dated 1884.<ref>"Grand Old Party", ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]''.</ref>
 
The traditional mascot of the party is the elephant. A political cartoon by [[Thomas Nast]], published in ''[[Harper's Magazine|Harper's Weekly]]'' on November 7, 1874, is considered the first important use of the symbol.<ref name=harpweek20031107>{{cite web|url=http://www.harpweek.com/09Cartoon/BrowseByDateCartoon.asp?Year=2003&Month=November&Date=7|title=Cartoon of the Day|website=HarpWeek.com|access-date=December 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921045800/http://www.harpweek.com/09Cartoon/BrowseByDateCartoon.asp?Year=2003&Month=November&Date=7|archive-date=September 21, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> An alternate symbol of the Republican Party in states such as [[Indiana]], [[New York (state)|New York]] and [[Ohio]] is the bald eagle as opposed to the Democratic rooster or the Democratic five-pointed star.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unc.edu/~asreynol/ballot_pages/us_ballot_pages/indiana.html|title=Ballots of United States: Indiana|publisher=University of North Carolina|access-date=February 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525034148/http://www.unc.edu/~asreynol/ballot_pages/us_ballot_pages/indiana.html|archive-date=May 25, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Poor Ballot Design Hurts New York's Minor Parties&nbsp;... Again|publisher=[[Brennan Center for Justice]]|author=Tomas Lopez|date=October 23, 2014|url=https://www.brennancenter.org/blog/poor-ballot-design-hurts-new-yorks-minor-parties-again|access-date=February 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207031521/https://www.brennancenter.org/blog/poor-ballot-design-hurts-new-yorks-minor-parties-again|archive-date=February 7, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> In Kentucky, the log cabin is a symbol of the Republican Party (not related to the gay Log Cabin Republicans organization).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://westkentuckystar.com/News/Local-Regional/Western-Kentucky/See-Sample-Ballots-for-Today-s-Primary-Elections.aspx|title=See Sample Ballots for Today's Primary Elections|publisher=West Kentucky Star|date=May 19, 2015|access-date=February 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207032021/http://westkentuckystar.com/News/Local-Regional/Western-Kentucky/See-Sample-Ballots-for-Today-s-Primary-Elections.aspx|archive-date=February 7, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
Traditionally the party had no consistent color identity.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/08/red-vs-blue-a-brief-history-of-how-we-use-political-colors/|title=Red vs. Blue: A history of how we use political colors|last=Bump|first=Philip|date=November 8, 2016|website=The Washington Post|access-date=October 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107022519/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/08/red-vs-blue-a-brief-history-of-how-we-use-political-colors/|archive-date=November 7, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://washingtonmonthly.com/2004/11/13/red-state-blue-state-2/|title=Red State, Blue State|last=Drum|first=Kevin|date=November 13, 2004|website=Washington Monthly|access-date=October 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107013719/https://washingtonmonthly.com/2004/11/13/red-state-blue-state-2/|archive-date=November 7, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://washingtonmonthly.com/2004/11/14/red-states-and-blue-states-explained/|title=Red States and Blue States&nbsp;... Explained!|last=Drum|first=Kevin|date=November 14, 2004|website=Washington Monthly|access-date=October 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107013032/https://washingtonmonthly.com/2004/11/14/red-states-and-blue-states-explained/|archive-date=November 7, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> After the [[2000 United States presidential election|2000 election]], the color [[political color|red became associated]] with Republicans. During and after the election, the major broadcast networks used the same color scheme for the electoral map: states won by Republican nominee George W. Bush were colored red and states won by Democratic nominee Al Gore were colored blue. Due to the weeks-long [[2000 United States presidential election recount in Florida|dispute over the election results]], these color associations became firmly ingrained, persisting in subsequent years. Although the assignment of colors to political parties is unofficial and informal, the media has come to represent the respective political parties using these colors. The party and its candidates have also come to embrace the color red.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Philip Bump |title=Red vs. Blue: A history of how we use political colors |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/08/red-vs-blue-a-brief-history-of-how-we-use-political-colors/?noredirect=on |website=Washington Post }}</ref>
 
== Political positions ==
{{conservatism US}}
{{Main|Political positions of the Republican Party}}
 
=== Economic policies ===
[[File:Calvin Coolidge cph.3g10777 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Calvin Coolidge]], 30th President of the United States (1923–1929)]]
 
Republicans believe that [[free market]]s and individual achievement are the primary factors behind economic prosperity. Republicans frequently advocate in favor of [[fiscal conservatism]] during Democratic administrations; however, they have shown themselves willing to increase federal debt when they are in charge of the government (the implementation of the Bush tax cuts, Medicare Part D and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 are examples of this willingness).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/01/us/politics/tax-cuts-deficit-debt.html|title=Debt Concerns, Once a Core Republican Tenet, Take a Back Seat to Tax Cuts|last=Appelbaum|first=Binyamin|date=December 1, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 2, 2017|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202005246/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/01/us/politics/tax-cuts-deficit-debt.html|archive-date=December 2, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/republicans-fought-budget-debt-now-embrace-51528700|title=Why Republicans who once fought budget debt now embrace it|publisher=ABC News|access-date=December 2, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202203156/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/republicans-fought-budget-debt-now-embrace-51528700|archive-date=December 2, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/05/is-there-a-fiscal-crisis-in-the-united-states/|title=Is There a Fiscal Crisis in the United States?|last=Johnson|first=Simon|work=Economix Blog|access-date=December 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621221245/https://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/05/is-there-a-fiscal-crisis-in-the-united-states/|archive-date=June 21, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite pledges to roll back government spending, Republican administrations have, since the late 1960s, sustained or increased previous levels of government spending.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Milkis|first1=Sidney M.|last2=King|first2=Desmond|last3=Jacobs|first3=Nicholas F.|date=2019|title=Building a Conservative State: Partisan Polarization and the Redeployment of Administrative Power|journal=Perspectives on Politics|volume=17|issue=2|pages=453–69|doi=10.1017/S1537592718003511|issn=1537-5927|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-11-12|title=The Rise in Per Capita Federal Spending|url=https://www.mercatus.org/publications/government-spending/rise-capita-federal-spending|access-date=2020-08-30|website=Mercatus Center}}</ref>
 
Modern Republicans advocate the theory of [[supply side economics|supply-side economics]], which holds that lower tax rates increase economic growth.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/node/21530093|work=The Economist|title=Diving into the rich pool|date=September 24, 2011|access-date=January 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112210317/http://www.economist.com/node/21530093|archive-date=January 12, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Many Republicans oppose [[progressive taxation|higher tax rates for higher earners]], which they believe are unfairly targeted at those who create jobs and wealth. They believe private spending is more efficient than government spending. Republican lawmakers have also sought to limit funding for tax enforcement and [[Revenue service|tax collection]].<ref name="How the IRS Was Gutted">{{cite web|url=https://www.propublica.org/article/how-the-irs-was-gutted|title=How the IRS Was Gutted|last=Paul Kiel|first=Jesse Eisinger|date=2018-12-11|website=ProPublica|access-date=2018-12-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211132205/https://www.propublica.org/article/how-the-irs-was-gutted|archive-date=December 11, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Republicans believe individuals should take responsibility for their own circumstances. They also believe the private sector is more effective in helping the poor through [[Charity (practice)|charity]] than the government is through welfare programs and that social assistance programs often cause government dependency.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}
 
Republicans believe corporations should be able to establish their own employment practices, including benefits and wages, with the free market deciding the price of work. Since the 1920s, Republicans have generally been opposed by [[Trade union|labor union]] organizations and members. At the national level, Republicans supported the [[Taft-Hartley Act]] of 1947, which gives workers the right not to participate in unions. Modern Republicans at the state level generally support various [[right-to-work laws]], which prohibit [[union security agreement]]s requiring all workers in a unionized workplace to pay dues or a fair-share fee, regardless of if they are members of the union or not.<ref>{{cite web|title=Employer/Union Rights and Obligations|url=https://www.nlrb.gov/rights-we-protect/employerunion-rights-and-obligations|website=National Labor Relations Board|access-date=July 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711175358/https://www.nlrb.gov/rights-we-protect/employerunion-rights-and-obligations|archive-date=July 11, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Most Republicans oppose increases in the [[minimum wage]], believing that such increases hurt businesses by forcing them to cut and outsource jobs while passing on costs to consumers.<ref>{{cite news |title=House Passes Bill to Raise Minimum Wage to $15, a Victory for Liberals |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/18/us/politics/minimum-wage.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=12 March 2020}}</ref>
 
The party opposes a [[single-payer health care]] system, describing it as [[socialized medicine]]. The Republican Party has a mixed record of supporting the historically popular [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]], Medicare and Medicaid programs,<ref>Krugman, Paul. ''The Conscience of a Liberal''. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2007. Print.</ref> whereas it has sought to repeal the [[Affordable Care Act]] since its introduction in 2010,<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Oberlander|first=Jonathan|date=2020-03-01|title=The Ten Years' War: Politics, Partisanship, And The ACA|url=https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2019.01444|journal=Health Affairs|volume=39|issue=3|pages=471–478|doi=10.1377/hlthaff.2019.01444|pmid=32119603|issn=0278-2715}}</ref> and opposed expansions of Medicaid.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Hertel-Fernandez|first1=Alexander|last2=Skocpol|first2=Theda|last3=Lynch|first3=Daniel|date=April 2016|title=Business Associations, Conservative Networks, and the Ongoing Republican War over Medicaid Expansion|url=https://read.dukeupress.edu/jhppl/article/41/2/239-286/13814|journal=Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law|volume=41|issue=2|pages=239–286|doi=10.1215/03616878-3476141|pmid=26732316|issn=0361-6878}}</ref>
 
=== Environmental policies ===
{{Main|Political positions of the Republican Party#Environmental policies}}
 
[[File:2020 Pew Survey - Global warming - Climate change - political party.svg|thumb|upright=1.5 | Democrats (blue) and Republicans (red) have long differed in views of the importance of addressing climate change, with the gap widening in the late 2010s mainly through Democrats' share increasing by more than 30 points while Republican views changed relatively little.<ref name=PewSurvey_2020>{{cite web |title=As Economic Concerns Recede, Environmental Protection Rises on the Public's Policy Agenda / Partisan gap on dealing with climate change gets even wider |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2020/02/13/as-economic-concerns-recede-environmental-protection-rises-on-the-publics-policy-agenda/ |website=PewResearch.org |publisher=Pew Research Center |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116155958/https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2020/02/13/as-economic-concerns-recede-environmental-protection-rises-on-the-publics-policy-agenda/ |archive-date=16 January 2021 |date=13 February 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><br /><small>(Discontinuity resulted from survey changing in 2015 from reciting "global warming" to "climate change".)</small>]]
Historically, [[Progressivism in the United States|progressive]] leaders in the Republican Party supported [[environmental protection]]. Republican President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] was a prominent [[Conservation (ethic)|conservationist]] whose policies eventually led to the creation of the [[National Park Service]].<ref name=Filler>{{cite web|author=Filler, Daniel|title=Theodore Roosevelt: Conservation as the Guardian of Democracy|url=http://pantheon.cis.yale.edu/~thomast/essays/filler/filler.html|access-date=November 9, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030802175908/http://pantheon.cis.yale.edu/~thomast/essays/filler/filler.html|archive-date=August 2, 2003|df=mdy-all}}</ref> While Republican President [[Richard Nixon]] was not an environmentalist, he signed legislation to create the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] in 1970 and had a comprehensive environmental program.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ewert|first=Sara Dant|date=July 3, 2003|title=Environmental Politics in the Nixon Era|url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/44406|journal=Journal of Policy History|volume=15|issue=3|pages=345–48|issn=1528-4190|doi=10.1353/jph.2003.0019|s2cid=153711962|access-date=June 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809131601/https://muse.jhu.edu/article/44406|archive-date=August 9, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, this position has changed since the 1980s and the administration of President [[Ronald Reagan]], who labeled environmental regulations a burden on the economy.<ref name="Dunlap 2010">{{cite journal|last1=Dunlap|first1=Riley E.|last2=McCright|first2=Araon M.|title=A Widening Gap: Republican and Democratic Views on Climate Change|journal=Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development|date=August 7, 2010|volume=50|issue=5|pages=26–35|doi=10.3200/ENVT.50.5.26-35|s2cid=154964336|url=https://semanticscholar.org/paper/72f468d949e1dbfc377d420e919aad08b57e8dbf}}</ref> Since then, Republicans have increasingly taken positions against environmental regulation, with some Republicans rejecting the scientific consensus on climate change.<ref name="Dunlap 2010" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674979970|title=The Republican Reversal: Conservatives and the Environment from Nixon to Trump|last1=Turner|first1=James Morton|last2=Isenberg|first2=Andrew C.|date=2018|publisher=Harvard University Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108151027/http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674979970|archive-date=January 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Ringquist>{{cite journal|last1=Ringquist|first1=Evan J.|last2=Neshkova|first2=Milena I.|last3=Aamidor|first3=Joseph|title=Campaign Promises, Democratic Governance, and Environmental Policy in the U.S. Congress|journal=The Policy Studies Journal|date=2013|volume=41|issue=2|pages=365–87|doi=10.1111/psj.12021}}</ref><ref name="Shipan Environmental Policy">{{cite journal|last1=Shipan|first1=Charles R.|last2=Lowry|first2=William R.|title=Environmental Policy and Party Divergence in Congress|journal=Political Research Quarterly|date=June 2001|volume=54|issue=2|pages=245–63|jstor=449156|doi=10.1177/106591290105400201|s2cid=153575261}}</ref>
[[File:A. Schwarzenegger.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Arnold Schwarzenegger]], [[List of Governors of California|38th]] [[Governor of California]] (2003–2011)]]
 
In 2006, then-[[Governor of California|California Governor]] [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] broke from Republican orthodoxy to sign several bills imposing caps on [[carbon emissions]] in California. Then-President [[George W. Bush]] opposed mandatory caps at a national level. Bush's decision not to regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant was [[Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency|challenged in the Supreme Court by 12 states]],<ref name="Landmark Law">{{cite news|title=Schwarzenegger takes center stage on warming|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/15029070/ns/us_news-environment/t/schwarzenegger-takes-center-stage-warming/#.U7U0QbFEJJw|access-date=July 3, 2014|agency=MSNBC News|publisher=NBC News|date=September 27, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714173432/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/15029070/ns/us_news-environment/t/schwarzenegger-takes-center-stage-warming/#.U7U0QbFEJJw|archive-date=July 14, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> with the court ruling against the Bush administration in 2007.<ref>[{{SCOTUS URL Slip|06|05-1120}} Text of Opinion]</ref> Bush also publicly opposed ratification of the [[Kyoto Protocol]]s<ref name="Dunlap 2010" /><ref name=BushGW>{{cite web|author=Bush, George W.|title=Text of a Letter from the President|date=March 13, 2001|url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/03/20010314.html|access-date=November 9, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090722073329/http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/03/20010314.html|archive-date=July 22, 2009 }}</ref> which sought to limit greenhouse gas emissions and thereby [[climate change mitigation|combat climate change]]; his position was heavily criticized by climate scientists.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Schrope|first1=Mark|title=Criticism mounts as Bush backs out of Kyoto accord|journal=Nature|date=April 5, 2001|volume=410|issue=6829|page=616|doi=10.1038/35070738|pmid=11287908|bibcode=2001Natur.410..616S|doi-access=free}}</ref>
[[File:John McCain official portrait lightened.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[John McCain]], [[United States Senate|United States senator]] from [[Arizona]] (1987–2018)]]
 
The Republican Party rejects [[Emissions trading|cap-and-trade]] policy to limit carbon emissions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Our GOP: The Party of Opportunity|url=http://www.gop.com/our-party/|access-date=December 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821152805/http://www.gop.com/our-party/|archive-date=August 21, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> In the 2000s, Senator [[John McCain]] proposed bills (such as the [[McCain-Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act]]) that would have regulated carbon emissions, but his position on climate change was unusual among high-ranking party members.<ref name="Dunlap 2010" /> Some Republican candidates have supported the development of [[alternative fuel]]s in order to achieve [[U.S. energy independence|energy independence for the United States]]. Some Republicans support increased [[oil well|oil drilling]] in protected areas such as the [[Arctic National Wildlife Refuge]], a position that has drawn criticism from activists.<ref>{{cite news|title=On Our Radar: Republicans Urge Opening of Arctic Refuge to Drilling|author=John Collins Rudolf|date=December 6, 2010|url=http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/06/on-our-radar-republicans-urge-opening-of-arctic-refuge-to-drilling/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=December 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714181831/http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/06/on-our-radar-republicans-urge-opening-of-arctic-refuge-to-drilling/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0|archive-date=July 14, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
Many Republicans during the [[presidency of Barack Obama]] opposed his administration's new environmental regulations, such as those on carbon emissions from coal. In particular, many Republicans supported building the [[Keystone Pipeline]]; this position was supported by businesses, but opposed by indigenous peoples' groups and environmental activists.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Davenport|first1=Coral|title=Republicans Vow to Fight E.P.A. and Approve Keystone Pipeline|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/11/us/politics/republicans-vow-to-fight-epa-and-approve-keystone-pipeline.html|access-date=January 25, 2016|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113013421/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/11/us/politics/republicans-vow-to-fight-epa-and-approve-keystone-pipeline.html|archive-date=January 13, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Levy|first1=Gabrielle|title=Obama Vetoes Keystone XL, Republicans Vow to Continue Fight|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/02/24/obama-vetoes-keystone-xl-republicans-vow-to-continue-fight|access-date=January 25, 2016|work=US News|date=February 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201202834/http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/02/24/obama-vetoes-keystone-xl-republicans-vow-to-continue-fight|archive-date=February 1, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Keystone XL pipeline: Why is it so disputed?|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30103078|access-date=January 25, 2016|work=BBC|date=November 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209145216/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30103078|archive-date=February 9, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
According to the [[Center for American Progress]], a non-profit liberal advocacy group, more than 55% of congressional Republicans were [[climate change denial|climate change deniers]] in 2014.<ref name=msnbc20140512>{{cite news|work=[[Hardball With Chris Matthews]]|date=May 12, 2014|publisher=[[MSNBC]]|last=Matthews|first=Chris|author-link=Chris Matthews|quote=According to a survey by the Center for American Progress' Action Fund, more than 55 percent of congressional Republicans are climate change deniers. And it gets worse from there. They found that 77 percent of Republicans on the House Science Committee say they don't believe it in either. And that number balloons to an astounding 90 percent for all the party's leadership in Congress.|title=Hardball With Chris Matthews for May 12, 2014|agency=NBC news}}</ref><ref name=charlestongazette20141222>{{cite news|title=Earth Talk: Still in denial about climate change|newspaper=[[Charleston Gazette-Mail|The Charleston Gazette]]|location=[[Charleston, West Virginia]]|date=December 22, 2014|page=10|quote=[...] a recent survey by the non-profit Center for American Progress found that some 58 percent of Republicans in the U.S. Congress still "refuse to accept climate change. Meanwhile, still others acknowledge the existence of global warming but cling to the scientifically debunked notion that the cause is natural forces, not greenhouse gas pollution by humans.}}</ref> [[PolitiFact]] in May 2014 found "relatively few Republican members of Congress&nbsp;... accept the prevailing scientific conclusion that [[global warming]] is both real and man-made." The group found eight members who acknowledged it, although the group acknowledged there could be more and that not all members of Congress have taken a stance on the issue.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jerry Brown says 'virtually no Republican' in Washington accepts climate change science|first=Julie|last=Kliegman|date=May 18, 2014|access-date=September 18, 2017|publisher=[[PolitiFact]]|work=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2014/may/18/jerry-brown/jerry-brown-says-virtually-no-republican-believes-/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813152353/http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2014/may/18/jerry-brown/jerry-brown-says-virtually-no-republican-believes-/|archive-date=August 13, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Meet the Republicans in Congress who don't believe climate change is real|first=Tom|last=McCarthy|date=November 17, 2014|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/nov/17/climate-change-denial-scepticism-republicans-congress|access-date=September 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919234320/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/nov/17/climate-change-denial-scepticism-republicans-congress|archive-date=September 19, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
From 2008 to 2017, the Republican Party went from "debating how to combat human-caused climate change to arguing that it does not exist", according to ''[[The New York Times]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/03/us/politics/republican-leaders-climate-change.html|title=How G.O.P. Leaders Came to View Climate Change as Fake Science|last1=Davenport|first1=Coral|date=June 3, 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=September 22, 2017|last2=Lipton|first2=Eric|issn=0362-4331|quote=The Republican Party's fast journey from debating how to combat human-caused climate change to arguing that it does not exist is a story of big political money, Democratic hubris in the Obama years and a partisan chasm that grew over nine years like a crack in the Antarctic shelf, favoring extreme positions and uncompromising rhetoric over cooperation and conciliation.|author-link2=Eric Lipton|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914183020/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/03/us/politics/republican-leaders-climate-change.html|archive-date=September 14, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2015, the Republican-led U.S. Senate voted 98–1 to pass a resolution acknowledging that "climate change is real and is not a hoax"; however, an amendment stating that "human activity significantly contributes to climate change" was supported by only five Republican senators.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/230316-senate-votes-98-1-that-climate-change-is-real|title=Senate votes that climate change is real|first=Dustin|last=Weaver|date=January 21, 2015|website=TheHill|access-date=March 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090248/https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/230316-senate-votes-98-1-that-climate-change-is-real|archive-date=March 27, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
=== Immigration ===
{{See also|Immigration to the United States|Illegal immigration to the United States}}
 
In the period 1850–1870, the Republican Party was more opposed to immigration than Democrats, in part because the Republican Party relied on the support of anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant parties, such as the [[Know Nothing|Know-Nothings]], at the time. In the decades following the Civil War, the Republican Party grew more supportive of immigration, as it represented manufacturers in the northeast (who wanted additional labor) whereas the Democratic Party came to be seen as the party of labor (which wanted fewer laborers to compete with). Starting in the 1970s, the parties switched places again, as the Democrats grew more supportive of immigration than Republicans.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://press.princeton.edu/titles/11040.html|title=Trading Barriers|last=Peters|first=Margaret|date=2017|website=Princeton University Press|pages=154–55|isbn=9780691174471|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303043905/https://press.princeton.edu/titles/11040.html|archive-date=March 3, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Republicans are divided on how to confront [[Illegal immigration to the United States|illegal immigration]] between a platform that allows for migrant workers and a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants (supported more by the Republican establishment), versus a position focused on securing the border and deporting illegal immigrants (supported by populists). In 2006, the White House supported and Republican-led Senate passed [[Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006|comprehensive immigration reform]] that would eventually allow millions of illegal immigrants to become citizens, but the House (also led by Republicans) did not advance the bill.<ref name="Blanton">{{cite news|last=Blanton|first=Dana|title=National Exit Poll: Midterms Come Down to Iraq, Bush|publisher=[[Fox News]]|date=November 8, 2006|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,228104,00.html|access-date=January 6, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070306050851/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,228104,00.html|archive-date=March 6, 2007}}</ref> After the defeat in the 2012 presidential election, particularly among Latinos, several Republicans advocated a friendlier approach to immigrants. However, in 2016 the field of candidates took a sharp position against illegal immigration, with leading candidate [[Donald Trump]] proposing building [[Trump wall|a wall]] along the southern border. Proposals calling for immigration reform with a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants have attracted broad Republican support in some{{which|date=June 2016}} polls. In a 2013 poll, 60% of Republicans supported the pathway concept.<ref name="long-past">{{cite news|last=Frumin|first=Aliyah|title=Obama: 'Long past time' for immigration reform|date=November 25, 2013|url=https://www.msnbc.com/hardball/obama-long-past-time-reform|publisher=[[MSNBC]]|access-date=January 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140121145422/http://www.msnbc.com/hardball/obama-long-past-time-reform|archive-date=January 21, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
=== Foreign policy and national defense ===
{{See also|History of foreign policy and national defense in the Republican Party}}
[[File:Rumsfeld1.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Donald Rumsfeld]], [[List of United States Secretaries of Defense|21st]] [[United States Secretary of Defense]] (2001–2006)]]
 
Some, including [[Neoconservativism|neoconservatives]],{{who|date=February 2017}} in the Republican Party support [[unilateralism]] on issues of national security, believing in the ability and right of the United States to act without external support in matters of its national defense. In general, Republican thinking on defense and [[international relations]] is heavily influenced by the theories of [[Neorealism (international relations)|neorealism]] and [[Political realism|realism]], characterizing conflicts between nations as struggles between faceless forces of an international structure as opposed to being the result of the ideas and actions of individual leaders. The realist school's influence shows in Reagan's "[[Evil Empire speech|Evil Empire]]" stance on the [[Soviet Union]] and George W. Bush's [[Axis of evil]] stance.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}
 
Some, including [[Paleoconservatism|paleoconservatives]] and [[Right-wing populism|right-wing populists]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Coaston|first=Jane|date=3 March 2021|title=Trumpism Has No Heirs|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/03/opinion/trump-republican-party.html|url-status=live|website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Matthews|first=Dylan|date=6 May 2016|title=Paleoconservatism, the movement that explains Donald Trump, explained|url=https://www.vox.com/2016/5/6/11592604/donald-trump-paleoconservative-buchanan|url-status=live|website=[[Vox (website)|Vox]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Ganesh|first=Janan|date=August 8, 2018|title=Isolationism is the wrong charge to level at Donald Trump|url=https://www.ft.com/content/e7e66f86-9aed-11e8-ab77-f854c65a4465|url-status=live|website=[[Financial Times]]}}</ref> call for [[non-interventionism]] and an [[America First (policy)|America First foreign policy]]. This faction gained strength starting in 2016 with the rise of [[Donald Trump]].
 
Since the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], many{{who|date=June 2016}} in the party have supported [[Neoconservatism|neoconservative]] policies with regard to the War on Terror, including the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|2001 war in Afghanistan]] and the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]]. The George W. Bush administration took the position that the [[Geneva Conventions]] do not apply to [[unlawful combatant]]s, while other{{which|date=June 2016}} prominent Republicans strongly oppose the use of enhanced interrogation techniques, which they view as torture.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/cruz-america-does-not-need-torture-to-protect-ourselves/article/2000049|title=Cruz: 'America Does Not Need Torture to Protect Ourselves'|date=December 3, 2015|access-date=December 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101195440/http://www.weeklystandard.com/cruz-america-does-not-need-torture-to-protect-ourselves/article/2000049|archive-date=January 1, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Republicans have frequently advocated for restricting foreign aid as a means of asserting the national security and immigration interests of the United States.<ref>{{cite news|author=Erik Wasson|date=July 18, 2013|url=http://thehill.com/policy/finance/311939-house-gop-unveils-huge-cuts-to-state-foreign-aid|title=House GOP unveils spending bill with $5.8B cut to foreign aid|newspaper=The Hill|access-date=December 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215001056/http://thehill.com/policy/finance/311939-house-gop-unveils-huge-cuts-to-state-foreign-aid|archive-date=December 15, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=David Rogers|date=February 1, 2011|title=GOP seeks to slash foreign aid|newspaper=Politico|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/48551.html|access-date=December 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222120346/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/48551.html|archive-date=February 22, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Mario Trujillo|date=July 1, 2014|title=Republicans propose halting foreign aid until border surge stops|newspaper=The Hill|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/211058-gop-rep-cut-off-central-american-aid-until-border-is-fixed|access-date=December 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215001041/http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/211058-gop-rep-cut-off-central-american-aid-until-border-is-fixed|archive-date=December 15, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
The Republican Party generally supports a strong alliance with [[Israel]] and efforts to secure peace in the Middle East between Israel and its [[Arab]] neighbors.<ref name="Pro-Israel">{{cite news|last1=Lipton|first1=Eric|title=G.O.P.'s Israel Support Deepens as Political Contributions Shift|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/05/us/politics/gops-israel-support-deepens-as-political-contributions-shift.html|access-date=June 17, 2015|work=The New York Times|date=April 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608111939/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/05/us/politics/gops-israel-support-deepens-as-political-contributions-shift.html|archive-date=June 8, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gop.com/platform/american-exceptionalism/|title=Republican Platform: American Exceptionalism|publisher=Republican National Committee|access-date=June 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623002129/https://www.gop.com/platform/american-exceptionalism/|archive-date=June 23, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In recent years, Republicans have begun to move away from the [[two-state solution]] approach to resolving the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=O'Toole|first1=Molly|title=Report How Donald Trump and the GOP Dropped the Two-State Solution for Mideast Peace|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/07/14/how-donald-trump-and-the-gop-dropped-the-two-state-solution-for-mideast-peace/|website=Foreign Policy|access-date=March 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318173412/http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/07/14/how-donald-trump-and-the-gop-dropped-the-two-state-solution-for-mideast-peace/|archive-date=March 18, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Republicans possibly ready to reject two-state solution, Trump advisor says|url=http://www.jpost.com/US-Elections/GOP-possibly-ready-to-reject-two-state-solution-Trump-advisor-says-459650|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post &#124; Jpost.com|access-date=March 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318173407/http://www.jpost.com/US-Elections/GOP-possibly-ready-to-reject-two-state-solution-Trump-advisor-says-459650|archive-date=March 18, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In a 2014 poll, 59% of Republicans favored doing less abroad and focusing on the country's own problems instead.<ref>See "July 3, 2014 – Iraq – Getting In Was Wrong; Getting Out Was Right, U.S. Voters Tell Quinnipiac University National Poll" [http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2057 Quinnipiac University Poll] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402190652/http://www.quinnipiac.edu/news-and-events/quinnipiac-university-poll/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2057 |date=April 2, 2016 }} item #51</ref>
 
According to the 2016 platform,<ref name="amazonaws1">{{cite web|url=https://prod-static-ngop-pbl.s3.amazonaws.com/media/documents/DRAFT_12_FINAL[1]-ben_1468872234.pdf|title=Republican Platform 2016|access-date=July 20, 2016}}</ref> the party's stance on the status of [[Taiwan]] is: "We oppose any unilateral steps by either side to alter the status quo in the Taiwan Straits on the principle that all issues regarding the island's future must be resolved peacefully, through dialogue, and be agreeable to the people of Taiwan." In addition, if "China were to violate those principles, the United States, in accord with the Taiwan Relations Act, will help Taiwan defend itself".
 
=== Social policies ===
The Republican Party is generally associated with [[social conservative]] policies, although it does have dissenting centrist and [[Libertarianism in the United States|libertarian]] factions. The social conservatives support laws that uphold their [[traditional values]], such as [[opposition to same-sex marriage in the United States|opposition to same-sex marriage]], abortion, and marijuana.<ref name="Zelizer 2004 704–5">{{cite book|last=Zelizer|first=Julian E.|title=The American Congress: The Building of Democracy|url=https://archive.org/details/americancongress00juli|url-access=registration|year=2004|publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt|pages=[https://archive.org/details/americancongress00juli/page/704 704]–05|isbn=978-0-547-34550-5|access-date=June 17, 2015}}</ref> Most conservative Republicans also oppose [[gun control]], [[affirmative action]], and [[illegal immigration]].<ref name="Zelizer 2004 704–5" /><ref>{{cite book|last=Chapman|first=Roger|title=Culture Wars: An Encyclopedia of Issues, Viewpoints, and Voices|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vRY27FkGJAUC|year=2010|publisher=M.E. Sharpe|page=passim|isbn=978-0-7656-2250-1|access-date=June 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407060657/http://books.google.com/books?id=vRY27FkGJAUC|archive-date=April 7, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
==== Abortion and embryonic stem cell research ====
A majority of the party's national and state candidates are [[anti-abortion]] and oppose elective [[abortion]] on religious or moral grounds. While many advocate exceptions in the case of [[incest]], rape or the mother's life being at risk, in 2012 the party approved a platform advocating banning abortions without exception.<ref name=platform>{{cite web|author1=Alan Fram|author2=Philip Elliot|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gop-oks-platform-barring-abortions-gay-marriage-204947742.html|title=GOP OKs platform barring abortions, gay marriage|website=Finance.yahoo.com|date=August 29, 2012|access-date=December 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226133220/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gop-oks-platform-barring-abortions-gay-marriage-204947742.html|archive-date=February 26, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> There were not highly polarized differences between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party prior to the ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' 1973 Supreme Court ruling (which made prohibitions on abortion rights unconstitutional), but after the Supreme Court ruling, opposition to abortion became an increasingly key national platform for the Republican Party.<ref name="The Great Divide: Religious and Cultural Conflict in American Party Politics2">{{Cite book|url=https://cup.columbia.edu/book/the-great-divide/9780231120593|title=The Great Divide: Religious and Cultural Conflict in American Party Politics|last=Layman|first=Geoffrey|date=2001|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-12058-6|pages=115, 119–20|access-date=July 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150625083214/http://cup.columbia.edu/book/the-great-divide/9780231120593|archive-date=June 25, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="How race and religion have polarized American voters">{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2014/01/20/how-race-and-religion-have-polarized-american-voters/|title=How race and religion have polarized American voters|website=Washington Post|access-date=2018-07-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716002726/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2014/01/20/how-race-and-religion-have-polarized-american-voters/|archive-date=July 16, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=Party hacks and true believers: The effect of party affiliation on political preferences|date=2019|journal=Journal of Comparative Economics|volume=47|issue=3|pages=504–24|doi=10.1016/j.jce.2019.03.004|last1=Gould|first1=Eric D.|last2=Klor|first2=Esteban F.}}</ref> As a result, Evangelicals gravitated towards the Republican Party.<ref name="The Great Divide: Religious and Cultural Conflict in American Party Politics2" /><ref name="How race and religion have polarized American voters" />
 
Most Republicans oppose government funding for abortion providers, notably [[Planned Parenthood]].<ref name="ontheissues">{{cite web|title=Bobby Jindal on the Issues|publisher=Ontheissues.org|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Bobby_Jindal.htm|access-date=May 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613001947/http://ontheissues.org/House/Bobby_Jindal.htm|archive-date=June 13, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> This includes support for the [[Hyde Amendment]].
 
Until its dissolution in 2018, [[Republican Majority for Choice]], an abortion rights PAC, advocated for amending the GOP platform to include pro-abortion rights members.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/06/pro-choice-republicans-in-congress-are-nearly-extinct.html|title=The Near-Extinction of Pro-Choice Republicans in Congress|last=Kilgore|first=Ed|work=Daily Intelligencer|access-date=2018-10-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920132858/http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/06/pro-choice-republicans-in-congress-are-nearly-extinct.html|archive-date=September 20, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Although Republicans have voted for increases in government funding of scientific research, members of the Republican Party actively oppose the federal funding of [[embryonic stem cell]] research beyond the original lines because it involves the destruction of human [[embryo]]s.<ref>[http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stem-cells/CA00081 Stem cells: What they are and what they do] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606151632/http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stem-cells/CA00081/ |date=June 6, 2013 }}. MayoClinic.com (March 23, 2013). Retrieved on July 15, 2013.</ref><ref>Watson, Stephanie. (November 11, 2004) [http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/stem-cell2.htm HowStuffWorks "Embryonic Stem Cells"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702093109/http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/stem-cell2.htm |date=July 2, 2013 }}. Science.howstuffworks.com. Retrieved on July 15, 2013.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/pages/faqs.aspx#wherefrom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729004418/http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/pages/faqs.aspx#wherefrom|url-status=dead|title=FAQs Stem Cell Information|archive-date=July 29, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.gallup.com/opinion/polling-matters/169793/americans-embryonic-stem-cell-research.aspx|title=Americans and Embryonic Stem Cell Research|last=Newport|first=Frank|date=August 24, 2010|website=gallup.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010213634/https://news.gallup.com/opinion/polling-matters/169793/americans-embryonic-stem-cell-research.aspx|archive-date=October 10, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
==== Affirmative action ====
Republicans are generally against [[affirmative action]] for women and some minorities, often describing it as a "[[racial quota|quota system]]" and believing that it is not [[meritocratic]] and is counter-productive socially by only further promoting [[discrimination]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shapiro|first=Ben|date=June 10, 2020|title=Ben Shapiro: "The only aspects of American life that are legally racist are legally racist on behalf of minority groups"|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/ben-shapiro/ben-shapiro-only-aspects-american-life-are-legally-racist-are-legally-racist-behalf|url-status=live|website=[[Media Matters]]}}</ref> The GOP's official stance supports race-neutral admissions policies in universities, but supports taking into account the socioeconomic status of the student. The 2012 Republican National Committee platform stated, "We support efforts to help low-income individuals get a fair chance based on their potential and individual merit; but we reject preferences, quotas, and set-asides, as the best or sole methods through which fairness can be achieved, whether in government, education or corporate boardrooms…Merit, ability, aptitude, and results should be the factors that determine advancement in our society.”<ref name=affirmativeaction>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/01/15/bush.affirmativeaction/|work=CNN|title=Bush criticizes university 'quota system'|date=January 15, 2003|access-date=May 22, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100604190524/http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/01/15/bush.affirmativeaction/|archive-date=June 4, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name= Eilperin>{{cite news|last=Eilperin|first=Juliet|title=Watts Walks a Tightrope on Affirmative Action|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=May 12, 1998|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/affirm/stories/aa051298.htm|access-date=January 22, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524122643/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/affirm/stories/aa051298.htm|archive-date=May 24, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Republican National Committee|date=July 30, 2015|title=Republican Views On Affirmative Action|url=https://www.republicanviews.org/republican-views-on-affirmative-action/|url-status=live|website=republicanviews.org}}</ref>
 
==== Gun ownership ====
Republicans generally support [[Gun politics in the United States|gun ownership rights]] and oppose [[Gun law in the United States|laws regulating guns]]. Party members and Republican-leaning independents are twice more likely to own a gun than Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2017/06/22/the-demographics-of-gun-ownership/ |date=June 22, 2017 |publisher=[[Pew Research Center]] |title=America's Complex Relationship With Guns}}</ref>
 
[[File:NewtGingrich.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Newt Gingrich]], [[List of Speakers of the United States House of Representatives|50th]] [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House of Representatives]] (1995–1999)]]
The [[National Rifle Association]], a [[advocacy group|special interest group]] in support of gun ownership, has consistently aligned itself with the Republican Party. Following gun control measures under the [[Presidency of Bill Clinton|Clinton administration]], such as the [[Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994]], the Republicans allied with the NRA during the [[Republican Revolution]] in [[1994 United States elections|1994]].<ref>Siegel, Reva B. "Dead or Alive: Originalism as Popular Constitutionalism in Heller." ''The Second Amendment on Trial: Critical Essays on District of Columbia v. Heller'', edited by Saul Cornell and Nathan Kozuskanich, University of Massachusetts Press, 2013, p. 104.</ref> Since then, the NRA has consistently backed Republican candidates and contributed financial support, such as in the [[2013 Colorado recall election]] which resulted in the ousting of two pro-gun control Democrats for two anti-gun control Republicans.<ref>{{cite news |last=Siddiqui |first=Sabrina |date=September 10, 2013 |title=Colorado Recall Results: Democratic State Senators Defeated In Major Victory For NRA |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/10/colorado-recall-results_n_3903209.html |website=[[HuffPost]] }}</ref>
 
In contrast, George H. W. Bush, formerly a lifelong NRA member, was highly critical of the organization following their response to the [[Oklahoma City bombing]] authored by CEO [[Wayne LaPierre]], and publicly resigned in protest.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/11/us/letter-of-resignation-sent-by-bush-to-rifle-association.html |date=May 11, 1995 |work=[[The New York Times]] |title=Letter of Resignation Sent By Bush to Rifle Association}}</ref>
 
==== Drugs ====
{{See also|Illegal drug trade in the United States}}
 
Republicans have historically supported the [[War on Drugs]], as well as oppose [[legalization of drugs|legalization]] or decriminalization of drugs, including marijuana.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.republicanviews.org/republican-views-on-drugs/|title=Republican Views on Drugs {{!}} Republican Views|website=www.republicanviews.org|access-date=May 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502010122/http://www.republicanviews.org/republican-views-on-drugs/|archive-date=May 2, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2020|title=House votes to decriminalize marijuana as GOP resists national shift|work=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/house-marijuana-republicans-election/2020/12/04/db2b00a8-35b0-11eb-8d38-6aea1adb3839_story.html}}</ref> The opposition to the legalization of marijuana has softened over time.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kneeland|first=Timothy W.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8vlUDAAAQBAJ&q=republican+party+opposition+drug+legalization&pg=PA206|title=Today's Social Issues: Democrats and Republicans: Democrats and Republicans|date=2016-07-01|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-61069-836-8|pages=206}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Greg Newburn|title=Top GOP Presidential Contenders Support Mandatory Minimum Reform|date=July 18, 2014|url=http://famm.org/top-gop-presidential-contenders-support-mandatory-minimum-reform/|publisher=[[Families Against Mandatory Minimums]]|access-date=December 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129020752/http://famm.org/top-gop-presidential-contenders-support-mandatory-minimum-reform/|archive-date=November 29, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
 
==== LGBT issues ====
 
Republicans have historically opposed [[same-sex marriage]], while being divided on [[civil union]]s and [[domestic partnership]]s. During the 2004 election, [[George W. Bush]] campaigned prominently on a constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage; many believe it helped [[George W. Bush]] win re-election in 2004.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/politics/campaign/samesex-marriage-issue-key-to-some-gop-races.html|title=Same-Sex Marriage Issue Key to Some G.O.P. Races|last=Dao|first=James|date=2004-11-04|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-08-25|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812004009/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/politics/campaign/samesex-marriage-issue-key-to-some-gop-races.html|archive-date=August 12, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last1=Lerer|first1=Lisa|last2=Russonello|first2=Giovanni|last3=Paz|first3=Isabella Grullón|date=2020-06-17|title=On L.G.B.T.Q. Rights, a Gulf Between Trump and Many Republican Voters|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/17/us/politics/lgbtq-supreme-court-trump-republicans.html|access-date=2021-06-08|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In both [[108th United States Congress|2004]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/02/24/elec04.prez.bush.marriage/|title=Bush calls for ban on same-sex marriages|date=February 25, 2004|publisher=CNN.com|access-date=February 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515103309/http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/02/24/elec04.prez.bush.marriage/|archive-date=May 15, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[109th United States Congress|2006]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/11442710/ns/politics/t/bush-urges-federal-marriage-amendment/|title=Bush urges federal marriage amendment|date=June 6, 2006|publisher=NBC News|access-date=February 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408104009/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/11442710/ns/politics/t/bush-urges-federal-marriage-amendment/|archive-date=April 8, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> President Bush, Senate Majority Leader [[Bill Frist]], and House Majority Leader [[John Boehner]] promoted the [[Federal Marriage Amendment]], a proposed constitutional amendment which would legally restrict the definition of marriage to heterosexual couples.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/24/politics/bush-backs-ban-in-constitution-on-gay-marriage.html|title=Bush Backs Ban in Constitution on Gay Marriage|last=Stout|first=David|date=2004-02-24|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-12-17|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217202413/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/24/politics/bush-backs-ban-in-constitution-on-gay-marriage.html|archive-date=December 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/07/AR2006060700830.html|title=Gay Marriage Amendment Fails in Senate|journal=The Washington Post and Times-Herald|last=Murray|first=Shailagh|date=2006-06-08|access-date=2018-12-17|issn=0190-8286|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308131316/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/07/AR2006060700830.html|archive-date=March 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/constitutional-amendment-on-marriage-fails|title=Constitutional Amendment on Marriage Fails|date=2015-03-25|website=Fox News|access-date=2018-12-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217202230/https://www.foxnews.com/story/constitutional-amendment-on-marriage-fails|archive-date=December 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In both attempts, the amendment failed to secure enough votes to invoke [[cloture]] and thus ultimately was never passed. As more states legalized same-sex marriage in the 2010s, Republicans increasingly supported allowing each state to decide its own marriage policy.<ref name="A Shifting Landscape">{{cite web|url=http://publicreligion.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/2014.LGBT_REPORT.pdf|title=A Shifting Landscape|date=2003|website=Publicreligion.org|access-date=December 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417222101/http://publicreligion.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/2014.LGBT_REPORT.pdf|archive-date=April 17, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> As of 2014, most state GOP platforms expressed opposition to same-sex marriage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gop-platform_n_5242421|title=Majority Of State GOP Platforms Still Anti-Gay|last=Amanda Terkel|date=2014-05-05|website=HuffPost|access-date=2019-08-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824093553/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gop-platform_n_5242421|archive-date=August 24, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2016 [[2016 Republican National Convention|GOP Platform]] defined marriage as "natural marriage, the union of one man and one woman," and condemned the Supreme Court's [[Obergefell v. Hodges|ruling]] legalizing same-sex marriages.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://time.com/4411842/republican-platform-same-sex-marriage-abortion-guns-wall-street/|title=Read the Republican Platform on Hot-Button Issues|website=Time|access-date=2019-08-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804081049/https://time.com/4411842/republican-platform-same-sex-marriage-abortion-guns-wall-street/|archive-date=August 4, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gop.com/the-2016-republican-party-platform|title=The 2016 Republican Party Platform|date=2016-07-18|website=GOP|access-date=2020-02-01}}</ref> The 2020 platform retained the 2016 language against same-sex marriage.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Orr|first=Gabby|title=Republicans across the spectrum slam RNC's decision to keep 2016 platform|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/11/republicans-rnc-decision-314172|access-date=2020-06-12|website=Politico}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kilgore|first=Ed|date=2020-06-11|title=Republicans Will Just Recycle Their 2016 Party Platform|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/06/republicans-will-just-recycle-their-2016-party-platform.html|access-date=2020-06-12|website=Intelligencer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Epstein|first1=Reid J.|last2=Karni|first2=Annie|date=2020-06-11|title=G.O.P. Platform, Rolled Over From 2016, Condemns the 'Current President'|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/11/us/politics/republican-platform.html|access-date=2020-06-12|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
 
However, public opinion on this issue within the party has been changing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/identities/2017/6/26/15873340/pew-republicans-same-sex-marriage|title=Slowly but surely, Republicans are coming around to same-sex marriage|last=Lopez|first=German|date=June 26, 2017|website=[[Vox (website)|Vox]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511233930/https://www.vox.com/platform/amp/identities/2017/6/26/15873340/pew-republicans-same-sex-marriage|archive-date=May 11, 2019|url-status=live|access-date=May 11, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Following his election as president in 2016, Donald Trump stated that he had no objection to same-sex marriage or to the Supreme Court decision in ''Obergefell v. Hodges,'' but at the same time promised to appoint a Supreme Court justice to roll back the constitutional right.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="auto7">{{cite web|last=de Vogue|first=Ariane|title=Trump: Same-sex marriage is 'settled,' but Roe v Wade can be changed|url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/11/14/politics/trump-gay-marriage-abortion-supreme-court/index.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511223804/https://www.cnn.com/2016/11/14/politics/trump-gay-marriage-abortion-supreme-court/index.html|archive-date=May 11, 2019|access-date=May 11, 2019|website=CNN|date=November 14, 2016}}</ref> In office, Trump was the first sitting Republican president to recognize [[Gay pride|LGBT Pride Month]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/trump-recognizes-lgbtq-pride-month-first-time-n1012611|title=Trump recognizes LGBTQ pride month in tweets|website=NBC News|access-date=2019-08-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803192111/https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/trump-recognizes-lgbtq-pride-month-first-time-n1012611|archive-date=August 3, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Conversely, the Trump administration banned transgender individuals from service in the United States military and rolled back other protections for transgender people which had been enacted during the previous Democratic presidency.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/06/us/politics/trump-transgender-rights.html|title=Trump's Rollback of Transgender Rights Extends Through Entire Government|website=New York Times|date=December 6, 2019|access-date=2020-06-09|last1=Fadulu|first1=Lola|last2=Flanagan|first2=Annie}}</ref>
 
The Republican Party platform previously opposed the [[Sexual orientation and the United States military|inclusion of gay people in the military]] and opposed adding sexual orientation to the list of protected classes since 1992.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/20/news/delicate-balance-gay-vote-gay-rights-aids-emerging-divisive-issues-campaign.html|title=A Delicate Balance: The Gay Vote; Gay Rights and AIDS Emerging As Divisive Issues in Campaign|last=Schmalz|first=Jeffrey|date=1992-08-20|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-08-24|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824093556/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/20/news/delicate-balance-gay-vote-gay-rights-aids-emerging-divisive-issues-campaign.html|archive-date=August 24, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gop-platform-through-the-years-shows-partys-shift-from-moderate-to-conservative/2012/08/28/09094512-ed70-11e1-b09d-07d971dee30a_story.html|title=GOP platform through the years shows party's shift from moderate to conservative|last=Fisher|first=Marc|date=August 28, 2012|website=The Washington Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824093557/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gop-platform-through-the-years-shows-partys-shift-from-moderate-to-conservative/2012/08/28/09094512-ed70-11e1-b09d-07d971dee30a_story.html|archive-date=August 24, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/2016-election/conventions/party-platform-evolution/|title=What Republicans and Democrats have disagreed on, from 1856 to today|last1=Mellnik|first1=Ted|last2=Alcantara|first2=Chris|date=July 15, 2016|website=The Washington Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114164556/https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/2016-election/conventions/party-platform-evolution/|archive-date=November 14, 2017|url-status=live|last3=Uhrmacher|first3=Kevin}}</ref> The Republican Party opposed the inclusion of [[sexual preference]] in anti-discrimination statutes from 1992 to 2004.<ref name="1992 Republican Party platform">{{cite web|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=25847|title=Republican Party Platforms: Republican Party Platform of 1992|website=Presidency.ucsb.edu|date=August 17, 1992|access-date=December 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204134646/http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=25847|archive-date=February 4, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2008 and 2012 Republican Party platform supported anti-discrimination statutes based on sex, race, age, religion, creed, disability, or national origin, but both platforms were silent on [[sexual orientation]] and [[gender identity]].<ref name="2012 Republican Party platform">{{cite web|url=http://www.gop.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/2012GOPPlatform.pdf|title=Layout 1|website=Gop.com|access-date=December 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730001737/http://www.gop.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/2012GOPPlatform.pdf|archive-date=July 30, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="2008 Republican Party platform">{{cite web|url=http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=78545|title=Republican Party Platforms: 2008 Republican Party Platform|website=Presidency.ucsb.edu|access-date=December 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128014700/http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=78545|archive-date=January 28, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2016 platform was opposed to sex discrimination statutes that included the phrase "sexual orientation."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gop.com/|title=Republican Party Platform|website=GOP|access-date=2019-12-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://prod-cdn-static.gop.com/static/home/data/platform.pdf|title=Republican Platform 2016|date=2016|website=GOP.com}}</ref>
 
The [[Log Cabin Republicans]] is a group within the Republican Party that represents [[LGBT conservatism|LGBT conservatives]] and allies and advocates for LGBT rights and equality.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Us|url=http://logcabin.org/about-us/|access-date=2020-11-29|website=Log Cabin Republicans}}</ref>
 
==== Voting requirements ====
{{See also|Voter identification laws in the United States}}
Virtually all restrictions on voting have in recent years been implemented by Republicans. Republicans, mainly at the state level, argue that the restrictions (such as purging voter rolls, limiting voting locations, and limiting early and mail voting) are vital to prevent [[voter fraud]], claiming that voter fraud is an underestimated issue in elections. Polling has found majority support for early voting, automatic voter registration and voter ID laws among the general population.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Inc|first=Gallup|date=2016-08-22|title=Four in Five Americans Support Voter ID Laws, Early Voting|url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/194741/four-five-americans-support-voter-laws-early-voting.aspx|access-date=2021-04-07|website=Gallup.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Rakich|first=Nathaniel|date=2021-04-02|title=Americans Oppose Many Voting Restrictions — But Not Voter ID Laws|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/americans-oppose-many-voting-restrictions-but-not-voter-id-laws/|access-date=2021-04-07|website=FiveThirtyEight}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2021/02/05/republicans-target-ballot-access-after-record-turnout|publisher=Pew Trusts|work=Stateline|author=Matt Vasilogambros|title=Republicans Target Ballot Access After Record Turnout|date=February 5, 2021}}</ref> Research has indicated that voter fraud is very uncommon, and civil and voting rights organizations often accuse Republicans of enacting restrictions to influence elections in the party's favor. Many laws or regulations restricting voting enacted by Republicans have been successfully challenged in court, with court rulings striking down such regulations and accusing Republicans of establishing them with partisan purpose.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/03/us/politics/voting-suppression-elections.html|title='They Don't Really Want Us to Vote': How Republicans Made it Harder|access-date=2018-11-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104152125/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/03/us/politics/voting-suppression-elections.html|archive-date=November 4, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://theweek.com/articles/803156/big-conservative-lie-voter-fraud|title=The big conservative lie on 'voter fraud'|date=23 October 2018|magazine=The Week|access-date=27 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228130912/https://theweek.com/articles/803156/big-conservative-lie-voter-fraud|archive-date=December 28, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
After the Supreme Court decision in ''[[Shelby County v. Holder]]'' rolled back aspects of the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]], Republicans introduced cuts to early voting, purges of voter rolls and imposition of strict voter ID laws.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Hakim|first1=Danny|last2=Wines|first2=Michael|date=2018-11-03|title='They Don't Really Want Us to Vote': How Republicans Made It Harder|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/03/us/politics/voting-suppression-elections.html|access-date=2021-04-07|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In defending their restrictions to voting rights, Republicans have made false and exaggerated claims about the extent of voter fraud in the United States; all existing research indicates that it is extremely rare.<ref name="WaPo_voter_fraud_2014">{{cite web|author=Bump, Philip|date=October 13, 2014|title=The disconnect between voter ID laws and voter fraud|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/10/13/the-disconnect-between-voter-id-laws-and-voter-fraud/|access-date=July 26, 2016|work=The Fix|publisher=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Levitt|first=Justin|date=6 August 2014|title=A comprehensive investigation of voter impersonation finds 31 credible incidents out of one billion ballots cast|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/08/06/a-comprehensive-investigation-of-voter-impersonation-finds-31-credible-incidents-out-of-one-billion-ballots-cast/?arc404=true|url-status=live|website=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> After Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election and Donald Trump refused to concede while he and his [[Republican reactions to Donald Trump's claims of 2020 election fraud|Republican allies made false claims of fraud]], Republicans launched a nationwide effort to [[Republican efforts to make voting laws more restrictive following the 2020 presidential election|restrict voting rights at the state level]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wines|first=Michael|date=February 27, 2021|title=In Statehouses, Stolen-Election Myth Fuels a G.O.P. Drive to Rewrite Rules|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/27/us/republican-voter-suppression.html|newspaper=New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=Kelly Mena|title=More than 100 bills that would restrict voting are moving through state legislatures|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/02/politics/voting-rights-state-legislation/index.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203013507/https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/02/politics/voting-rights-state-legislation/index.html|archive-date=February 3, 2021|access-date=2021-02-03|website=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Gardner|first1=Amy|date=March 26, 2021|title=After Trump tried to intervene in the 2020 vote, state Republicans are moving to take more control of elections|work=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republicans-election-control/2021/03/26/064fffcc-8cb4-11eb-a730-1b4ed9656258_story.html}}</ref>
 
The 2016 Republican platform advocated proof of citizenship as a prerequisite for registering to vote and photo ID as a prerequisite when voting.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mali|first=Meghashyam|date=2016-07-19|title=GOP platform calls for tough voter ID laws|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/288302-gop-platform-calls-for-tough-voter-id-laws|access-date=2021-04-07|website=TheHill}}</ref>
 
== Composition ==
[[File:2004 Presidential Election by County.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.25|This map shows the vote in the [[2004 United States presidential election|2004 presidential election]] by county.{{efn|group=upper-alpha|All major Republican geographic constituencies are visible: [[Red state|red]] dominates the map—showing Republican strength in the rural areas—while the denser areas (i.e. cities) are [[Blue state|blue]]. Notable exceptions include the [[Pacific states|Pacific coast]], [[New England]], the [[Southern United States]], areas with high [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] populations and the [[:File:New 2000 hispanic percent.gif|heavily Hispanic]] parts of the [[Southwestern United States|southwest]]}}]]
[[File:2020 Presidential Election by County.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.25|This map shows the vote in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]] by county.{{efn|group=upper-alpha|Similar to the 2004 map, Republicans dominate in rural areas, making improvements in the [[Appalachia]]n states, namely [[Kentucky]], where the party won all but two counties; and [[West Virginia]], where every county in the state voted Republican. The party also improved in many rural counties in [[Iowa]], [[Wisconsin]] and other [[Midwestern United States|midwestern]] states. Contrarily, the party suffered substantial losses in urbanized areas such [[Dallas County, Texas|Dallas]], [[Harris County, Texas|Harris]], [[Fort Bend County, Texas|Fort Bend]], and [[Tarrant County, Texas|Tarrant]] counties in [[Texas]] and [[Orange County, California|Orange]] and [[San Diego County|San Diego]] counties in [[California]], all of which were won in 2004, but lost in 2020}}]]
 
In the Party's early decades, its base consisted of northern white Protestants and African Americans nationwide. Its first presidential candidate, [[John C. Frémont]], received almost no votes in the South. This trend continued into the 20th century. Following the passage of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]] and [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]], the southern states became more reliably Republican in presidential politics, while northeastern states became more reliably Democratic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300077230/race-campaign-politics-and-realignment-south|title=Race, Campaign Politics, and the Realignment in the South|last=Glaser|first=James|date=1998|publisher=Yale University Press|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605173805/https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300077230/race-campaign-politics-and-realignment-south|archive-date=June 5, 2019|access-date=June 9, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Regional Variations in the Realignment of American Politics, 1944–2004">{{cite journal|last1=Bullock|first1=Charles S.|last2=Hoffman|first2=Donna R.|last3=Gaddie|first3=Ronald Keith|date=2006|title=Regional Variations in the Realignment of American Politics, 1944–2004|journal=Social Science Quarterly|volume=87|issue=3|pages=494–518|doi=10.1111/j.1540-6237.2006.00393.x|issn=0038-4941|quote=The events of 1964 laid open the divisions between the South and national Democrats and elicited distinctly different voter behavior in the two regions. The agitation for civil rights by southern blacks, continued white violence toward the civil rights movement, and President Lyndon Johnson's aggressive leadership all facilitated passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. [...] In the South, 1964 should be associated with GOP growth while in the northeast this election contributed to the eradication of Republicans.}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Gaddie|first=Ronald Keith|date=2012|title=Realignment|url=http://oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195381948.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780195381948-e-13|url-status=live|journal=The Oxford Handbook of Southern Politics|doi=10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195381948.013.0013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141820/http://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195381948.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780195381948-e-13|archive-date=June 12, 2018|access-date=June 9, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Stanley|first=Harold W.|date=1988|title=Southern Partisan Changes: Dealignment, Realignment or Both?|journal=The Journal of Politics|volume=50|issue=1|pages=64–88|doi=10.2307/2131041|issn=0022-3816|quote=Events surrounding the presidential election of 1964 marked a watershed in terms of the parties and the South (Pomper, 1972). The Solid South was built around the identification of the Democratic party with the cause of white supremacy. Events before 1964 gave white southerners pause about the linkage between the Democratic party and white supremacy, but the 1964 election, passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 altered in the minds of most the positions of the national parties on racial issues.|jstor=2131041|s2cid=154860857}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Miller|first1=Gary|last2=Schofield|first2=Norman|year=2008|title=The Transformation of the Republican and Democratic Party Coalitions in the U.S.|journal=Perspectives on Politics|volume=6|issue=3|pages=433–50|doi=10.1017/S1537592708081218|s2cid=145321253|issn=1541-0986|quote=1964 was the last presidential election in which the Democrats earned more than 50 percent of the white vote in the United States.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674012486|title=The Rise of Southern Republicans|last1=Black|first1=Earl|last2=Black|first2=Merle|date=2003|publisher=Harvard University Press|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612135934/http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674012486|archive-date=June 12, 2018|access-date=June 9, 2018|quote=When the Republican party nominated Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater—one of the few northern senators who had opposed the Civil Rights Act—as their presidential candidate in 1964, the party attracted many racist southern whites but permanently alienated African-American voters. Beginning with the Goldwater-versus-Johnson campaign more southern whites voted Republican than Democratic, a pattern that has recurred in every subsequent presidential election. [...] Before the 1964 presidential election the Republican party had not carried any Deep South state for eighty-eight years. Yet shortly after Congress passed the Civil Rights Act, hundreds of Deep South counties gave Barry Goldwater landslide majorities.}}</ref><ref name="Issue Evolution">{{cite book|url=https://press.princeton.edu/titles/4385.html|title=Issue Evolution: Race and the Transformation of American Politics|last1=Carmines|first1=Edward|last2=Stimson|first2=James|publisher=Princeton University Press|year=1990|isbn=978-0-691-02331-1|access-date=June 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516081536/https://press.princeton.edu/titles/4385.html|archive-date=May 16, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Miller|first1=Gary|last2=Schofield|first2=Norman|year=2003|title=Activists and Partisan Realignment in the United States|journal=American Political Science Review|volume=97|issue=2|pages=245–60|doi=10.1017/S0003055403000650|s2cid=12885628|issn=1537-5943|quote=By 2000, however, the New Deal party alignment no longer captured patterns of partisan voting. In the intervening 40 years, the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts had triggered an increasingly race-driven distinction between the parties. [...] Goldwater won the electoral votes of five states of the Deep South in 1964, four of them states that had voted Democratic for 84 years (Califano 1991, 55). He forged a new identification of the Republican party with racial conservatism, reversing a century-long association of the GOP with racial liberalism. This in turn opened the door for Nixon's "Southern strategy" and the Reagan victories of the eighties.|url=https://semanticscholar.org/paper/cd9c13ad2a7a1d05d34c6b987a46e3b1ae7611a4}}</ref> Studies show that southern whites shifted to the Republican Party due to racial conservatism.<ref name="Issue Evolution" /><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Valentino|first1=Nicholas A.|last2=Sears|first2=David O.|author-link2=David O. Sears|year=2005|title=Old Times There Are Not Forgotten: Race and Partisan Realignment in the Contemporary South|journal=American Journal of Political Science|volume=49|issue=3|pages=672–88|doi=10.1111/j.1540-5907.2005.00136.x|issn=0092-5853|author-link1=Nicholas Valentino}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Ilyana|first1=Kuziemko|last2=Ebonya|first2=Washington|title=Why Did the Democrats Lose the South? Bringing New Data to an Old Debate|journal=American Economic Review|volume=108|issue=10|pages=2830–67|doi=10.1257/aer.20161413|issn=0002-8282|year=2018|doi-access=free}}</ref>
 
While scholars agree that a racial backlash played a central role in the racial realignment of the two parties, there is a dispute as to the extent in which the racial realignment was a top-driven elite process or a bottom-up process.<ref name="Zelizer2012">{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/governingamerica0000zeli|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/governingamerica0000zeli/page/69 69]|title=Governing America: The Revival of Political History|author=Julian E. Zelizer|publisher=Princeton University Press|year=2012|isbn=978-1-4008-4189-9|quote=younger Southern historians such as Matthew Lassiter, Kevin Kruse, and Joseph Crespino objected to claims about Southern Exceptionalism while agreeing on the centrality of a racial backlash}}</ref> The "[[Southern strategy|Southern Strategy]]" refers primarily to "top-down" narratives of the political realignment of the South which suggest that Republican leaders consciously appealed to many white southerners' racial grievances in order to gain their support. This top-down narrative of the Southern Strategy is generally believed to be the primary force that transformed Southern politics following the civil rights era. Scholar Matthew Lassiter argues that "demographic change played a more important role than racial demagoguery in the emergence of a two-party system in the American South".<ref name="Bulldozer">{{cite journal |last1=Lassiter |first1=Matthew |last2=Kruse |first2=Kevin |title=The Bulldozer Revolution: Suburbs and Southern History since World War II |journal=The Journal of Southern History |date=Aug 2009 |volume=75 |issue=3 |pages=691–706 |jstor=27779033}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Alexander |first1=Gerard |title=The Myth of the Racist Republicans |journal=The Claremont Review of Books |date=March 20, 2004 |volume=4 |issue=2 |url=http://www.claremont.org/article/the-myth-of-the-racist-republicans |access-date=March 25, 2015}}</ref> Historians such as Matthew Lassiter, [[Kevin M. Kruse]] and [[Joseph Crespino]], have presented an alternative, "bottom-up" narrative, which Lassiter has called the "suburban strategy." This narrative recognizes the centrality of racial backlash to the political realignment of the South,<ref name="Zelizer2012" /> but suggests that this backlash took the form of a defense of [[De facto#Segregation (during the Civil Rights era in the United States)|''de facto'' segregation]] in the suburbs rather than overt resistance to [[racial integration]] and that the story of this backlash is a national rather than a strictly southern one.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_a0EAQAAQBAJ&q=%2B%22southern+strategy%22+consensus,+scholars,+majority&pg=PP1|title=The Silent Majority: Suburban Politics in the Sunbelt South|last1=Lassiter|first1=Matthew D.|date=2006|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-1-4008-4942-0|pages=4–7}}</ref><ref name="Feldman">{{cite book|title=Painting Dixie Red: When, Where, Why and How the South Became Republican|last1=Feldman|first1=Glenn|date=2011|publisher=University Press of Florida|pages=16, 80}}</ref><ref name="LassiterCrespino2010">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0xNbY2CehHgC&pg=PT25|title=The Myth of Southern Exceptionalism|author1=Matthew D. Lassiter|author2=Joseph Crespino|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2010|isbn=978-0-19-538474-1|pages=25–}}</ref><ref name="Kruse2005">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c5763Zgu4_oC|title=White Flight: Atlanta and the Making of Modern Conservatism|author=Kevin Michael Kruse|publisher=Princeton University Press|year=2005|isbn=978-0-691-09260-7}}</ref>
 
The Party's 21st-century base consists of groups such as older white men; white, married Protestants; rural residents; and non-union workers without college degrees, with urban residents, ethnic minorities, the unmarried and union workers having shifted to the Democratic Party. The suburbs have become a major battleground.<ref name=voter>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390444506004577613060923763578|title=The Evolution of the Republican Party Voter|author=Barone, Michael|date=August 26, 2012|access-date=April 17, 2013|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|author-link=Michael Barone (pundit)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327003307/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390444506004577613060923763578|archive-date=March 27, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> According to a 2015 [[The Gallup Organization|Gallup poll]], 25% of Americans identify as Republican and 16% identify as leaning Republican. In comparison, 30% identify as Democratic and 16% identify as leaning Democratic. The Democratic Party has typically held an overall edge in party identification since Gallup began polling on the issue in 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/183887/democrats-regain-edge-party-affiliation.aspx|title=Democrats Regain Edge in Party Affiliation|author=Gallup, Inc.|work=Gallup.com|date=July 2, 2015|access-date=July 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704194949/http://www.gallup.com/poll/183887/democrats-regain-edge-party-affiliation.aspx|archive-date=July 4, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016, ''[[The New York Times]]'' noted that the Republican Party was strong in the South, the Great Plains, and the Mountain States.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/22/opinion/campaign-stops/the-divided-states-of-america.html|title=Opinion – The Divided States of America|first=Lee|last=Drutman|date=September 22, 2016|work=NYTimes.com|access-date=March 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308003039/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/22/opinion/campaign-stops/the-divided-states-of-america.html|archive-date=March 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The 21st century Republican Party also draws strength from rural areas of the United States.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/10/democrats-iowa-kansas-rural-votes-scholten-king|title=Can Democrats ever win back white, rural America?|first=Chris|last=McGreal|date=November 11, 2018|access-date=March 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308080818/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/10/democrats-iowa-kansas-rural-votes-scholten-king|archive-date=March 8, 2019|url-status=live|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref>
 
Towards the end of the 1990s and in the early 21st century, the Republican Party increasingly resorted to "[[constitutional hardball]]" practices.<ref name="Glassman 2018">{{cite web|last=Glassman|first=Matt|date=2018|title=Republicans in Wisconsin and Michigan want to weaken incoming Democratic governors. Here's what's the usual partisan politics – and what isn't|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2018/12/11/wisconsins-and-michigans-legislatures-are-trying-to-weaken-incoming-governors-should-you-be-worried/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211132519/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2018/12/11/wisconsins-and-michigans-legislatures-are-trying-to-weaken-incoming-governors-should-you-be-worried/|archive-date=December 11, 2018|website=Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Beauchamp|first=Zack|date=2018-12-06|title=The Wisconsin power grab is part of a bigger Republican attack on democracy|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/12/6/18127332/wisconsin-state-republican-power-grab-democracy|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215173936/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/12/6/18127332/wisconsin-state-republican-power-grab-democracy|archive-date=December 15, 2018|access-date=2018-12-11|website=Vox}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Ginsburg|first1=Tom|url=https://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/H/bo28381225.html|title=How to Save a Constitutional Democracy|last2=Huq|first2=Aziz|publisher=University of Chicago Press|year=2019|pages=126–27|access-date=December 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215174114/https://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/H/bo28381225.html|archive-date=December 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
A number of scholars have asserted that the House speakership of Republican [[Newt Gingrich]] played a key role in undermining democratic norms in the United States, hastening political polarization, and increasing partisan prejudice.<ref name="Uncivil Agreement">{{Cite book|last=Mason|first=Lililana|url=https://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/U/bo27527354.html|title=Uncivil Agreement|publisher=University of Chicago Press|year=2018|access-date=October 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018014705/https://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/U/bo27527354.html|archive-date=October 18, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="The Polarizers">{{Cite book|last=Rosenfeld|first=Sam|url=https://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/P/bo24660595.html|title=The Polarizers|publisher=University of Chicago Press|year=2017|access-date=December 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115061143/https://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/P/bo24660595.html|archive-date=November 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="The Gingrich Senators: The Roots of Partisan Warfare in Congress">{{Cite book|last=Theriault|first=Sean M.|url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-gingrich-senators-9780199307456?cc=is&lang=en&#|title=The Gingrich Senators: The Roots of Partisan Warfare in Congress|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2013|isbn=978-0-19-930745-6|location=Oxford, New York|access-date=December 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122012735/https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-gingrich-senators-9780199307456?cc=is&lang=en&|archive-date=November 22, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Mann|first1=Thomas|url=https://www.basicbooks.com/titles/thomas-e-mann/its-even-worse-than-it-looks/9780465096206/|title=It's Even Worse Than It Looks|last2=Ornstein|first2=Norman|publisher=Basic Books|year=2016|access-date=December 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006235446/https://www.basicbooks.com/titles/thomas-e-mann/its-even-worse-than-it-looks/9780465096206/|archive-date=October 6, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="How Democracies Die">{{cite web|title=How Democracies Die|url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/562246/how-democracies-die-by-steven-levitsky-and-daniel-ziblatt/9781524762933/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211150321/https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/562246/how-democracies-die-by-steven-levitsky-and-daniel-ziblatt/9781524762933/|archive-date=December 11, 2018|access-date=2018-10-06|website=PenguinRandomhouse.com}}</ref> According to Harvard University political scientists Daniel Ziblatt and Steven Levitsky, Gingrich's speakership had a profound and lasting impact on American politics and the health of American democracy. They argue that Gingrich instilled a "combative" approach in the Republican Party, where hateful language and hyper-partisanship became commonplace, and where democratic norms were abandoned. Gingrich frequently questioned the [[patriotism]] of Democrats, called them corrupt, compared them to [[Fascism|fascists]], and accused them of wanting to destroy the United States. Gingrich was also involved in several major government shutdowns.<ref name="How Democracies Die" /><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Levitsky|first1=Steven|last2=Ziblatt|first2=Daniel|title=How a Democracy Dies|work=The New Republic|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/145916/democracy-dies-donald-trump-contempt-for-american-political-institutions|url-status=live|access-date=2018-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211105538/https://newrepublic.com/article/145916/democracy-dies-donald-trump-contempt-for-american-political-institutions|archive-date=December 11, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title='How Democracies Die' Authors Say Trump Is A Symptom Of 'Deeper Problems'|work=NPR.org|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/01/22/579670528/how-democracies-die-authors-say-trump-is-a-symptom-of-deeper-problems|url-status=live|access-date=2018-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181208011203/https://www.npr.org/2018/01/22/579670528/how-democracies-die-authors-say-trump-is-a-symptom-of-deeper-problems|archive-date=December 8, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2018-01-29|title=The rising pressures on American democracy|work=Harvard Gazette|url=https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/01/the-rising-pressures-on-american-democracy/|url-status=live|access-date=2018-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130201624/https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/01/the-rising-pressures-on-american-democracy/|archive-date=November 30, 2018}}</ref>
 
Scholars have also characterized [[Mitch McConnell]]'s tenure as Senate Minority Leader and Senate Majority Leader during the Obama presidency as one where obstructionism reached all-time highs.<ref name="The Senate Syndrome: The Evolution of Procedural Warfare in the Modern U.S. Senate">{{Cite book|last=Smith|first=Steven|title=The Senate Syndrome: The Evolution of Procedural Warfare in the Modern U.S. Senate|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press|year=2014|page=287}}</ref> Political scientists have referred to McConnell's use of the filibuster as "constitutional hardball", referring to the misuse of procedural tools in a way that undermines democracy.<ref name="Glassman 2018" /><ref name="How Democracies Die" /><ref name="American Amnesia">{{Cite book|last1=Hacker|first1=Jacob|url=http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/American-Amnesia/Jacob-S-Hacker/9781451667837|title=American Amnesia|last2=Pierson|first2=Paul|year=2017|isbn=978-1-4516-6783-7|access-date=December 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118185320/http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/American-Amnesia/Jacob-S-Hacker/9781451667837|archive-date=November 18, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Asymmetrical Constitutional Hardball">{{Cite news|author=Joseph Fishkin & David E. Pozen|title=Asymmetrical Constitutional Hardball|work=Columbia Law Review|url=https://columbialawreview.org/content/asymmetric-constitutional-hardball/|url-status=live|access-date=2018-10-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119095233/https://columbialawreview.org/content/asymmetric-constitutional-hardball/|archive-date=January 19, 2019}}</ref> McConnell delayed and obstructed health care reform and banking reform, which were two landmark pieces of legislation that Democrats sought to pass (and in fact did pass<ref name="auto5">{{cite news|last=Cooper|first=Helene|date=July 21, 2010|title=Obama Signs Overhaul of Financial System|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/22/business/22regulate.html|url-status=live|access-date=March 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329031637/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/22/business/22regulate.html|archive-date=March 29, 2019|work=NYTimes.com}}</ref>) early in Obama's tenure.<ref name="Party and Procedure in the United States Congress, Second Edition">{{Cite book|last=Koger|first=Gregory|url=https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781442258723/Party-and-Procedure-in-the-United-States-Congress-Second-Edition|title=Party and Procedure in the United States Congress, Second Edition|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2016|page=223|access-date=December 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011214754/https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781442258723/Party-and-Procedure-in-the-United-States-Congress-Second-Edition|archive-date=October 11, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="What the Filibuster Tells Us About the Senate">{{Cite journal|last1=Schickler|first1=Eric|last2=Wawro|first2=Gregory J.|date=January 3, 2011|title=What the Filibuster Tells Us About the Senate|journal=The Forum|volume=9|issue=4|doi=10.2202/1540-8884.1483|issn=1540-8884|s2cid=144114653}}</ref> By delaying Democratic priority legislation, McConnell stymied the output of Congress. Political scientists Eric Schickler and Gregory J. Wawro write, "by slowing action even on measures supported by many Republicans, McConnell capitalized on the scarcity of floor time, forcing Democratic leaders into difficult trade-offs concerning which measures were worth pursuing. That is, given that Democrats had just two years with sizeable majorities to enact as much of their agenda as possible, slowing the Senate's ability to process even routine measures limited the sheer volume of liberal bills that could be adopted."<ref name="What the Filibuster Tells Us About the Senate" />
 
McConnell's refusal to hold hearings on Supreme Court nominee [[Merrick Garland]] during the final year of Obama's presidency was described by political scientists and legal scholars as "unprecedented",<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538105757/The-Trump-Presidency-Initial-Appraisals|title=The Trump Presidency: Outsider in the Oval Office|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2017|page=71|access-date=December 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011214805/https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538105757/The-Trump-Presidency-Initial-Appraisals|archive-date=October 11, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Handelsman Shugerman|first=Jed|title=Constitutional Hardball vs. Beanball: Identifying Fundamentally Antidemocratic Tactics|url=https://columbialawreview.org/content/hardball-vs-beanball-identifying-fundamentally-antidemocratic-tactics/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530123602/https://columbialawreview.org/content/hardball-vs-beanball-identifying-fundamentally-antidemocratic-tactics/|archive-date=May 30, 2019|access-date=2019-05-30|website=Columbia Law Review}}</ref> a "culmination of this confrontational style",<ref name="The Obama Presidency and the Politics of Change">{{Cite book|url=https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9783319410326#aboutBook|title=The Obama Presidency and the Politics of Change|pages=55, 62|access-date=December 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130202254/https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9783319410326#aboutBook|archive-date=November 30, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> a "blatant abuse of constitutional norms",<ref name="The People vs. Democracy">{{cite web|last=Mounk|first=Yascha|date=2018|title=The People vs. Democracy|url=http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674976825|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127131526/http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674976825|archive-date=November 27, 2018|website=www.hup.harvard.edu|publisher=Harvard University Press}}</ref> and a "classic example of constitutional hardball."<ref name="Asymmetrical Constitutional Hardball" />
 
After the [[2020 United States presidential election]] was declared for Biden, President [[Donald Trump]]'s refusal to concede and demands of Republican state legislatures and officials to ignore the popular vote of the states was described as "unparalleled" in American history<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sanger|first=David E.|date=2020-11-20|title=Trump's Attempts to Overturn the Election Are Unparalleled in U.S. History|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/19/us/politics/trump-election.html|access-date=2020-11-20|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and "profoundly antidemocratic".<ref>{{Cite web|author1=Annie Grayer|author2=Jeremy Herb|author3=Kevin Liptak|title=Trump courts Michigan GOP leaders in bid to overturn election he lost|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/19/politics/gop-michigan-results-trump/index.html|access-date=2020-11-20|website=CNN}}</ref> Some journalists and foreign officials have also referred to Trump as a fascist in the aftermath of the [[2021 storming of the United States Capitol]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-11|title=I've hesitated to call Donald Trump a fascist. Until now {{!}} Opinion|url=https://www.newsweek.com/robert-paxton-trump-fascist-1560652|access-date=2021-01-31|website=Newsweek}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Clairmont|first=Nicholas|title=Donald Trump Is an Incompetent Fascist – The Atlantic|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2016/10/donald-trump-incompetent-fascist/504986/|access-date=2021-01-31|website=www.theatlantic.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-01-07|title=Capitol siege: Trump's words 'directly led' to violence, Patel says|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-55571482|access-date=2021-01-31}}</ref>
 
Following the storming of the Capitol, a survey conducted by the [[American Enterprise Institute]] found that 56% of Republicans agreed with the statement, "The traditional American way of life is disappearing so fast that we may have to use force to save it," compared to 36% of respondents overall. Sixty percent of white evangelical Republicans agreed with the statement.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Analysis by John Harwood|title=Analysis: White evangelicals' dominance of the GOP has turned it into the party of resistance|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/28/politics/white-evangelicals-gop-trump/index.html|website=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=A 'Scary' Survey Finding: 4 In 10 Republicans Say Political Violence May Be Necessary|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/02/11/966498544/a-scary-survey-finding-4-in-10-republicans-say-political-violence-may-be-necessa|website=NPR.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.americansurveycenter.org/research/after-the-ballots-are-counted-conspiracies-political-violence-and-american-exceptionalism/|title=After the ballots are counted: Conspiracies, political violence, and American exceptionalism}}</ref>
 
=== Ideology and factions ===
{{Main|Factions in the Republican Party (United States)}}
 
In 2018, [[Gallup (company)|Gallup]] polling found that 69% of Republicans described themselves as "[[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]]", while 25% opted for the term "moderate", and another 5% self-identified as "[[American Liberalism|liberal]]".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Inc.|first=Gallup|title=Conservative Lead in U.S. Ideology Is Down to Single Digits|work=Gallup.com|url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/225074/conservative-lead-ideology-down-single-digits.aspx|url-status=live|access-date=2018-08-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806180244/https://news.gallup.com/poll/225074/conservative-lead-ideology-down-single-digits.aspx|archive-date=August 6, 2018}}</ref>
 
When ideology is separated into social and economic issues, a 2020 Gallup poll found that 61% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents called themselves "[[Social conservatism|socially conservative]]", 28% chose the label "[[socially moderate]]", and 10% called themselves "[[Social liberalism|socially liberal]]".<ref name="On Social Ideology, the Left Catches Up to the Right">{{Cite news|last=Inc.|first=Gallup|title=Americans Remain More Liberal Socially than Economically|work=Gallup.com|url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/311303/americans-remain-liberal-socially-economically.aspx|url-status=live|access-date=2020-08-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626225852/https://news.gallup.com/poll/311303/americans-remain-liberal-socially-economically.aspx|archive-date=2020-06-26}}</ref> On economic issues, the same 2020 poll revealed that 65% of Republicans (and Republican leaners) chose the label "[[Fiscal conservatism|economic conservative]]" to describe their views on fiscal policy, while 26% selected the label "economic moderate", and 7% opted for the "economic liberal" label.<ref name="On Social Ideology, the Left Catches Up to the Right" />
 
The modern Republican Party includes [[Conservatism in the United States|conservatives]],<ref name="Paul Gottfried 2009 p. 12" /> [[Centrism|centrists]],<ref name="auto1" /> [[Fiscal conservatism in the United States|fiscal conservatives]], [[Libertarianism in the United States|libertarians]],<ref name="gopfuture" /> [[Neoconservatism|neoconservatives]],<ref name="gopfuture" /> [[Paleoconservatism|paleoconservatives]],<ref name="paleo">{{cite book|first=Gregory|last=Schneider|publisher=[[NYU Press]]|title=Conservatism in America Since 1930: A Reader|year=2003|page=387}}</ref> [[Right-wing populism in the United States|right-wing populists]],<ref name="Cassidy" /><ref name="auto2" /> and [[Social conservatism in the United States|social conservatives]].<!-- ♦♦♦ not used <ref name="auto" /> ♦♦♦ --><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/gop-platform-social-conservatives-225782|title=Social conservatives win on GOP platform|first=Bernie|last=Becker|website=Politico|access-date=March 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329051759/https://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/gop-platform-social-conservatives-225782|archive-date=March 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.history.com/topics/us-politics/republican-party|title=Republican Party|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->s|newspaper=History|access-date=March 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329074425/https://www.history.com/topics/us-politics/republican-party|archive-date=March 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/225074/conservative-lead-ideology-down-single-digits.aspx|title=Conservative Lead in U.S. Ideology Is Down to Single Digits|last=Inc.|first=Gallup|work=Gallup.com|access-date=2018-08-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806180244/https://news.gallup.com/poll/225074/conservative-lead-ideology-down-single-digits.aspx|archive-date=August 6, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
In addition to splits over ideology, the 21st-century Republican Party can be broadly divided into establishment and anti-establishment wings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/352939-limbaugh-gop-establishment-cant-afford-to-have-trump-succeed|title=Limbaugh: GOP establishment 'can't afford' to have Trump succeed with agenda|first=Julia|last=Manchester|date=September 28, 2017|website=TheHill|access-date=March 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820000618/http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/352939-limbaugh-gop-establishment-cant-afford-to-have-trump-succeed|archive-date=August 20, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/15b1c046e09f44c49aa28429b42afa66|title=Trail Translator: Going after 'The Establishment'|first=Nancy|last=Benac|website=AP NEWS|access-date=May 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502211830/https://apnews.com/15b1c046e09f44c49aa28429b42afa66|archive-date=May 2, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Nationwide polls of Republican voters in 2014 by the Pew Center identified a growing split in the Republican coalition, between "business conservatives" or "establishment conservatives" on one side and "steadfast conservatives" or "populist conservatives" on the other.<ref>Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, [http://www.people-press.org/2014/06/26/the-political-typology-beyond-red-vs-blue/ "Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629001649/http://www.people-press.org/2014/06/26/the-political-typology-beyond-red-vs-blue/ |date=June 29, 2014 }}, June 26, 2014.</ref>
 
=== Talk radio ===
In the 21st century, conservatives on [[talk radio]] and [[Fox News]], as well as online media outlets such as the [[Daily Caller]] and [[Breitbart News]], became a powerful influence on shaping the information received and judgments made by rank-and-file Republicans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/9/8/16263710/fox-news-presidential-vote-study|title=A stunning new study shows that Fox News is more powerful than we ever imagined|last=Matthews|first=Dylan|date=September 8, 2017|website=Vox|access-date=December 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/06/the-talk-radio-effect-107942|title=The Talk Radio Effect|last=Rosenwald|first=Brian|date=June 17, 2014|website=Politico|access-date=December 20, 2019}}</ref> They include [[Rush Limbaugh]], [[Sean Hannity]], [[Larry Elder]], [[Glenn Beck]], [[Mark Levin]], [[Dana Loesch]], [[Hugh Hewitt]], [[Mike Gallagher (political commentator)|Mike Gallagher]], [[Neal Boortz]], [[Laura Ingraham]], [[Dennis Prager]], [[Michael Reagan]], [[Howie Carr]] and [[Michael Savage (commentator)|Michael Savage]], as well as many local commentators who support Republican causes while vocally opposing the left.<ref>{{cite book|author=Robert E. Gutsche Jr.|title=The Trump Presidency, Journalism, and Democracy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uchHDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT167|year=2018|publisher=Taylor & Francis|page=167|isbn=978-1-351-39201-3}}</ref><ref>Kenneth J. Heineman, ''The Rise of Contemporary Conservatism in the United States'' (2019) pp. 123–26.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/21/mark-levin-fox-trump-host-255549|title=Fox adds another pro-Trump host|first=Jason|last=Schwartz|work=[[Politico]]|date=November 21, 2017|access-date=November 17, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/21/rush-limbaugh-trump-comeback-1073726|title=Rush Limbaugh roars back|first=Jason|last=Schwartz|work=[[Politico]]|date=December 21, 2018|access-date=November 17, 2020}}</ref> Vice President [[Mike Pence]] also had an early career in conservative talk radio, hosting ''The Mike Pence Show'' in the late 1990s before successfully running for Congress in 2000.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/mike-pence-talk-radio-225855|title=The old cassettes that explain Mike Pence|first=Darren|last=Samuelsohn|work=[[Politico]]|date=July 20, 2016|access-date=November 17, 2020}}</ref>
 
In recent years, pundits through podcasting and radio shows like [[Ben Shapiro]] and [[Steven Crowder]] have also gained fame with a consistently younger audience through outlets such as [[The Daily Wire]] and [[Blaze Media]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}
 
=== Business community ===
The Republican Party has traditionally been a pro-business party. It garners major support from a wide variety of industries from the financial sector to small [[businesses]]. Republicans are about 50 percent more likely to be self-employed and are more likely to work in management.<ref name=Fried2008p104>Fried, pp. 104–05, 125.</ref>{{Better source needed|date=May 2021}}
 
A survey cited by ''The Washington Post'' in 2012 stated that 61 percent of small business owners planned to vote for Republican presidential candidate [[Mitt Romney]]. Small business became a major theme of the [[2012 Republican National Convention]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-08-30/business/35493960_1_small-business-business-owners-plan-small-companies|title=Small business a common theme at Republican Convention|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=J. D.|last=Harrison|date=August 30, 2012|access-date=April 17, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328070655/http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-08-30/business/35493960_1_small-business-business-owners-plan-small-companies|archive-date=March 28, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
 
=== Demographics ===
In 2006, Republicans won 38% of the voters aged 18–29.<ref name=2006cnnexitpolls /> In a 2018 study, members of the [[Silent Generation|Silent]] and [[Baby boomers|Baby Boomer]] generations were more likely to express approval of Trump's presidency than those of [[Generation X]] and [[Millennials]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.people-press.org/2018/03/01/the-generation-gap-in-american-politics/ |date=March 1, 2018 |publisher= [[Pew Research Center]] |title=The Generation Gap in American Politics}}</ref>
 
Low-income voters are more likely to identify as Democrats while high-income voters are more likely to identify as Republicans.<ref>{{cite web |title=Party Affiliation and Composition |url=https://www.people-press.org/2009/05/21/section-1-party-affiliation-and-composition/ |website=Pew Research Center |access-date=27 April 2020 |date=21 May 2009}}</ref> In 2012, Obama won 60% of voters with income under $50,000 and 45% of those with incomes higher than that.<ref name="2012 Exit Poll">{{cite web|url=http://www2.cnn.com/election/2012/results/main|title=Election Results – 2012 Election Center|publisher=CNN|access-date=December 27, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226215606/http://www.cnn.com/election/2012/results/main/|archive-date=December 26, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Bush won 41% of the poorest 20% of voters in 2004, 55% of the richest twenty percent and 53% of those in between. In the 2006 House races, the voters with incomes over $50,000 were 49% Republican while those with incomes under that amount were 38% Republican.<ref name=2006cnnexitpolls />
 
==== Gender ====
Since 1980, a "gender gap" has seen stronger support for the Republican Party among men than among women. Unmarried and divorced women were far more likely to vote for Democrat [[John Kerry]] than for Republican [[George W. Bush]] in the 2004 presidential election.<ref name=wvwv2004>[http://www.wvwv.org/docs/WVWV_2004_post-election_memo.pdf "Unmarried Women in the 2004 Presidential Election"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101195440/http://www.wvwv.org/docs/WVWV_2004_post-election_memo.pdf|date=January 1, 2016}} ([[PDF]]). Report by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, January 2005. p. 3: "The marriage gap is one of the most important cleavages in electoral politics. Unmarried women voted for Kerry by a 25-point margin (62 to 37 percent), while married women voted for President Bush by an 11-point margin (55 percent to 44 percent). Indeed, the 25-point margin Kerry posted among unmarried women represented one of the high water marks for the Senator among all demographic groups."</ref> In 2006 House races, 43% of women voted Republican while 47% of men did so.<ref name=2006cnnexitpolls>{{cite news|title=Exit Polls|publisher=CNN|url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/US/H/00/epolls.0.html|date=November 7, 2006|access-date=November 18, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629021338/http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/US/H/00/epolls.0.html|archive-date=June 29, 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> In the 2010 midterms, the "gender gap" was reduced, with women supporting Republican and Democratic candidates equally (49%–49%).<ref name=abcnews3775>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/vote-2010-elections-results-midterm-exit-poll-analysis/story?id=12003775|title=Exit Poll Analysis: Vote 2010 Elections Results|publisher=ABC News|date=November 2, 2010|access-date=January 30, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110125030423/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/vote-2010-elections-results-midterm-exit-poll-analysis/story?id=12003775|archive-date=January 25, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Weeks2010>{{cite news|last=Weeks|first=Linton|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=131039717|title=10 Takeaways From The 2010 Midterms|publisher=NPR|date=November 3, 2010|access-date=January 30, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203055924/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=131039717|archive-date=February 3, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Exit polls from the 2012 elections revealed a continued weakness among unmarried women for the GOP, a large and growing portion of the electorate.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21591624-republicans-should-worry-unmarried-women-shun-them-marriage-gap?fsrc=scn/tw/te/pe/themarriagegap|title=Republicans should worry that unmarried women shun them|date=December 14, 2013|work=The Economist|access-date=September 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115185951/https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21591624-republicans-should-worry-unmarried-women-shun-them-marriage-gap?fsrc=scn%2Ftw%2Fte%2Fpe%2Fthemarriagegap|archive-date=January 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Although women supported Obama over [[Mitt Romney]] by a margin of 55–44% in 2012, Romney prevailed amongst married women, 53–46%.<ref>{{cite news|date=December 3, 2012|title=The Marriage Gap in the Women's Vote|author=Meg T. McDonnell|url=http://www.crisismagazine.com/2012/the-marriage-gap-in-the-womens-vote|work=Crisis Magazine|access-date=December 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031034237/http://www.crisismagazine.com/2012/the-marriage-gap-in-the-womens-vote|archive-date=October 31, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Obama won unmarried women 67–31%.<ref>{{cite news|author=Suzanne Goldenberg|date=November 9, 2012|title=Single women voted overwhelmingly in favour of Obama, researchers find|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/nov/09/single-women-voted-favour-obama|access-date=December 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231035001/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/nov/09/single-women-voted-favour-obama|archive-date=December 31, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> According to a December 2019 study, "white women are the only group of female voters who support Republican Party candidates for president. They have done so by a majority in all but 2 of the last 18 elections".<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Junn|first1=Jane|author-link1=Jane Junn|last2=Masuoka|first2=Natalie|date=2020|title=The Gender Gap Is a Race Gap: Women Voters in US Presidential Elections|journal=Perspectives on Politics|volume=18|issue=4|pages=1135–1145|doi=10.1017/S1537592719003876|issn=1537-5927|doi-access=free}}</ref>
 
==== Education ====
In 2012, the [[Pew Research Center]] conducted a study of registered voters with a 35–28 Democrat-to-Republican gap. They found that self-described Democrats had an eight-point advantage over Republicans among college graduates and a fourteen-point advantage among all post-graduates polled. Republicans had an eleven-point advantage among white men with college degrees; Democrats had a ten-point advantage among women with degrees. Democrats accounted for 36% of all respondents with an education of high school or less; Republicans accounted for 28%. When isolating just white registered voters polled, Republicans had a six-point advantage overall and a nine-point advantage among those with a high school education or less.<ref name=Pew2012>{{cite web|url=http://www.people-press.org/files/legacy-detailed_tables/Detailed%20tables%20for%20Party%20ID.pdf|title=Detailed Party Identification Tables|publisher=Pew Research Center for the People & the Press|access-date=October 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030113849/http://www.people-press.org/files/legacy-detailed_tables/Detailed%20tables%20for%20Party%20ID.pdf|archive-date=October 30, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the 2016 presidential election, exit polls indicated that "Donald Trump attracted a large share of the vote from whites without a college degree, receiving 72 percent of the white non-college male vote and 62 percent of the white non-college female vote." Overall, 52% of voters with college degrees voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016, while 52% of voters without college degrees voted for Trump.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2016/11/18/educational-rift-in-2016-election/|title=The educational rift in the 2016 election|first=William A. Galston and Clara|last=Hendrickson|date=November 18, 2016|access-date=March 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308080815/https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2016/11/18/educational-rift-in-2016-election/|archive-date=March 8, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
==== Ethnicity ====
Republicans have been winning under 15% of the black vote in recent national elections (1980 to 2016). The party abolished chattel slavery under [[Abraham Lincoln]], defeated the [[Slave Power]], and gave blacks the legal right to vote during [[Reconstruction Era|Reconstruction in the late 1860s]]. Until the [[New Deal]] of the 1930s, blacks supported the Republican Party by large margins.<ref name=South>In the South, they were often not allowed to vote, but still received some Federal patronage appointments from the Republicans</ref> Black delegates were a sizable share of southern delegates to the national Republican convention from Reconstruction until the start of the 20th century when their share began to decline.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Heersink|first1=Boris|last2=Jenkins|first2=Jeffery A.|date=2020|title=Whiteness and the Emergence of the Republican Party in the Early Twentieth-Century South|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/studies-in-american-political-development/article/whiteness-and-the-emergence-of-the-republican-party-in-the-early-twentiethcentury-south/899B4B98A78353683C3C6050DFA5771B/core-reader|journal=Studies in American Political Development|volume=34|pages=71–90|doi=10.1017/S0898588X19000208|s2cid=213551748|issn=0898-588X}}</ref> Black voters began shifting away from the Republican Party after the close of Reconstruction through the early 20th century, with the rise of the southern-Republican [[lily-white movement]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Party Realignment – US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives |url=https://history.house.gov/Exhibitions-and-Publications/BAIC/Historical-Essays/Temporary-Farewell/Party-Realignment/ |access-date=2020-06-24 |website=history.house.gov }}</ref> Blacks shifted in large margins to the Democratic Party in the 1930s, when major Democratic figures such as Eleanor Roosevelt began to support civil rights and the New Deal offered them employment opportunities. They became one of the core components of the [[New Deal coalition]]. In the South, after the [[Voting Rights Act]] to prohibit racial discrimination in elections was passed by a bipartisan coalition in 1965, blacks were able to vote again and ever since have formed a significant portion (20–50%) of the Democratic vote in that region.<ref name=Sitkoff>Harvard Sitkoff, ''A New Deal for Blacks'' (1978).</ref>
 
In the 2010 elections, two African-American Republicans—[[Tim Scott]] and [[Allen West (politician)|Allen West]]—were elected to the House of Representatives.<ref name=Holmes2010>{{cite news|author=L. A. Holmes|url=http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/11/03/black-republicans-win-first-congress-seats-2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104213733/http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/11/03/black-republicans-win-first-congress-seats-2003|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 4, 2010|title=Black Republicans Win First Congress Seats Since 2003|publisher=FoxNews.com|date=April 7, 2010|access-date=January 30, 2011}}</ref>
 
In recent decades, Republicans have been moderately successful in gaining support from [[Hispanic]] and [[Asian American]] voters. George W. Bush, who campaigned energetically for Hispanic votes, received 35% of their vote in 2000 and 39% in 2004.<ref name=2004cnnexitpolls>{{cite news|title=Exit Polls|publisher=CNN|url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/US/P/00/epolls.4.html|date=November 2, 2004|access-date=November 18, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060421062126/http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/US/P/00/epolls.4.html|archive-date=April 21, 2006|url-status=live}}</ref> The party's strong anti-communist stance has made it popular among some minority groups from current and former Communist states, in particular [[Cuban American]]s, [[Korean American]]s, [[Chinese American]]s and [[Vietnamese American]]s. The 2007 election of [[Bobby Jindal]] as Governor of Louisiana was hailed as pathbreaking.<ref name=BBC7412>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7907412.stm|title=Americas &#124; Profile: Bobby Jindal|work=BBC News|date=February 25, 2009|access-date=May 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101102154911/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7907412.stm|archive-date=November 2, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Jindal became the first elected minority governor in [[Louisiana]] and the first state governor of [[Non-resident Indian and person of Indian origin|Indian]] descent.<ref name=deccanherald>{{cite news|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/31998/bobby-jindal-may-become-first.html|title=Bobby Jindal may become first Indian-American to be US prez|newspaper=Deccan Herald|date=October 23, 2009|access-date=May 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420065245/http://www.deccanherald.com/content/31998/bobby-jindal-may-become-first.html|archive-date=April 20, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> According to [[John Avlon]], in 2013, the Republican party was more ethnically diverse at the statewide elected official level than the Democratic Party was; GOP statewide elected officials included Latino Nevada Governor [[Brian Sandoval]] and African-American U.S. senator [[Tim Scott]] of South Carolina.<ref>{{cite news|title=GOP's surprising edge on diversity|author=John Avlon|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/18/opinion/avlon-gop-diversity/index.html?c=&page=0|publisher=CNN|date=January 18, 2013|access-date=January 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131025447/http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/18/opinion/avlon-gop-diversity/index.html?c=&page=0|archive-date=January 31, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
In 2012, 88% of Romney voters were white while 56% of Obama voters were white.<ref>Tom Scocca, "Eighty-Eight Percent of Romney Voters Were White", [http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/scocca/2012/11/mitt_romney_white_voters_the_gop_candidate_s_race_based_monochromatic_campaign.html ''Slate'' November 7, 2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706035304/http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/scocca/2012/11/mitt_romney_white_voters_the_gop_candidate_s_race_based_monochromatic_campaign.html |date=July 6, 2015 }}</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, John McCain won 55% of white votes, 35% of Asian votes, 31% of Hispanic votes and 4% of African American votes.<ref name=pewresearch>[http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1209/racial-ethnic-voters-presidential-election?src=prc-latest&proj=peoplepress "Dissecting the 2008 Electorate: Most Diverse in U.S. History"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618075224/http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1209/racial-ethnic-voters-presidential-election?src=prc-latest&proj=peoplepress|date=June 18, 2012}}. Pew Research Center. April 30, 2009.</ref> In the 2010 House election, Republicans won 60% of the white votes, 38% of Hispanic votes and 9% of the African American vote.<ref name=pewresearch1790>{{cite web|title=The Latino Vote in the 2010 Elections|publisher=Pew Research Center|date=November 3, 2010|url=http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1790/2010-midterm-elections-exit-poll-hispanic-vote|access-date=January 30, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205150318/http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1790/2010-midterm-elections-exit-poll-hispanic-vote|archive-date=February 5, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
 
As of 2020, Republican candidates had lost the popular vote in seven out of the last eight presidential elections.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/09/2020-republicans-doomed.html |title=The Republican Party is (Probably) Not Doomed |date=September 10, 2019 |access-date=September 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911222213/http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/09/2020-republicans-doomed.html |archive-date=September 11, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Since 1992, the only time they won the popular vote in a presidential election is the [[2004 United States presidential election]]. Demographers have pointed to the steady decline (as a percentage of the eligible voters) of its core base of older, rural white men.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/republicans-_and_-democrats-should-be-worried-about-2020/|title=Republicans And Democrats Should Be Worried About 2020|first=Perry Bacon|last=Jr|newspaper=Fivethirtyeight|date=April 20, 2018|access-date=September 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920122752/https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/republicans-_and_-democrats-should-be-worried-about-2020/|archive-date=September 20, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2018/jul/02/republicans-try-to-save-their-deteriorating-party-with-another-push-for-a-carbon-tax|title=Republicans try to save their deteriorating party with another push for a carbon tax|first=Dana|last=Nuccitelli|date=July 2, 2018|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=September 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920161212/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2018/jul/02/republicans-try-to-save-their-deteriorating-party-with-another-push-for-a-carbon-tax|archive-date=September 20, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://theconversation.com/the-democratic-party-is-facing-a-demographic-crisis-72948|title=The Democratic Party is facing a demographic crisis|first=Musa|last=al-Gharbi|website=The Conversation|access-date=March 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330070607/http://theconversation.com/the-democratic-party-is-facing-a-demographic-crisis-72948|archive-date=March 30, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/05/trump-2016-election/528519/|title=Why Voter Demographics in U.S. Elections Matter Now More Than Ever|first=Ronald|last=Brownstein|date=May 31, 2017|website=The Atlantic|access-date=September 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920161148/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/05/trump-2016-election/528519/|archive-date=September 20, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> However, [[Donald Trump]] managed to increase nonwhite support to 26% of his total votes in the 2020 election — the highest percentage for a GOP presidential candidate since 1960.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2020/11/04/despite-racist-charges-trump-did-better-with-minorities-than-any-gop-candidate-in-60-years/|title=Despite 'racist' charges, Trump did better with minorities than any GOP candidate in 60 years|first=Josh|last=Hammer|date=November 5, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-54972389|title=US election 2020: Why Trump gained support among minorities|date=November 22, 2020|work=www.bbc.com}}</ref>
 
==== Religious beliefs ====
Religion has always played a major role for both parties, but in the course of a century, the parties' religious compositions have changed. Religion was a major dividing line between the parties before [[1960 United States presidential election|1960]], with Catholics, Jews, and southern Protestants heavily Democratic and northeastern Protestants heavily Republican. Most of the old differences faded away after the realignment of the 1970s and 1980s that undercut the New Deal coalition.<ref>To some extent the [[United States Supreme Court]] decision ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' caused American Christians to blur their historical division along the line between Catholics and Protestants and instead to realign as conservatives or liberals, irrespective of the [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation Era]] distinction.</ref> Voters who attended church weekly gave 61% of their votes to Bush in [[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]; those who attended occasionally gave him only 47%; and those who never attended gave him 36%. Fifty-nine percent of Protestants voted for Bush, along with 52% of Catholics (even though [[John Kerry]] was Catholic). Since 1980, a large majority of [[Evangelicalism|evangelicals]] has voted Republican; 70–80% voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004 and 70% for Republican House candidates in [[United States general elections, 2006|2006]]. Jews continue to vote 70–80% Democratic. Democrats have close links with the African American churches, especially the [[National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.|National Baptists]], while their historic dominance among Catholic voters has eroded to 54–46 in the 2010 midterms.<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite web|url=http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1791/2010-midterm-elections-exit-poll-religion-vote|title=Religion in the 2010 Elections|publisher=Pew Research Center|date=November 3, 2010|access-date=January 30, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110206111210/http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1791/2010-midterm-elections-exit-poll-religion-vote|archive-date=February 6, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The mainline traditional Protestants (Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Disciples) have dropped to about 55% Republican (in contrast to 75% before 1968).
 
Members of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] in Utah and neighboring states voted 75% or more for George W. Bush in [[2000 United States presidential election|2000]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Grover Norquist|title=Leave Us Alone: Getting the Government's Hands Off Our Money, Our Guns, Our Lives|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YQu8IGTotBUC&pg=PA146|year=2008|publisher=HarperCollins|pages=146–49|isbn=978-0-06-113395-4}} The Democratic Obama administration's support for requiring institutions related to the [[Roman Catholic Church]] to cover birth control and abortion in employee health insurance has further moved traditionalist Catholics toward the Republicans.</ref> Members of the Mormon faith had a mixed relationship with Donald Trump during his tenure, despite 67% of them voting for him in [[2016 United States presidential election|2016]] and 56% of them supporting his presidency in [[2018 United States elections|2018]], disapproving of his personal behavior such as that shown during the [[Donald Trump Access Hollywood tape|''Access Hollywood'' controversy]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/15/mormons-want-to-save-the-republican-partys-soul-but-is-it-too-late|title=Mormons want to save the Republican party's soul. But is it too late?|first=J. Oliver|last=Conroy|website=The Guardian|date=February 15, 2018|access-date=May 7, 2020}}</ref> Their opinion on Trump hadn't affected their party affiliation, however, as 76% of Mormons in 2018 expressed preference for generic Republican congressional candidates.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2018/11/29/most-mormons-voted/|title=Most Mormons voted Republican in the midterms—but their Trump approval rating continues to decline, study finds|first1=Hannah|last1=Fingerhut|first2=Brady|last2=McCombs|website=The Salt Lake Tribune|date=November 29, 2018|access-date=May 7, 2020}}</ref>
 
While Catholic Republican leaders try to stay in line with the teachings of the Catholic Church on subjects such as abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research and same-sex marriage, they differ on the death penalty and contraception.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lee|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2015/06/18/politics/pope-encyclical-climate-change-catholic-republicans/|title=Pope hands GOP climate change dilemma|publisher=CNN|date=June 18, 2015|access-date=July 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705234555/http://edition.cnn.com/2015/06/18/politics/pope-encyclical-climate-change-catholic-republicans/|archive-date=July 5, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Pope Francis]]' 2015 encyclical ''[[Laudato si']]'' sparked a discussion on the positions of Catholic Republicans in relation to the positions of the Church. The Pope's encyclical on behalf of the Catholic Church officially acknowledges a man-made climate change caused by burning fossil fuels.<ref>Thomas Reese, [http://ncronline.org/blogs/faith-and-justice/readers-guide-laudato-si "A readers' guide to 'Laudato Si'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630145312/http://ncronline.org/blogs/faith-and-justice/readers-guide-laudato-si |date=June 30, 2015 }}, ''National Catholic Register'', June 26, 2015.</ref> The Pope says the warming of the planet is rooted in a throwaway culture and the developed world's indifference to the destruction of the planet in pursuit of short-term economic gains. According to ''The New York Times'', ''Laudato si''' put pressure on the Catholic candidates in the 2016 election: [[Jeb Bush]], [[Bobby Jindal]], [[Marco Rubio]] and [[Rick Santorum]].<ref name=davenport>{{cite news|first=Caral|last=Davenport|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/17/us/politics/popes-views-press-gop-on-climate-change.html|title=Pope's Views on Climate Change Add Pressure to Catholic Candidates|work=The New York Times|date=June 16, 2015|access-date=February 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519063735/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/17/us/politics/popes-views-press-gop-on-climate-change.html|archive-date=May 19, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> With leading Democrats praising the encyclical, James Bretzke, a professor of moral theology at Boston College, has said that both sides were being disingenuous: "I think it shows that both the Republicans and the Democrats&nbsp;... like to use religious authority and, in this case, the Pope to support positions they have arrived at independently&nbsp;... There is a certain insincerity, hypocrisy I think, on both sides".<ref>{{cite web|author=Brian Fraga|url=http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/political-role-reversal-democrats-praise-encyclical-while-gop-remains-cauti/#ixzz3f7S3YpSv|title=Political Role Reversal: Democrats Praise Encyclical, While GOP Remains Cautious|website=Ncregister.com|date=June 26, 2015|access-date=December 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227043512/http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/political-role-reversal-democrats-praise-encyclical-while-gop-remains-cauti#ixzz3f7S3YpSv|archive-date=February 27, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> While a Pew Research poll indicates Catholics are more likely to believe the Earth is warming than non-Catholics, 51% of Catholic Republicans believe in global warming (less than the general population) and only 24% of Catholic Republicans believe global warming is caused by human activity.<ref>{{cite news|title=Catholics Divided Over Global Warming|work=Pew Research|url=http://www.pewforum.org/2015/06/16/catholics-divided-over-global-warming/|date=June 16, 2015|access-date=July 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708154543/http://www.pewforum.org/2015/06/16/catholics-divided-over-global-warming/|archive-date=July 8, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
In 2016, a slim majority of [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox Jews]] voted for the Republican Party, following years of growing Orthodox Jewish support for the party due to its social conservatism and increasingly pro-Israel foreign policy stance.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]]|title='I think it's Israel': How Orthodox Jews became Republicans|date=February 3, 2020|url=https://www.jta.org/2020/02/03/politics/i-think-its-israel-how-orthodox-jews-became-republicans}}</ref> An exit poll conducted by the [[Associated Press]] for 2020 found 35% of [[Muslims]] voted for Donald Trump.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/11/03/929478378/understanding-the-2020-electorate-ap-votecast-survey|title=Understanding The 2020 Electorate: AP VoteCast Survey|author=NPR Staff|work=[[NPR]]|date=November 3, 2020|access-date=November 17, 2020}}</ref>
 
== Republican presidents ==
As of 2021, there have been a total of 19 Republican presidents.
{|class="sortable wikitable"
|-
!style="text-align:center;"|<abbr title="Order of presidency">#</abbr>
!style="text-align:center;"|President
!style="text-align:center;"|Portrait
!style="text-align:center;"|State
!style="text-align:center;"|Presidency<br />start date
!style="text-align:center;"|Presidency<br />end date
!style="text-align:center;"|Time in office
|- style="text-align:left; background:#fff;"
|16
|{{sortname|Abraham|Lincoln}} (1809–1865)
|[[File:Abraham Lincoln head on shoulders photo portrait.jpg|65px]]
|[[Illinois]]
|[[First inauguration of Abraham Lincoln|March 4, 1861]]
|[[Assassination of Abraham Lincoln|April 15, 1865]]{{efn|name=died|Died in office.}}
|{{ayd|1861|3|4|1865|4|15}}
|- style="text-align:left; background:#fff;"
|18
|{{sortname|Ulysses S.|Grant}} (1822–1885)
|[[File:Ulysses S Grant by Brady c1870-restored.jpg|65px]]
|[[Illinois]]
|[[First inauguration of Ulysses S. Grant|March 4, 1869]]
|[[Inauguration of Rutherford B. Hayes|March 4, 1877]]
|{{ayd|1869|3|4|1877|3|4}}
|- style="text-align:left; background:#fff;"
|19
|{{sortname|Rutherford B.|Hayes}} (1822–1893)
|[[File:President Rutherford Hayes 1870 - 1880 Restored.jpg|65px]]
|[[Ohio]]
|[[Inauguration of Rutherford B. Hayes|March 4, 1877]]
|[[Inauguration of James A. Garfield|March 4, 1881]]
|{{ayd|1877|3|4|1881|3|4}}
|- style="text-align:left; background:#fff;"
|20
|{{sortname|James A.|Garfield}} (1831–1881)
|[[File:James Abram Garfield, photo portrait seated.jpg|65px]]
|[[Ohio]]
|[[Inauguration of James A. Garfield|March 4, 1881]]
|[[Assassination of James A. Garfield|September 19, 1881]]{{efn|name=died|Died in office.}}
|{{ayd|1881|3|4|1881|9|19}}
|- style="text-align:left; background:#fff;"
|21
|{{sortname|Chester A.|Arthur}} (1829–1886)
|[[File:Chester A. Arthur portrait c1882.jpg|65px]]
|[[New York (state)|New York]]
|[[Inauguration of Chester A. Arthur|September 19, 1881]]
|[[First inauguration of Grover Cleveland|March 4, 1885]]
|{{ayd|1881|9|19|1885|3|4}}
|- style="text-align:left; background:#fff;"
|23
|{{sortname|Benjamin|Harrison}} (1833–1901)
|[[File:Benjamin Harrison, head and shoulders bw photo, 1896.jpg|65px]]
|[[Indiana]]
|[[Inauguration of Benjamin Harrison|March 4, 1889]]
|[[Second inauguration of Grover Cleveland|March 4, 1893]]
|{{ayd|1889|3|4|1893|3|4}}
|- style="text-align:left; background:#fff;"
|25
|{{sortname|William|McKinley}} (1843–1901)
|[[File:Mckinley.jpg|65px]]
|[[Ohio]]
|[[First inauguration of William McKinley|March 4, 1897]]
|[[Assassination of William McKinley|September 14, 1901]]{{efn|name=died|Died in office.}}
|{{ayd|1897|3|4|1901|9|14}}
|- style="text-align:left; background:#fff;"
|26
|{{sortname|Theodore|Roosevelt}} (1858–1919)
|[[File:President Roosevelt - Pach Bros.jpg|65px]]
|[[New York (state)|New York]]
|[[First inauguration of Theodore Roosevelt|September 14, 1901]]
|[[Inauguration of William Howard Taft|March 4, 1909]]
|{{ayd|1901|9|14|1909|3|4}}
|- style="text-align:left; background:#fff;"
|27
|{{sortname|William Howard|Taft}} (1857–1930)
|[[File:William Howard Taft, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front.jpg|65px]]
|[[Ohio]]
|[[Inauguration of William Howard Taft|March 4, 1909]]
|[[First inauguration of Woodrow Wilson|March 4, 1913]]
|{{ayd|1909|3|4|1913|3|4}}
|- style="text-align:left; background:#fff;"
|29
|{{sortname|Warren G.|Harding}} (1865–1923)
|[[File:Warren G Harding-Harris & Ewing.jpg|65px]]
|[[Ohio]]
|[[Inauguration of Warren G. Harding|March 4, 1921]]
|[[Death of Warren G. Harding|August 2, 1923]]{{efn|name=died|Died in office.}}
|{{ayd|1921|3|4|1923|8|2}}
|- style="text-align:left; background:#fff;"
|30
|{{sortname|Calvin|Coolidge}} (1872–1933)
|[[File:Calvin Coolidge cph.3g10777 (cropped).jpg|65px]]
|[[Massachusetts]]
|[[First inauguration of Calvin Coolidge|August 2, 1923]]
|[[Inauguration of Herbert Hoover|March 4, 1929]]
|{{ayd|1923|8|2|1929|3|4}}
|- style="text-align:left; background:#fff;"
|31
|{{sortname|Herbert|Hoover}} (1874–1964)
|[[File:President Hoover portrait.jpg|65px]]
|[[California]]
|[[Inauguration of Herbert Hoover|March 4, 1929]]
|[[First inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt|March 4, 1933]]
|{{ayd|1929|3|4|1933|3|4}}
|- style="text-align:left; background:#fff;"
|34
|{{sortname|Dwight D.|Eisenhower}} (1890–1969)
|[[File:Dwight D. Eisenhower, official photo portrait, May 29, 1959.jpg|65px]]
|[[Kansas]]
|[[First inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower|January 20, 1953]]
|[[Inauguration of John F. Kennedy|January 20, 1961]]
|{{ayd|1953|1|20|1961|1|20}}
|- style="text-align:left; background:#fff;"
|37
|{{sortname|Richard|Nixon}} (1913–1994)
|[[File:Richard M. Nixon, ca. 1935 - 1982 - NARA - 530679 (3x4).jpg|65px]]
|[[California]]
|[[First inauguration of Richard Nixon|January 20, 1969]]
|[[Watergate scandal|August 9, 1974]]{{efn|Resigned from office.}}
|{{ayd|1969|1|20|1974|8|9}}
|- style="text-align:left; background:#fff;"
|38
|{{sortname|Gerald|Ford}} (1913–2006)
|[[File:Gerald Ford presidential portrait (cropped 2).jpg|65px]]
|[[Michigan]]
|[[Inauguration of Gerald Ford|August 9, 1974]]
|[[Inauguration of Jimmy Carter|January 20, 1977]]
|{{ayd|1974|8|9|1977|1|20}}
|- style="text-align:left; background:#fff;"
|40
|{{sortname|Ronald|Reagan}} (1911–2004)
|[[File:Official Portrait of President Reagan 1981-cropped.jpg|65px]]
|[[California]]
|[[First inauguration of Ronald Reagan|January 20, 1981]]
|[[Inauguration of George H. W. Bush|January 20, 1989]]
|{{ayd|1981|1|20|1989|1|20}}
|- style="text-align:left; background:#fff;"
|41
|{{sortname|George H. W.|Bush}} (1924–2018)
|[[File:George H. W. Bush presidential portrait (cropped 2).jpg|65px]]
|[[Texas]]
|[[Inauguration of George H. W. Bush|January 20, 1989]]
|[[First inauguration of Bill Clinton|January 20, 1993]]
|{{ayd|1989|1|20|1993|1|20}}
|- style="text-align:left; background:#fff;"
|43
|{{sortname|George W.|Bush}} (born 1946)
|[[File:George-W-Bush.jpeg|65px]]
|[[Texas]]
|[[First inauguration of George W. Bush|January 20, 2001]]
|[[First inauguration of Barack Obama|January 20, 2009]]
|{{ayd|2001|1|20|2009|1|20}}
|- style="text-align:left; background:#fff;"
|45
|{{sortname|Donald|Trump}} (born 1946)
|[[File:Donald Trump official portrait (cropped).jpg|65px]]
|[[New York (state)|New York]]
|[[Inauguration of Donald Trump|January 20, 2017]]
|[[Inauguration of Joe Biden|January 20, 2021]]
| {{ayd|2017|1|20|2021|1|20}}
|}
 
== Current Supreme Court Justices appointed by Republican presidents ==
{{As of|2021|1}}, six of the nine seats are filled by Justices appointed by Republican Presidents [[George H. W. Bush]], [[George W. Bush]], and [[Donald Trump]].
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!Portrait
!Justice
!Senate Vote
!Since
!President
|-
|[[File:Clarence Thomas, official SCOTUS portrait, crop.jpg|frameless|125x125px]]
|[[Clarence Thomas]]
<small>Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States</small>
|52–48
|October 3, 1991
|[[George H. W. Bush]]
|-
|[[File:Official roberts CJ.jpg|frameless|125x125px]]
|[[John Roberts]] Jr.
<small>Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States</small>
|78–22
|September 29, 2005
| rowspan="2" |[[George W. Bush]]
|-
|[[File:Samuel Alito official photo (cropped).jpg|frameless|131x131px]]
|[[Samuel Alito]] Jr.
<small>Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States</small>
|58–42
|January 31, 2006
|-
|[[File:Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch Official Portrait (cropped).jpg|frameless|134x134px]]
|[[Neil Gorsuch]]
<small>Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States</small>
|54–45
|April 10, 2017
| rowspan="3" |[[Donald Trump]]
|-
|[[File:Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh Official Portrait.jpg|frameless|125x125px]]
|[[Brett Kavanaugh]]
<small>Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States</small>
|50–48
|October 6, 2018
|-
|[[File:Amy Coney Barrett.png|frameless|125x125px]]
|[[Amy Coney Barrett]]
<small>Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States</small>
|52–48
|October 27, 2020
|}
 
== Recent electoral history ==
=== In congressional elections: 1950–present ===
{{See also|Party divisions of United States Congresses}}
 
{|class=wikitable
|+United States<br />Congressional Elections
|-
!House Election year
!No. of<br />overall House seats won
!+/–
!Presidency
!No. of<br />overall Senate seats won
!+/–<ref>Comparing seats held immediately preceding and following the general election.</ref>
!Senate Election year
|-
![[1950 United States House of Representatives elections|1950]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|199|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{increase}} 28
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[Harry S. Truman]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|47|96|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{increase}} 5
![[1950 United States Senate elections|1950]]
|-
![[1952 United States House of Representatives elections|1952]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Composition bar|221|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{increase}} 22
|rowspan="4" {{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Composition bar|49|96|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{increase}} 2
![[1952 United States Senate elections|1952]]
|-
![[1954 United States House of Representatives elections|1954]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|203|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 18
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|47|96|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 2
![[1954 United States Senate elections|1954]]
|-
![[1956 United States House of Representatives elections|1956]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|201|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 2
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|47|96|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{steady}} 0
![[1956 United States Senate elections|1956]]
|-
![[1958 United States House of Representatives elections|1958]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|153|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 48
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|34|98|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 13
![[1958 United States Senate elections|1958]]
|-
![[1960 United States House of Representatives elections|1960]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|175|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{increase}} 22
|rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[John F. Kennedy]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|35|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{increase}} 1
![[1960 United States Senate elections|1960]]
|-
![[1962 United States House of Representatives elections|1962]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|176|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{increase}} 1
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|34|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 3
![[1962 United States Senate elections|1962]]
|-
![[1964 United States House of Representatives elections|1964]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|140|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 36
|rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[Lyndon B. Johnson]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|32|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 2
![[1964 United States Senate elections|1964]]
|-
![[1966 United States House of Representatives elections|1966]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|187|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{increase}} 47
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|38|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{increase}} 3
![[1966 United States Senate elections|1966]]
|-
![[1968 United States House of Representatives elections|1968]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|192|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{increase}} 5
|rowspan="3" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[Richard Nixon]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|42|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{increase}} 5
![[1968 United States Senate elections|1968]]
|-
![[1970 United States House of Representatives elections|1970]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|180|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 12
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|44|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{increase}} 2
![[1970 United States Senate elections|1970]]
|-
![[1972 United States House of Representatives elections|1972]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|192|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{increase}} 12
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|41|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 2
![[1972 United States Senate elections|1972]]
|-
![[1974 United States House of Representatives elections|1974]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|144|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 48
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|[[Gerald Ford]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|38|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 3
![[1974 United States Senate elections|1974]]
|-
![[1976 United States House of Representatives elections|1976]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|143|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 1
|rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[Jimmy Carter]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|38|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{increase}} 1
![[1976 United States Senate elections|1976]]
|-
![[1978 United States House of Representatives elections|1978]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|158|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{increase}} 15
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|41|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{increase}} 3
![[1978 United States Senate elections|1978]]
|-
![[1980 United States House of Representatives elections|1980]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|192|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{increase}} 34
|rowspan="4" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[Ronald Reagan]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Composition bar|53|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{increase}} 12
![[1980 United States Senate elections|1980]]
|-
![[1982 United States House of Representatives elections|1982]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|166|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 26
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Composition bar|54|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{steady}} 0
![[1982 United States Senate elections|1982]]
|-
![[1984 United States House of Representatives elections|1984]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|182|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{increase}} 16
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Composition bar|53|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{decrease}} 2
![[1984 United States Senate elections|1984]]
|-
![[1986 United States House of Representatives elections|1986]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|177|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 5
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|45|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 8
![[1986 United States Senate elections|1986]]
|-
![[1988 United States House of Representatives elections|1988]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|175|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 2
|rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[George H. W. Bush]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|45|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 1
![[1988 United States Senate elections|1988]]
|-
![[1990 United States House of Representatives elections|1990]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|167|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 8
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|44|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 1
![[1990 United States Senate elections|1990]]
|-
![[1992 United States House of Representatives elections|1992]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|176|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{increase}} 9
|rowspan="4" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[Bill Clinton]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|43|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{steady}} 0
![[1992 United States Senate elections|1992]]
|-
![[1994 United States House of Representatives elections|1994]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Composition bar|230|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{increase}} 54
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Composition bar|53|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{increase}} 8
![[1994 United States Senate elections|1994]]
|-
![[1996 United States House of Representatives elections|1996]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Composition bar|227|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{decrease}} 3
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Composition bar|55|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{increase}} 2
![[1996 United States Senate elections|1996]]
|-
![[1998 United States House of Representatives elections|1998]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Composition bar|223|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{decrease}} 4
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Composition bar|55|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{steady}} 0
![[1998 United States Senate elections|1998]]
|-
![[2000 United States House of Representatives elections|2000]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Composition bar|221|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{decrease}} 2
|rowspan="4" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[George W. Bush]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Composition bar|50|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{decrease}} 4<ref>Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] provided tie breaking vote, initially giving Republicans a majority from [[First inauguration of George W. Bush|Inauguration Day]] until [[Jim Jeffords]] left the Republican Party to caucus with the Democrats on June 6, 2001.</ref>
![[2000 United States Senate elections|2000]]
|-
![[2002 United States House of Representatives elections|2002]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Composition bar|229|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{increase}} 8
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Composition bar|51|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{increase}} 2
![[2002 United States Senate elections|2002]]
|-
![[2004 United States House of Representatives elections|2004]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Composition bar|232|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{increase}} 3
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Composition bar|55|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{increase}} 4
![[2004 United States Senate elections|2004]]
|-
![[2006 United States House of Representatives elections|2006]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|202|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 30
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|49|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 6
![[2006 United States Senate elections|2006]]
|-
![[2008 United States House of Representatives elections|2008]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|178|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 21
|rowspan="4" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[Barack Obama]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|41|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 8
![[2008 United States Senate elections|2008]]
|-
![[2010 United States House of Representatives elections|2010]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Composition bar|242|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{increase}} 63
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|47|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{increase}} 6
![[2010 United States Senate elections|2010]]
|-
![[2012 United States House of Representatives elections|2012]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Composition bar|234|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{decrease}} 8
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|45|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 2
![[2012 United States Senate elections|2012]]
|-
![[2014 United States House of Representatives elections|2014]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Composition bar|247|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{increase}} 13
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Composition bar|54|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{increase}} 9
![[2014 United States Senate elections|2014]]
|-
![[2016 United States House of Representatives elections|2016]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Composition bar|241|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{decrease}} 6
|rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[Donald Trump]]
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Composition bar|52|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{decrease}} 2
![[2016 United States Senate elections|2016]]
|-
![[2018 United States House of Representatives elections|2018]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|200|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{decrease}} 41
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{Composition bar|53|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}}|{{increase}} 2
![[2018 United States Senate elections|2018]]
|-
![[2020 United States House of Representatives elections|2020]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|213|435|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{increase}} 14
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[Joe Biden]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|{{Composition bar|50|100|hex={{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}}| {{decrease}} 3
![[2020 United States Senate elections|2020]]
|}
 
=== In presidential elections: 1856–present ===
{{See also|List of United States Republican Party presidential tickets}}
 
{|class="sortable wikitable"
|-
!Election
!Candidate
!Votes
!Vote %
!Electoral votes
!+/–
!Result
|-
|align=center|[[1856 United States presidential election|1856]]
|[[John C. Frémont]]
|align=center|1,342,345
|align=center|33.1
|align=left|{{Composition bar|114|296|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}114
|{{lost}}
|-
|align=center|[[1860 United States presidential election|1860]]
|[[Abraham Lincoln]]
|align=center|1,865,908
|align=center|39.8
|align=left|{{Composition bar|180|303|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}66
|{{won}}
|-
|align=center|[[1864 United States presidential election|1864]]
|[[Abraham Lincoln]]
|align=center|2,218,388
|align=center|55.0
|align=left|{{Composition bar|212|233|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}32
|{{won}}
|-
|align=center|[[1868 United States presidential election|1868]]
|[[Ulysses S. Grant]]
|align=center|3,013,421
|align=center|52.7
|align=left|{{Composition bar|214|294|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}2
|{{won}}
|-
|align=center|[[1872 United States presidential election|1872]]
|[[Ulysses S. Grant]]
|align=center|3,598,235
|align=center|55.6
|align=left|{{Composition bar|286|352|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}72
|{{won}}
|-
|align=center|[[1876 United States presidential election|1876]]
|[[Rutherford B. Hayes]]
|align=center|4,034,311
|align=center|47.9
|align=left|{{Composition bar|185|369|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{decrease}}134
|{{won}}{{efn|group=upper-alpha|Although Hayes won a majority of votes in the Electoral College, Democrat [[Samuel J. Tilden]] won a majority of the popular vote.}}
|-
|align=center|[[1880 United States presidential election|1880]]
|[[James A. Garfield]]
|align=center|4,446,158
|align=center|48.3
|align=left|{{Composition bar|214|369|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}29
|{{won}}
|-
|align=center|[[1884 United States presidential election|1884]]
|[[James G. Blaine]]
|align=center|4,856,905
|align=center|48.3
|align=left|{{Composition bar|182|401|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{decrease}}32
|{{lost}}
|-
|align=center|[[1888 United States presidential election|1888]]
|[[Benjamin Harrison]]
|align=center|5,443,892
|align=center|47.8
|align=left|{{Composition bar|233|401|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}51
|{{won}}{{efn|group=upper-alpha|Although Harrison won a majority of votes in the Electoral College, Democrat [[Grover Cleveland]] won a plurality of the popular vote.}}
|-
|align=center|[[1892 United States presidential election|1892]]
|[[Benjamin Harrison]]
|align=center|5,176,108
|align=center|43.0
|align=left|{{Composition bar|145|444|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{decrease}}88
|{{lost}}
|-
|align=center|[[1896 United States presidential election|1896]]
|[[William McKinley]]
|align=center|7,111,607
|align=center|51.0
|align=left|{{Composition bar|271|447|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}126
|{{won}}
|-
|align=center|[[1900 United States presidential election|1900]]
|[[William McKinley]]
|align=center|7,228,864
|align=center|51.6
|align=left|{{Composition bar|292|447|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}21
|{{won}}
|-
|align=center|[[1904 United States presidential election|1904]]
|[[Theodore Roosevelt]]
|align=center|7,630,457
|align=center|56.4
|align=left|{{Composition bar|336|476|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}44
|{{won}}
|-
|align=center|[[1908 United States presidential election|1908]]
|[[William Howard Taft]]
|align=center|7,678,395
|align=center|51.6
|align=left|{{Composition bar|321|483|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{decrease}}15
|{{won}}
|-
|align=center|[[1912 United States presidential election|1912]]
|[[William Howard Taft]]
|align=center|3,486,242
|align=center|23.2
|align=left|{{Composition bar|8|531|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{decrease}}313
|{{lost}}{{efn|group=upper-alpha|Taft finished in third place in both the electoral and popular vote, behind [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912)|Progressive]] [[Theodore Roosevelt]].}}
|-
|align=center|[[1916 United States presidential election|1916]]
|[[Charles Evans Hughes|Charles E. Hughes]]
|align=center|8,548,728
|align=center|46.1
|align=left|{{Composition bar|254|531|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}246
|{{lost}}
|-
|align=center|[[1920 United States presidential election|1920]]
|[[Warren G. Harding]]
|align=center|16,144,093
|align=center|60.3
|align=left|{{Composition bar|404|531|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}150
|{{won}}
|-
|align=center|[[1924 United States presidential election|1924]]
|[[Calvin Coolidge]]
|align=center|15,723,789
|align=center|54.0
|align=left|{{Composition bar|382|531|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{decrease}}22
|{{won}}
|-
|align=center|[[1928 United States presidential election|1928]]
|[[Herbert Hoover]]
|align=center|21,427,123
|align=center|58.2
|align=left|{{Composition bar|444|531|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}62
|{{won}}
|-
|align=center|[[1932 United States presidential election|1932]]
|[[Herbert Hoover]]
|align=center|15,761,254
|align=center|39.7
|align=left|{{Composition bar|59|531|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{decrease}}385
|{{lost}}
|-
|align=center|[[1936 United States presidential election|1936]]
|[[Alf Landon]]
|align=center|16,679,543
|align=center|36.5
|align=left|{{Composition bar|8|531|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{decrease}}51
|{{lost}}
|-
|align=center|[[1940 United States presidential election|1940]]
|[[Wendell Willkie]]
|align=center|22,347,744
|align=center|44.8
|align=left|{{Composition bar|82|531|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}74
|{{lost}}
|-
|align=center|[[1944 United States presidential election|1944]]
|[[Thomas E. Dewey]]
|align=center|22,017,929
|align=center|45.9
|align=left|{{Composition bar|99|531|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}17
|{{lost}}
|-
|align=center|[[1948 United States presidential election|1948]]
|[[Thomas E. Dewey]]
|align=center|21,991,292
|align=center|45.1
|align=left|{{Composition bar|189|531|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}90
|{{lost}}
|-
|align=center|[[1952 United States presidential election|1952]]
|[[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]
|align=center|34,075,529
|align=center|55.2
|align=left|{{Composition bar|442|531|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}253
|{{won}}
|-
|align=center|[[1956 United States presidential election|1956]]
|[[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]
|align=center|35,579,180
|align=center|57.4
|align=left|{{Composition bar|457|531|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}15
|{{won}}
|-
|align=center|[[1960 United States presidential election|1960]]
|[[Richard Nixon]]
|align=center|34,108,157
|align=center|49.6
|align=left|{{Composition bar|219|537|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{decrease}}238
|{{lost}}
|-
|align=center|[[1964 United States presidential election|1964]]
|[[Barry Goldwater]]
|align=center|27,175,754
|align=center|38.5
|align=left|{{Composition bar|52|538|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{decrease}}167
|{{lost}}
|-
|align=center|[[1968 United States presidential election|1968]]
|[[Richard Nixon]]
|align=center|31,783,783
|align=center|43.4
|align=left|{{Composition bar|301|538|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}249
|{{won}}
|-
|align=center|[[1972 United States presidential election|1972]]
|[[Richard Nixon]]
|align=center|47,168,710
|align=center|60.7
|align=left|{{Composition bar|520|538|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}219
|{{won}}
|-
|align=center|[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]
|[[Gerald Ford]]
|align=center|38,148,634
|align=center|48.0
|align=left|{{Composition bar|240|538|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{decrease}}280
|{{lost}}
|-
|align=center|[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]
|[[Ronald Reagan]]
|align=center|43,903,230
|align=center|50.7
|align=left|{{Composition bar|489|538|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}249
|{{won}}
|-
|align=center|[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]]
|[[Ronald Reagan]]
|align=center|54,455,472
|align=center|58.8
|align=left|{{Composition bar|525|538|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}36
|{{won}}
|-
|align=center|[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]]
|[[George H. W. Bush]]
|align=center|48,886,097
|align=center|53.4
|align=left|{{Composition bar|426|538|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{decrease}}99
|{{won}}
|-
|align=center|[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]
|[[George H. W. Bush]]
|align=center|39,104,550
|align=center|37.4
|align=left|{{Composition bar|168|538|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{decrease}}258
|{{lost}}
|-
|align=center|[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]
|[[Bob Dole]]
|align=center|39,197,469
|align=center|40.7
|align=left|{{Composition bar|159|538|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{decrease}}9
|{{lost}}
|-
|align=center|[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]
|[[George W. Bush]]
|align=center|50,456,002
|align=center|47.9
|align=left|{{Composition bar|271|538|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}112
|{{won}}{{efn|group=upper-alpha|Although Bush won a majority of votes in the Electoral College, Democrat [[Al Gore]] won a plurality of the popular vote.}}
|-
|align=center|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]
|[[George W. Bush]]
|align=center|62,040,610
|align=center|50.7
|align=left|{{Composition bar|286|538|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}15
|{{won}}
|-
|align=center|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]
|[[John McCain]]
|align=center|59,948,323
|align=center|45.7
|align=left|{{Composition bar|173|538|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{decrease}}113
|{{lost}}
|-
|align=center|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]
|[[Mitt Romney]]
|align=center|60,933,504
|align=center|47.2
|align=left|{{Composition bar|206|538|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}33
|{{lost}}
|-
|align=center|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]
|[[Donald Trump]]
|align=center|62,984,828
|align=center|46.1
|align=left|{{Composition bar|304|538|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{increase}}98
|{{won}}{{efn|group=upper-alpha|Although Trump won a majority of votes in the Electoral College, Democrat [[Hillary Clinton]] won a plurality of the popular vote.}}
|-
|align=center|[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]
|[[Donald Trump]]
|align=center|74,216,154
|align=center|46.9
|align=left|{{Composition bar|232|538|hex=#FF0000}}
|align=left|{{decrease}}72
|{{lost}}
|}
 
== Groups supporting the Republican Party ==
* [[Club for Growth]]
* [[Concerned Women for America]]
* [[Eagle Forum]]
* [[Family Research Council]]
* [[Gun Owners of America]]
* [[Maggie's List]]
* [[National Right to Life Committee]]
* [[National Rifle Association]]
* [[National Association for Gun Rights]]
* [[Republican Jewish Coalition]]
* [[Senate Conservatives Fund]]
* [[Susan B. Anthony List]]
* [[Turning Point USA]]
 
== See also ==
{{Portal|Politics|Conservatism|United States}}
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Factions in the Republican Party]]
* [[List of African-American Republicans]]
* [[List of Hispanic and Latino Republicans]]
* [[List of state parties of the Republican Party (United States)]]
* [[List of United States Republican Party presidential tickets]]
* [[Political party strength in U.S. states]]
{{div col end}}
 
{{clear}}
 
== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}
{{notelist-ua}}
 
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
 
== Further reading ==
{{Main|Bibliography of the Republican Party}}
<!-- Alphabetical order please. -->
{{Refbegin}}
* ''American National Biography'' (20 volumes, 1999) covers all politicians no longer alive; online at many academic libraries and at [https://wikipedialibrary.wmflabs.org/partners/84/ Wikipedia Library].
* Aberbach, Joel D., ed. and Peele, Gillian, ed. ''Crisis of Conservatism?: The Republican Party, the Conservative Movement, and American Politics after Bush'' (Oxford UP, 2011). 403pp
* Aistrup, Joseph A. ''The Southern Strategy Revisited: Republican Top-Down Advancement in the South'' (1996).
* [[Michael Barone (pundit)|Barone, Michael]]. ''The Almanac of American Politics 2014: The Senators, the Representatives and the Governors: Their Records and Election Results, Their States and Districts'' (2013); revised every two years since 1975.
* Black, Earl and Merle Black. ''The Rise of Southern Republicans'' (2002).
* Bowen, Michael, ''The Roots of Modern Conservatism: Dewey, Taft, and the Battle for the Soul of the Republican Party.'' (U of North Carolina Press, 2011). xii, 254pp.
* Brennan, Mary C. ''Turning Right in the Sixties: The Conservative Capture of the GOP'' (1995).
* Conger, Kimberly H. ''The Christian Right in Republican State Politics'' (2010) 202 pages; focuses on Arizona, Indiana, and Missouri.
* Crane, Michael. ''The Political Junkie Handbook: The Definitive Reference Books on Politics'' (2004) covers all the major issues explaining the parties' positions.
* Critchlow, Donald T. ''The Conservative Ascendancy: How the Republican Right Rose to Power in Modern America'' (2nd ed. 2011).
* Ehrman, John, ''The Eighties: America in the Age of Reagan'' (2005).
* Fauntroy, Michael K. ''Republicans and the Black vote'' (2007).
* {{cite book |last=Fried|first=J|title=Democrats and Republicans – Rhetoric and Reality|publisher=Algora Publishing|location=New York|year=2008}}
* Frank, Thomas. ''What's the Matter with Kansas? How Conservatives Won the Heart of America'' (2005).
* [[David Frum|Frum, David.]] ''What's Right: The New Conservative Majority and the Remaking of America'' (1996).
* {{cite book|last=Gould|first=Lewis|title=Grand Old Party: A History of the Republicans|year=2003|isbn=0-375-50741-8|url=https://archive.org/details/grandoldpartyhis00goul|url-access=registration}}
* {{cite book|last=Jensen|first=Richard|title=Grass Roots Politics: Parties, Issues, and Voters, 1854–1983|date=1983|publisher=Greenwood Press|location=Westport, CT|url=https://www.questia.com/library/2038656/grass-roots-politics-parties-issues-and-voters|isbn=0-8371-6382-X}}
* [[John Judis|Judis, John B.]] and [[Ruy Teixeira]]. ''The Emerging Democratic Majority'' (2004), two Democrats project social trends.
* Kabaservice, Geoffrey. ''Rule and Ruin: The Downfall of Moderation and the Destruction of the Republican Party, From Eisenhower to the Tea Party'' (2012) scholarly history {{ISBN|978-0199768400}}.
* Kleppner, Paul, et al. ''The Evolution of American Electoral Systems'' (1983), applies party systems model.
* Kurian, George Thomas ed. ''The Encyclopedia of the Republican Party'' (4 vol., 2002).
* Lamis, Alexander P. ed. ''Southern Politics in the 1990s'' (1999).
* Levendusky, Matthew. ''The Partisan Sort: How Liberals Became Democrats and Conservatives Became Republicans'' (2009). Chicago Studies in American Politics.
* Mason, Robert. ''The Republican Party and American Politics from Hoover to Reagan'' (2011).
* Mason, Robert and Morgan, Iwan (eds.) ''Seeking a New Majority: The Republican Party and American Politics, 1960–1980.'' (2013) Nashville, TN. Vanderbilt University Press. 2013.
* Mayer, George H. ''The Republican Party, 1854–1966.'' 2d ed. (1967).
* Oakes, James. ''The Crooked Path to Abolition: Abraham Lincoln and the Antislavery Constitution'' (W.W. Norton, 2021).
* Oakes, James. ''Freedom National: The Destruction of Slavery in the United States, 1861–1865'' (W. W. Norton, 2012)
* [[Rick Perlstein|Perlstein, Rick]]. ''Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus'' (2002), broad account of 1964.
* Perlstein, Rick. ''[[Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America]]'' (2009).
* Reinhard, David W. ''The Republican Right since 1945'' (1983).
* Rutland, Robert Allen. ''The Republicans: From Lincoln to Bush'' (1996).
* [[Larry Sabato|Sabato, Larry J.]] ''Divided States of America: The Slash and Burn Politics of the 2004 Presidential Election'' (2005).
* Sabato, Larry J. and Bruce Larson. ''The Party's Just Begun: Shaping Political Parties for America's Future'' (2001), textbook.
* [[Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.|Schlesinger, Arthur Meier Jr.]] ed. ''History of American Presidential Elections, 1789–2000'' (various multivolume editions, latest is 2001). Essays on the most important election are reprinted in Schlesinger, ''The Coming to Power: Critical presidential elections in American history'' (1972).
* Shafer, Byron E. and Anthony J. Badger, eds. ''Contesting Democracy: Substance and Structure in American Political History, 1775–2000'' (2001), long essays by specialists on each time period:
** includes: "To One or Another of These Parties Every Man Belongs": 1820–1865 by [[Joel H. Silbey]]; "Change and Continuity in the Party Period: 1835–1885" by Michael F. Holt; "The Transformation of American Politics: 1865–1910" by Peter H. Argersinger; "Democracy, Republicanism, and Efficiency: 1885–1930" by Richard Jensen; "The Limits of Federal Power and Social Policy: 1910–1955" by Anthony J. Badger; "The Rise of Rights and Rights Consciousness: 1930–1980" by James T. Patterson; and "Economic Growth, Issue Evolution, and Divided Government: 1955–2000" by Byron E. Shafer.
* Shafer, Byron and Richard Johnston. ''The End of Southern Exceptionalism'' (2006), uses statistical election data and polls to argue GOP growth was primarily a response to economic change.
* Steely, Mel. ''The Gentleman from Georgia: The Biography of Newt Gingrich'' Mercer University Press, 2000. {{ISBN|0865546711}}.
* Sundquist, James L. ''Dynamics of the Party System: Alignment and Realignment of Political Parties in the United States'' (1983).
* Wooldridge, Adrian and John Micklethwait. ''[[The Right Nation]]: Conservative Power in America'' (2004).
{{Refend}}
 
== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{scholia}}
* [https://www.gop.com/ Republican National Committee]
* [https://www.republican.senate.gov/ Senate Republican Conference]
* [https://www.gop.gov/ House Republican Conference]
* [https://www.nrsc.org/ National Republican Senatorial Committee]
* [https://www.nrcc.org/ National Republican Congressional Committee]
* [https://www.rga.org/ Republican Governors Association]
* [https://rslc.gop/ Republican State Leadership Committee]
* [http://www.nationalblackrepublicans.com/ National Black Republican Association]
* [http://yrnf.gop/ Young Republican National Federation]
* [https://asianamericanrepublicans.com/ Asian American Republicans]
* [http://www.crnc.org/ College Republican National Committee]
* [https://www.gop.com/the-2016-republican-party-platform/ 2016 National Platform]
 
{{Republican Party|state=expanded}}
{{Anti-slavery parties (US)}}
{{United States political parties}}
{{United States topics}}
{{Authority control}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Republican Party}}
[[Category:Republican Party (United States)| ]]
[[Category:1854 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:1854 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1854]]
[[Category:Conservative parties]]
[[Category:Conservative parties in the United States]]
[[Category:International Democrat Union member parties]]
[[Category:Political parties in the United States]]
[[Category:Republican parties]]
[[Category:Social conservative parties]]
[[Category:Republicanism in the United States]]
[[Category:Reconstruction Era]]
[[Category:American Civil War political groups]]
[[Category:Politics of the American Civil War]]
[[Category:American abolitionist organizations]]
[[Category:Anti-abortion organizations in the United States]]
[[Category:Anti-communist organizations in the United States]]
[[Category:Anti-communism in the United States]]

Latest revision as of 09:21, 9 October 2022

Republican Party
AbbreviationGOP (Grand Old Party)
ChairpersonRonna McDaniel (MI)[1]
House Minority LeaderKevin McCarthy (CA)[1]
Senate Minority LeaderMitch McConnell (KY)[1]
FoundedMarch 20, 1854; 172 years ago (1854-03-20)
Preceded byWhig Party
Free Soil Party
Headquarters310 First Street SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
Student wingCollege Republicans
Youth wingYoung Republicans
High School Republicans
Women's wingNational Federation of Republican Women
Overseas wingRepublicans Overseas
Membership (2018)Error creating thumbnail: File missing32,854,496[2]
IdeologyMajority:
 • Conservatism[3]
 • Social conservatism[4][5][6]
 • Economic liberalism[7][8]

Factions:
 • Centrism[9]
 • Fiscal conservatism[10]
 • Fascism[11][12]

 • Fusionism[13][14]
 • Libertarianism[15]
 • Neoconservatism[15]
 • Paleoconservatism[16]
 • Right-wing populism[17][18]
 • Economic nationalism[19][20]
European affiliationAlliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe[21] (regional partner)
International affiliationInternational Democrat Union[22]
Regional affiliationAsia Pacific Democrat Union[23]
Colors  Red
Seats in the Senate
50 / 100
Seats in the House
211 / 435
State Governorships
27 / 50
State Upper Chamber Seats
1,080 / 1,972
State Lower Chamber Seats
2,773 / 5,411
Total State Legislature Seats
3,853 / 7,366
Territorial Governorships
1 / 6
Territorial Upper Chamber Seats
12 / 97
Territorial Lower Chamber Seats
14 / 91
Website
gop.com

The United States Republican Party is one of the two dominant political parties in the United States of America, along with the Democratic party, the Republican Party's main opponent. The United States has many other small parties known as third parties.

The Republicans are often called "the right" or "conservatives". The Republican Party itself is also known as the GOP, which stands for "Grand Old Party". The symbol of the Republican party is the elephant. This symbol was first used in 1874 in a political cartoon by Thomas Nast.[24]

The Republican National Committee, or "RNC", is the main organization for the Republican Party in all 50 states.The Republican Party is not the same political party as the Democratic-Republican Party. A state where most voters vote for Republican politicians is sometimes called a "red state".

History[edit | edit source]

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
1874 cartoon in Harpers Weekly, first use of the elephant as symbol for the Republican party.

The Republican Party was founded in Ripon, Wisconsin in 1853,[25] with the help of Francis Preston Blair. The Republican Party was formed by people who did not like the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which would let each territory allow slavery. The Republican Party was founded by past members of the Free Soil Party and the Whig Party who wanted to stop the expansion of slavery. The founders of the Republican Party wanted to stop the expansion of slavery because they believed it was against the ideals of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. Some founders of the Republican Party wanted to abolish slavery everywhere in the United States. The Republican Party's first candidate for President of the United States was John C. Frémont in 1856.

As the Whig Party collapsed, the Republicans became one of two major political parties in the United States (the Democratic Party was the other major political party). In 1860 Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president, was elected. For the rest of the second half of the 19th century, the country had mostly Republican presidents. From 1860 until 1912 the Republicans lost the presidential election just twice (non-consecutively to Democrat Grover Cleveland in 1884 and 1892).

Republicans believed in protectionism (the belief that raising taxes on trades with other countries would protect the economy) during the second half of the 19th century and during the early half of the 20th century.

After World War I, the 1920s had three Republican presidents: Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover. It was called the Republican Decade for that reason. Harding and Coolidge made a plan for the economy which lowered taxes, made the government spend less money, and got rid of rules and laws that affected the economy.

Near the end of the 1920s, the stock market crashed and the Great Depression began. During the Great Depression, the Republican Party became less popular. No Republicans were president between 1933 and 1953, when Dwight Eisenhower began his first of two consecutive terms as president (he was re-elected in 1956). Richard Nixon lost the election in 1960, but was elected president on the Republican ticket in 1968 and again in 1972.

Ronald Reagan, an actor and conservative political activist, was elected as president in 1980. Ronald Reagan became the first Republican president who was a former member of the Democratic Party. Ronald Reagan served two terms and his successor George H.W. Bush served one term. Reagan wanted fewer laws to affect the economy, and wanted the military to be stronger.

Bill Clinton (a Democrat) was elected president in 1992, and re-elected in 1996. However, a new Congress was elected in 1994, and Republicans gained control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. They voted against many of Clinton's ideas and proposed ideas of their own such as a line item veto and a balanced budget amendment.

After elections held in 2006, Republicans lost control of Congress. Democrat Barack Obama was elected in 2008 and re-elected in 2012. Republican John Boehner was elected the Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2010 and re-elected in 2012. In 2014, Republicans gained control of the senate and the house. Boehner resigned in early October 2015 and was eventually succeeded by Paul Ryan of Wisconsin on October 29, 2015. On November 9, 2016, Donald Trump was elected president, defeating Democrat Hillary Clinton in the Electoral College. Trump was the first Republican to take office as president since January 20, 2001, when George W. Bush was inaugurated. The Republicans lost the House and won the Senate in 2018. Paul Ryan retired in 2019 and was succeeded by Nancy Pelosi, who is a member of the Democratic Party.

Current Republican beliefs[edit | edit source]

Currently, the Republican Party is identified by classical liberalism, conservatism, and right-wing policies.

Not all Republicans believe in the same things, but generally, these are the things many Republicans support:

Most supporters for the Republican Party come from states in the Southern, Deep South, parts of the Midwest, and the rural Northeast areas of the US, as well as from Montana; though they come from all over the United States, including the northern portion of California.

U.S. Presidents[edit | edit source]

Republican presidents in the 19th Century

Republican presidents in the 20th Century

Republican presidents in the 21st Century

Former President Donald J.Trump

Other famous Republicans[edit | edit source]

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Former Senator
Barry Goldwater
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Former Senator
John McCain
  • Spiro T. Agnew (Vice President under President Richard Nixon)
  • Buzz Aldrin (US astronaut)
  • Susan B. Anthony (women's rights activist, abolitionist activist)
  • Clara Barton (Union Army Civil War nurse, humanitarian, Red Cross founder)
  • Jeb Bush (Former governor of Florida, son of Former President George H. W. Bush and brother of Former President George W. Bush)
  • Jan Brewer (Former Governor of Arizona)
  • Dr. Ben Carson (U.S. Secretary of HUD under President Trump, retired neurosurgeon)
  • Dick Cheney (Vice President under President George W. Bush)
  • Chris Christie (Former Governor of New Jersey)
  • Bing Crosby (American singer and actor)
  • Thomas Dewey (Presidential candidate in 1944 and 1948)
  • Bob Dole (presidential candidate in 1996, former Senator from Kansas)
  • Elizabeth Dole (former Senator from North Carolina, former U.S. Secretary of Labor under President George Bush, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation under President Reagan)
  • John Ford (American film director and producer)
  • Newt Gingrich (former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives)
  • Rudy Giuliani (former mayor of New York City, former presidential candidate, former US attorney)
  • Barry Goldwater (presidential candidate in 1964, former Senator from Arizona)
  • Chuck Hagel (a former senator from Nebraska, former U.S. Secretary of Defense)
  • Nikki Haley (UN Ambassador, former Governor of South Carolina)
  • Sean Hannity (a well-known talk show host on Fox News)
  • Dennis Hastert (former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives)
  • Orrin Hatch (former President Pro-tempore of the Senate)
  • Jack Kemp (vice-presidential candidate in 1996)
  • Jeane Kirkpatrick (former UN Ambassador, professor)
  • Henry Kissinger (former U.S. Secretary of State)
  • Rush Limbaugh (a radio talk show host)
  • Richard Lugar (former senator from Indiana)
  • John McCain (presidential candidate in 2008, former Senator from Arizona)
  • Mitch McConnell (Senate Majority Leader)
  • Sarah Palin (vice presidential candidate in 2008, former Governor of Alaska)
  • Dr. Rand Paul (Senator from Kentucky, physician)
  • Dr. Ron Paul (former U.S. Congressman from Texas, physician, author)
  • Colin Powell (general during Persian Gulf War, Secretary of State)
  • Paul Robeson (American singer, actor, and Civil Rights activist)
  • Nelson Rockefeller (Vice President under President Gerald Ford, former Governor of New York)
  • Mitt Romney (former Governor of Massachusetts, presidential candidate in 2012, Senator from Utah)
  • Paul Ryan (former Speaker of the US House of Representatives, vice presidential candidate in 2012, U.S. Congressman)
  • Condoleezza Rice (former U.S. Secretary of State)
  • Karl Rove (former strategist to President George W. Bush)
  • Donald Rumsfeld (U.S. Secretary of Defense under President George W. Bush)
  • Mark Sanford (Governor of South Carolina)
  • Elizabeth Cady Stanton (abolitionist activist, women's rights activist)
  • Kenneth Starr (U.S. prosecutor of Democrat Bill Clinton)
  • Michael Steele (Former chairman of the Republican National Committee)
  • Ted Stevens (Former Senator from Alaska)
  • Dr. Mary Edwards Walker (Union Army Civil War doctor and surgeon, abolitionist activist, women's rights activist)
  • John Wayne (American actor)
  • Arnold Schwarzenegger (American actor, Former governor of California)

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "National Leadership". Republican National Committee. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  2. ↑ "FALL 2018 VOTER REGISTRATION TOTALS". Ballot Access News. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  3. ↑ Paul Gottfried, Conservatism in America: Making Sense of the American Right, p. 9, "Postwar conservatives set about creating their own synthesis of free-market capitalism, Christian morality, and the global struggle against Communism." (2009); Gottfried, Theologies and moral concern (1995) p. 12.
  4. ↑ "No Country for Old Social Conservatives?". thecrimson.com. Nair. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Social conservatives win on GOP platform". Politico. July 18, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Republican Party". History. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  7. ↑ Manow, Philip (2018). Welfare Democracies and Party Politics. Oxford University Press. p. 76.
  8. ↑ Pettitt, Robin (2014). Contemporary Party Politics. Macmillan Education. p. 78.
  9. ↑ Siegel, Josh (July 18, 2017). "Centrist Republicans and Democrats meet to devise bipartisan healthcare plan". The Washington Examiner.
  10. ↑ Hill, Kennneth L. (2012). An Essential Guide To American Politics And The American Political System. AuthorHouse. p. 172.
  11. ↑ "I've hesitated to call Donald Trump a fascist. Until now | Opinion". Newsweek. 11 January 2021.
  12. ↑ "The Republican Party has turned fascist – it is now the most dangerous threat in the world | Patrick Cockburn". Independent.co.uk. 23 June 2021.
  13. ↑ Devine, Donald (April 16, 2015). "A New Birth of Fusionism". The American Conservative.
  14. ↑ Goldberg, Jonah (November 5, 2015). "Fusionism, 60 Years Later". National Review.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Miller, William J. (2013). The 2012 Nomination and the Future of the Republican Party. Lexington Books. p. 39.
  16. ↑ Schneider, Gregory (2003). Conservatism in America Since 1930: A Reader. NYU Press. p. 387.
  17. ↑
     • Cassidy, John (February 29, 2016). "Donald Trump is Transforming the G.O.P. Into a Populist, Nativist Party". The New Yorker.
  18. ↑ Gould, J.J. (July 2, 2016). "Why Is Populism Winning on the American Right?". The Atlantic.
  19. ↑ "The Urge to Purge". Politico. October 17, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Trump's trade hawk prepares to swoop on Beijing". Financial Times. November 19, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Members". AECR. Archived from the original on October 16, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Members". IDU. Archived from the original on July 16, 2015.
  23. ↑ "International Democrat Union » APDU". International Democrat Union. May 22, 2018. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015.
  24. ↑ Cartoon of the Day: "The Third-Term Panic". Retrieved on 2008-09-01.
  25. ↑ "Republican Party founded". History.com. Retrieved September 21, 2014.

External links[edit | edit source]

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