US Democratic Party 

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Latest news on the Democratic Party, covering Democrats in Congress, the Democratic National Committee, primaries, elections, state parties, party factions and national policy debates.

The Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States, alongside the Republican Party. Its national organisation is the Democratic National Committee, or DNC, which helps run the presidential nominating process through state primaries and caucuses and a national convention. Democrats serve at every level, from city halls and state legislatures to governorships, the House of Representatives, the Senate and the presidency.

News about the party often centres on debate between progressive and moderate wings, the party's message and coalition, candidate selection, fundraising and campaign strategy. Policy areas include healthcare, the cost of living, jobs and labour rights, abortion and reproductive rights, climate and energy, immigration, education, voting rights and the courts. Democratic governors, mayors and members of Congress all shape these debates.

The party's coalition has historically included labour unions, urban and suburban voters, young people, women, Black, Latino and Asian American communities and college graduates. The donkey became its symbol in the 19th century, popularised by the cartoonist Thomas Nast. Figures such as Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Barack Obama and Joe Biden hold a central place in party memory.

The party traces its origins to the 1820s and the supporters of Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren, and it is often described as the oldest active political party in the United States. Its early platform stressed states' rights and limited government. The New Deal under Franklin Roosevelt and the civil rights era under Lyndon Johnson reshaped it into a centre-left party backing a stronger role for government in the economy, social programmes and civil rights.

This NewsNow Democratic Party feed gathers the latest headlines on Democrats, the DNC, House Democrats and Senate Democrats, primaries, campaigns, policy and internal party debate, so you can follow America's Democratic Party from Washington to the state capitals in one place.