The Political Compass untitled DEMOCRATIC PARTY (DNC) - The Democrats won the White House in 2008 and 2012, won some key governorships (PA, NY, MO, MN, and CA) -- but lost control of the US House in 2010, and lost the US Senate in 2014. Democrats run the wide gamut from the near Euro-style democratic-socialist left (Barbara Lee, Raúl Grijalva and the Congressional Progressive Caucus) and traditional liberals (Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden) to the pragmatic "centrist" moderate-to-liberal style (Hillary Clinton, Mark Warner) to the Dem center-right (Harry Reid and the New Democratic Coalition) to the dwindling GOP-style center-conservative right (Joe Manchin, Blue Dog Coalition). Official affiliated national Democratic sites include: REPUBLICAN PARTY (RNC) - Republicans lost control of the Presidency in 2008 and 2012. However, the GOP came on strong in the off-year elections, recapturing control of the US House in 2010 and the US Senate in 2014. Party in 1999. AMERICA FIRST PARTY - The America First Party U.S.
Democrats.org 2016 Election Lindsey Graham Says the Republicans Have Gone ‘Bats–t Crazy’ An Unhealthy Republican Debate Rubio and Cruz Have Same Target, Different Strategies By Joe Klein | 10:48 AM ET By Zeke J Miller / Houston | 9:50 AM ET Hillary Clinton Has a Big Lead Over Bernie Sanders in Florida Poll By Tara John | 9:33 AM ET Marco Rubio Keeps Up Attacks on ‘Con Artist’ Trump By Tara John | 8:27 AM ET Why Donald Trump Can’t Lose By Philip Elliott | Zeke J Miller / Houston | 12:35 AM ET Cruz Picked a Losing Fight With Trump on Polls By Haley Sweetland Edwards | 12:18 AM ET Watch the Tenth Republican Debate in Three Minutes By TIME Video | 12:07 AM ET Read the Full Transcript of the Tenth Republican Debate in Texas By Ryan Teague Beckwith | 12:03 AM ET Ted Cruz Fades on Home Turf By Alex Altman | Feb. 25, 2016 Your browser is out of date. x
Government 101: Elections in the United States - The Voter's Self Defense System - Vote Smart Kinds of Elections: General Elections - an election to fill public offices. Primary Elections - an election prior to the general election in which voters select the candidates who will run on each party's ticket. Primaries are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders, and may be open or closed. a. Open Primary - an election that permits voters to choose on Election Day the party primary in which they wish to vote. Election Vocabulary Electoral College - A group of persons called "electors," selected by the voters in each state, that officially elects the president and vice president. Initiative - An electoral procedure whereby citizens can propose legislation or constitutional amendments and refer the decision to a popular vote by obtaining the required number of signatures on a petition. Machine - A hierarchically organized, centrally led state or local party organization that rewards members with material benefits (patronage). Other Sources of Information:
Candidates on the Issues