Liberal is a political philosophy and Democrat is the name of a political party. People who believe in liberalism often identify as Democrats, but it’s possible to have liberal views without being a member of the Democratic party.

The modern Democratic Party was founded around 1828 and is one of the two major American political parties. Democrats have a strong belief in modern liberal ideas such as equality and social justice. They are in favor of government intervention and regulation to uphold those ideals. They support institutions that fight economic inequality, promote equality, and protect consumers and the environment.

Historically, a Democratic party has been for more government involvement in society. This is seen by the party’s support for institutions like the Environmental Protection Agency and Medicare. The party has also traditionally been for more equal treatment of men and women, as well as minorities.

However, the Democratic Party has shifted further to the left in recent years. While some Americans who vote for the Democratic party still consider themselves liberal, the term has become more associated with a broad range of policy ideas that are further to the left than traditional liberal ideology.

Our survey finds that Democratic Mainstays – the oldest typology group and most unshakeable Democratic loyalists – are more likely to have moderate views than other Democrats. Meanwhile, Outsider Left is the youngest group and holds liberal views with strong conviction. These groups differ in their views about what’s important for the country and world. For instance, Democratic Mainstays are more apt to think that America has a unique character that makes it great compared with other countries (68%). But, this belief is less common among Liberal Democrats (58%).