Conservative Democrat
In American politics, a conservative Democrat is a member of the Democratic Party with conservative political views, or with views that are conservative compared to the positions taken by other members of the Democratic Party. Traditionally, conservative Democrats have been elected to office from the Southern states, rural areas, the Rust Belt, and the Midwest.[11]
Conservative Democrat | |
---|---|
Ideology | |
Political position | Centre[8][9] to center-right[10] |
National affiliation | Democratic Party |
Colors | Blue |
This article is part of a series on |
Conservatism in the United States |
---|
![]() ![]() |
Prior to 1964, both parties had influential liberal, moderate, and conservative wings. During this period, conservative Democrats formed the Democratic half of the conservative coalition. After 1964, the conservative wing assumed a greater presence in the Republican Party, although it did not become the mainstay of the party until the nomination of Ronald Reagan in 1980. The Democratic Party retained its conservative wing through the 1970s with the help of urban machine politics.
After 1980, the Republicans became a mostly right-wing party, with conservative leaders such as Newt Gingrich, Trent Lott, and Tom DeLay. The Democrats, while keeping their liberal base intact, grew their centrist wing, the New Democrats, in the 1990s, with leaders such as Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and Evan Bayh. In addition to the New Democrat Coalition, which represents the moderate wing of the Democratic Party, the Blue Dog Coalition represents centrist conservative Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
History
1876–1964: Solid South
The Solid South describes the reliable electoral support of the U.S. Southern states for Democratic Party candidates for almost a century after the Reconstruction era. Except for 1928, when Catholic candidate Al Smith ran on the Democratic ticket, Democrats won heavily in the South in every presidential election from 1876 until 1964 (and even in 1928, the divided South provided most of Smith's electoral votes). The Democratic dominance originated in many Southerners' animosity towards the Republican Party's role in the Civil War and Reconstruction.[12]
1874–1896: Rise of agrarian populism
In 1896, William Jennings Bryan won the Democratic Party nomination by adopting many of the Populist Party's proposals as his own.[13] He also won the Populist nomination. Conservative Democrats opposed him, especially in the Northeast where "Gold Democrats" were most active. "Gold Democrats" were supporters of Grover Cleveland, the hero of conservative Democrats. They formed the National Democratic Party (United States) and nominated John M. Palmer (politician), former governor of Illinois, for president and Simon Bolivar Buckner, former governor of Kentucky, for vice-president. They also nominated a few other candidates, including William Campbell Preston Breckinridge for Congress in Kentucky, but they won no elections.[14]
1932–1948: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal coalition
The 1932 election brought about a major realignment in political party affiliation. Franklin D. Roosevelt forged a coalition of labor unions, liberals, Catholics, African Americans, and southern whites.[15][16] Roosevelt's program for alleviating the Great Depression, collectively known as the New Deal, emphasized only economic issues, and thus was compatible with the views of those who supported the New Deal programs but were otherwise conservative. This included the Southern Democrats, who were an important part of FDR's New Deal coalition.
There were a few conservative Democrats who came to oppose the New Deal, including Senator Harry F. Byrd, Senator Rush Holt Sr., Senator Josiah Bailey, and Representative Samuel B. Pettengill. The American Liberty League was formed in 1934, to oppose the New Deal. It was made up of wealthy businessmen and conservative Democrats including former Congressman Jouett Shouse of Kansas, former Congressman from West Virginia and 1924 Democratic presidential candidate, John W. Davis, and former governor of New York and 1928 Democratic presidential candidate Al Smith. In 1936, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of War, Henry Skillman Breckinridge ran against Roosevelt for the Democratic nomination for president. John Nance Garner, of Texas, 32nd Vice President of the United States under Roosevelt, a conservative Southerner, broke with Roosevelt in 1937 and ran against him for the Democratic nomination for president in 1940, but lost.
Political anomalies during the Great Depression
During the Roosevelt administration, several radical populist proposals which went beyond what Roosevelt was willing to advocate gained in popularity. It is notable that all four of the main promoters of these proposals, Charles Coughlin, Huey Long, Francis Townsend, and Upton Sinclair, were originally strong New Deal supporters but turned against Roosevelt because they believed the New Deal programs didn't go far enough. Like the New Deal programs, these populist proposals were based entirely on single economic reforms, but did not take a position on any other issue and were therefore compatible with those holding otherwise conservative views. Some historians today believe that the primary base of support for the proposals of Coughlin, Long, Townsend, and Sinclair was conservative middle class whites who saw their economic status slipping away during the Depression.[17]
A different source of conservative Democratic dissent against the New Deal came from a group of journalists who considered themselves classical liberals and Democrats of the old school, and were opposed to big government programs on principle; these included Albert Jay Nock and John T. Flynn, whose views later became influential in the libertarian movement.
1948–1968: Segregationist backlash
The proclamation by President Harry S. Truman and Minneapolis Mayor Hubert Humphrey of support for a civil rights plank in the Democratic Party platform of 1948 led to a walkout of 35 delegates from Mississippi and Alabama. These southern delegations nominated their own "States Rights Democratic Party" (a/k/a "Dixiecrat Party") nominees with South Carolina Governor Strom Thurmond leading the ticket (Thurmond would later represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate, and join the Republicans in 1964). The Dixiecrats held their convention in Birmingham, Alabama, where they nominated Thurmond for president and Fielding L. Wright, governor of Mississippi, for vice president. Dixiecrat leaders worked to have Thurmond-Wright declared the "official" Democratic Party ticket in Southern states.[18] They succeeded in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina; in other states, they were forced to run as a third-party ticket. Preston Parks, elected as a presidential elector for Truman in Tennessee, instead voted for the Thurmond-Wright ticket. Leander Perez attempted to keep the States Rights Party alive in Louisiana after 1948.
Similar breakaway Southern Democratic candidates running on states' rights and segregationist platforms would continue in 1956 (T. Coleman Andrews), and 1960 (Harry F. Byrd). None would be as successful as the American Independent Party campaign of George Wallace, the Democratic governor of Alabama, in 1968. Wallace had briefly run in the Democratic primaries of 1964 against Lyndon Johnson, but dropped out of the race early. In 1968, he formed the new American Independent Party and received 13.5% of the popular vote, and 46 electoral votes, carrying several Southern states.[19] The AIP would run presidential candidates in several other elections, including Southern Democrats (Lester Maddox in 1976 and John Rarick in 1980), but none of them did nearly as well as Wallace.
1980–1999
After 1968, with desegregation a settled issue, conservative Democrats, mostly Southerners, managed to remain in the United States Congress throughout the 1970s and 1980s. These included Democratic House members as conservative as Larry McDonald, who was also a leader in the John Birch Society. During the administration of Ronald Reagan, the term "boll weevils" was applied to this bloc of conservative Democrats, who consistently voted in favor of tax cuts, increases in military spending, and deregulation favored by the Reagan administration but were opposed to cuts in social welfare spending.[20]
Boll weevils was sometimes used as a political epithet by Democratic Party leaders, implying that the boll weevils were unreliable on key votes or not team players. Most of the boll weevils either retired from office or (like Senators Phil Gramm and Richard Shelby) switched parties and joined the Republicans. Since 1988, the term boll weevils has fallen out of favor.
Some Democratic leaders during the 1980s did turn toward conservative views, albeit very different from the previous incarnations of southern Democrats. In 1988, Joe Lieberman defeated Republican U.S. Senate incumbent Lowell Weicker of Connecticut by running to the right of Weicker and receiving the endorsements of the Moral Majority and the National Rifle Association. Colorado governor Richard Lamm, and former Minnesota Senator and presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy both took up immigration reduction as an issue.[21] Lamm wrote a novel, 1988, about a third-party presidential candidate and former Democrat running as a progressive conservative, and Lamm himself would go on to unsuccessfully seek the nomination of the Reform Party in 1996. McCarthy began to give speeches in the late 1980s naming the Internal Revenue Service, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Federal Election Commission as the three biggest threats to liberty in the United States.
Arthur Schlesinger Jr., known during the 1950s and 1960s as a champion of "Vital Center" ideology and the policies of Harry S. Truman and John F. Kennedy, wrote a 1992 book, The Disuniting of America critical of multiculturalism.[22] Jerry Brown, meanwhile, would adopt the flat tax as a core issue during the 1992 Democratic primaries. Bill Clinton, the winner of the 1992 Democratic nomination, ran as a New Democrat and a member of the centrist Democratic Leadership Council, distancing himself from the party's liberal wing.
2001–present
During the 2006 midterm elections, the Democratic Party ran moderates and even a few conservative Democrats for at-risk Republican seats.[23] The Blue Dog Democrats gained nine seats during the elections.[24] The New Democrats had support from 27 of the 40 Democratic candidates running for at-risk Republican seats.[23]
In South Carolina in 2008, the Democratic candidate for United States Senator was Bob Conley, a traditional Catholic and a former activist for the presidential candidacy of Ron Paul. Conley failed in his bid to defeat Republican Lindsey Graham, receiving 42.4 percent of the vote.[25]
In his 2010 campaign for reelection, Walter Minnick, U.S. Representative for Idaho's 1st congressional district, was endorsed by Tea Party Express, an extremely rare occurrence for a Democrat.[26][27] Minnick was the only Democrat to receive a 100% rating from the Club for Growth, an organization that typically supports conservative Republicans.[28] Minnick lost to Raúl Labrador, a conservative Republican, in the general election.
In the 2018 House of Representatives elections, the Democratic Party nominated moderate to conservative candidates in many contested districts and won a majority in the chamber. In the aftermath of the elections, the Blue Dog Coalition expanded to 27 members.[29]
Congressional caucuses
Blue Dog Coalition
The Blue Dog Coalition was formed in 1995[30][31][32] during the 104th Congress to give members from the Democratic Party representing conservative-leaning districts a unified voice after Democrats' loss of Congress in the 1994 Republican Revolution.[33] The Coalition consists of centrist and conservative Democrats.[34]
The term "Blue Dog Democrat" is credited to Texas Democratic U.S. Representative Pete Geren (who later joined the Bush administration). Geren opined that the members had been "choked blue" by Democrats on the left.[35] It is related to the political term "Yellow Dog Democrat", a reference to Southern Democrats said to be so loyal they would even vote for a yellow dog before they would vote for any Republican. The term is also a reference to the "Blue Dog" paintings of Cajun artist George Rodrigue of Lafayette, Louisiana.[36][37]
The Blue Dog Coalition "advocates for fiscal responsibility, a strong national defense and bipartisan consensus rather than conflict with Republicans". It acts as a check on legislation that its members perceive to be too far to the right or the left on the political spectrum.[34] The Blue Dog Coalition is often involved in searching for a compromise between liberal and conservative positions. As of 2014, there was no mention of social issues in the official Blue Dog materials.[38]
New Democrat Coalition
The New Democrat Coalition is a caucus within the House of Representatives[39] founded in 1997[40] by Representatives Cal Dooley, Jim Moran, and Tim Roemer.[41] The Coalition supported the "third way" policies of then-President Bill Clinton.[39] The Coalition consists of moderate, centrist Democrats[42][43][44][45][46] and center-left Democrats.[42] The group is known as fiscally moderate[47][48] and pro-business,[39][40] and is positioned to the left of the Blue Dog Coalition.[40]
Ideology and polls
According to a 2015 poll from the Pew Research Center, 54% of conservative and moderate Democrats supported same-sex marriage in 2015. This figure represented an increase of 22% from a decade earlier.[49]
In 2019, the Pew Research Center found that 47% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning registered voters identify as liberal or very liberal, 38% identify as moderate, and 14% identify as conservative, or very conservative.[50]
Current officeholders
United States Senators
- Joe Manchin, United States Senator from West Virginia (Since 2010), Chair of the Senate Energy Committee (Since 2021), and Ranking Member of Senate Energy Committee (2019–2021)[51][52]
- Kyrsten Sinema, United States Senator from Arizona (Since 2019)[53][52]
United States Representatives
- Sanford Bishop, United States Representative from Georgia's 2nd congressional district (Since 1993)[54]
- Jim Cooper, member of the United States House of Representatives from Tennessee's 5th congressional district (2003–) and Tennessee's 4th congressional district (1983–1995).[55]
- Jim Costa, member of the United States House of Representatives from California's 16th congressional district (2013–) and California's 20th congressional district (2005–2013), member of the California Senate from the 16th district (1995–2002), and member of the California State Assembly from the 30th district (1978–1994).[56]
- Henry Cuellar, member of the United States House of Representatives from Texas's 28th congressional district (2005–), 102nd Texas Secretary of State (2001), and member of the Texas House of Representatives (1987–2001).[57]
- Josh Gottheimer, member of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey's 5th congressional district (2017–), attorney, and writer.[58]
- Stephanie Murphy, member of the United States House of Representatives from Florida's 7th congressional district (2017–).[59]
- Kurt Schrader, member of the United States House of Representatives from Oregon's 5th congressional district (2009–), member of the Oregon Senate from the 20th district (2003–2008), and member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 23rd district (1997–2003).[60]
- David Scott, member of the United States House of Representatives from Georgia's 13th congressional district (2003–), Chair of the House Agriculture Committee (2021–), member of the Georgia State Senate from the 36th district (1983–2003), and member of the Georgia House of Representatives (1975–1983).[61]
Governors
- John Bel Edwards, Governor of Louisiana (2016–).[62]
Former officeholders
Presidents of the United States
- Andrew Jackson, 7th President of the United States (1829–1837), United States Senator from Tennessee (1797–1798, 1823–1825), 1st Territorial Governor of Florida (1821), Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court (1798–1804), and member of the United States House of Representatives from Tennessee's at-large congressional district (1796–1797), and major general in the United States Army, United States Volunteers, and Tennessee Militia.[63]
- Franklin Pierce, 14th President of the United States (1853–1857), United States Senator from New Hampshire (1837–1842), member of the United States House of Representatives from New Hampshire's at-large congressional district (1833–1837), Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives (1831–1833), member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from Hillsborough (1829–1833), Town Meeting Moderator for Hillsborough, New Hampshire (1829–1836), brigadier general in the United States Army (1847–1848), and colonel in the New Hampshire Militia (1831–1847).[64]
- Andrew Johnson, 17th President of the United States (1865–1869), 16th Vice President of the United States (1865), United States Senator from Tennessee (1875, 1857–1862), Military Governor of Tennessee (1862–1865), 15th Governor of Tennessee (1853–1857), member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 1st congressional district (1843–1853), Mayor of Greeneville, Tennessee (1834–1835), and brigadier general in the United States Army (1862–1865).[65]
- Grover Cleveland, 22nd and 24th President of the United States (1885–1889) and (1893–1897), 28th Governor of New York (1883–1885), 35th Mayor of Buffalo, New York (January 2, 1882 – November 28, 1882), 12th Sheriff of Erie County, New York, (1871–1873). He was a pro-business Bourbon Democrat and fiscal conservative.
- Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the United States (1913–1921), Governor of New Jersey (1911–1913). He began his political career as a conservative Democrat before embracing some aspects of progressivism.[66][67] Despite the progressivism of some of his policies as governor and president, he actively opposed the economic advancement and social integration of African-Americans.[68][69][70]
Vice Presidents of the United States
- John C. Calhoun, 7th Vice President of the United States (1825–1832), United States Senator from South Carolina (1845–1850), 16th United States Secretary of State (1844–1845), 10th Secretary of War (1817–1825), Member, United States House of Representatives from South Carolina's 6th District (1811–1817). He was a supporter of slavery, state sovereignty and a proponent of the theory of nullification.[71]
- John Nance Garner, 32nd Vice President of the United States (1933–1941), Member, United States House of Representatives from 15th District of Texas (1903–1933), 39th Speaker of the House of Representatives (1931–1933), House Minority Leader (1929–1931), Leader, House Democratic Caucus (1929–1933), Member, Texas House of Representatives from Texas 91st District (1899–1903), County Judge, Uvalde County Texas (1893–1896). He supported the poll tax. Although he served as vice president under Franklin D. Roosevelt, he turned against Roosevelt during his second term, taking a more conservative stance on several issues.
- Thomas A. Hendricks, 21st Vice President of the United States (1885), 16th Governor of Indiana (1873–1877), United States Senator from Indiana (1863–1869), and member of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana's 6th congressional district (1853–1855) and Indiana's 5th congressional district (1851–1853).[72]
United States Governors
- George Wallace, 45th Governor of Alabama (1983–1987, 1971–1979, and 1963–1979), First Gentleman of Alabama (1967–1968), member of the Alabama House of Representatives from Barbour County (1946–1952), and presidential nominee for the American Independent Party in the 1968 presidential election.[73]
- Lurleen Wallace, 46th Governor of Alabama (1967–1968), First Lady of Alabama (1963–1967).[74][75]
- Bill Ritter, 41st Governor of Colorado (2007–2011) and District Attorney of Denver (1995–2005). Ritters has aligned himself with the left wing of the Democratic Party, supporting abortion rights and funding, universal healthcare, environmental protection, a progressive energy policy, raising taxes, and welfare, but strongly opposed same-sex marriage,[76] illegal immigration, and labor unions[77] as well as supporting a tough-on-crime policy.[78]
- James E. Broome, 3rd Governor of Florida (1853–1857).[79]
- C. Farris Bryant, 34th Governor of Florida (1961–1965), Director of the Office of Emergency Planning (1966–1967), Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives (1953–1954), and member of the Florida House of Representatives from Marion County (1946–1956).[80]
- Chauncey Sparks, 41st Governor of Alabama (1943–1947).[81]
- Lester Maddox, 75th Governor of Georgia (1967–1971), 7th Lieutenant Governor of Georgia (1971–1975), presidential nominee for the American Independent Party in the 1976 presidential election.[82]
- Joan Finney, 42nd Governor of Kansas (1991–1995), 33rd Kansas State Treasurer (1975–1991). Former Republican (before 1974). She was anti-abortion.[83]
- Francis T. Nicholls, 28th Governor of Louisiana (1888–1892, 1877–1880), brigadier general in the Confederate States Army (1861–1865), and 2nd lieutenant in the United States Army (1855–1856).[84]
- Ross Barnett, 53rd Governor of Mississippi (1960–1964).[85]
- John Bell Williams, 55th Governor of Mississippi (1968–1972), member of the United States House of Representatives from Mississippi's 3rd congressional district (1963–1968), Mississippi's 4th congressional district (1953–1963), and Mississippi's 7th congressional district (1947–1953).[86]
- George B. McClellan, 24th Governor of New Jersey (1878–1881), Commanding General of the United States Army (1861–1862), major general in the United States Army (1846–1857), and presidential nominee for the Democratic Party in the 1864 presidential election. His term as governor was marked by careful, conservative management.[87]
- Samuel J. Tilden, 25th Governor of New York (1875–1876), member of the New York State Assembly from Manhattan's 18th district (1872) and Manhattan's at-large, multi-member district (1846–1847), Chair of the New York Democratic Party (1866–1874), Corporation Counsel of New York City (1843–1844), and presidential nominee for the Democratic Party in the 1876 presidential election. He was a conservative "hard money" Democrat.[88][89]
- William H. Murray, 9th Governor of Oklahoma (1931–1935), member of the United States House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 4th congressional district (1915–1917) and Oklahoma's at-large congressional district (1913–1915), 1st Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives (1907–1909), and member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives (1907–1909).[90][91]
- Bob Casey Sr., 42nd Governor of Pennsylvania (1987–1995), 45th Auditor General of Pennsylvania (1969–1977), and member of the Pennsylvania State Senate from the 22nd district (1963–1968).[92]
- Duncan Clinch Heyward, 88th Governor of South Carolina, (1903–1911).[93]
- George Bell Timmerman Jr., 105th Governor of South Carolina (1955–1959) and 76th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina (1947–1951).[94]
- Phil Bredesen, 48th Governor of Tennessee (2003–2011), and 66th Mayor of Nashville (1991–1999).[95]
- James E. Ferguson, 26th Governor of Texas (1915–1917), First Gentleman of Texas (1933–1935, 1925–1927), and presidential nominee for the American Party in the 1920 presidential election.[96]
- Miriam A. Ferguson, 29th and 32nd Governor of Texas (1925–1927, 1933–1935) and First Lady of Texas (1915–1917). She was a fiscal conservative.[96]
- Coke R. Stevenson, 35th Governor of Texas (1941–1947), 31st Lieutenant Governor of Texas (1939–1941), Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives (1933–1939), and member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 86th district (1929–1939).[97]
- John Connally, 39th Governor of Texas (1963–1969), 61st United States Secretary of the Treasury (1971–1972), 56th United States Secretary of the Navy (1961), and lieutenant commander in the United States Navy. Joined the Republican Party in 1973.[98]
United States Senators
- Mark Pryor, United States Senator from Arkansas (2003–2015), 53rd Attorney General of Arkansas (1999–2003), and member of the Arkansas House of Representatives (1991–1995).[99][100]
- Blanche Lincoln, United States Senator from Arkansas (1999-2011), Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee (2009-2011) and member of the United States House of Representatives from Arkansas's 1st congressional district (1993-1997).
- Joe Lieberman, United States Senator from Connecticut (1989–2013), Chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (2007–2013, 2001–2003, 2001), 21st Attorney General of Connecticut (1983–1989), member of the Connecticut State Senate from the 10th district (1973–1981) and 11th district (1971–1973), and vice presidential nominee for the Democratic Party in the 2000 presidential election.[101][102] Became an Independent in 2006.
- Zell Miller, United States Senator from Georgia (2000–2005), 79th Governor of Georgia (1991–1999), 8th Lieutenant Governor of Georgia (1975–1991), member of the Georgia State Senate from the 50th district (1963–1965) and 40th district (1961–1965), and sergeant in the United States Marine Corps (1953–1956).[103][104]
- Herman Talmadge, United States Senator from Georgia (1957–1981), Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry (1971–1981), and 71st Governor of Georgia (1948–1955 and 1947).[105]
- Joe Donnelly, United States Senator from Indiana (2013–2019) and member of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana's 2nd congressional district (2007–2013).[106][52]
- Wendell Ford, United States Senator from Kentucky (1974–1999), Senate Minority Whip (1995–1999), Senate Majority Whip (1991–1995), 53rd Governor of Kentucky (1971–1974), 45th Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky (1967–1971), and member of the Kentucky Senate from the 8th district (1966–1967).[107]
- Mary Landrieu, United States Senator from Louisiana (1997–2015), Chair of the Senate Energy Committee (2014–2015), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee (2009–2014), Treasurer of Louisiana (1988–1996), and member of the Louisiana House of Representatives (1980–1988).[108][109]
- Ben Nelson, United States Senator from Nebraska (2001–2013), 37th Governor of Nebraska (1991–1999), and Director of the Nebraska Department of Insurance (1975–1976).[110]
- Kent Conrad, United States Senator from North Dakota (1992–2013, 1987–1992), Chair of the Senate Budget Committee (2007–2013, 2001–2003), and 19th Tax Commissioner of North Dakota (1981–1986).[111][112]
- Heidi Heitkamp, United States Senator from North Dakota (2013–2019), 28th Attorney General of North Dakota (1992–2000), and 20th Tax Commissioner of North Dakota (1986–1992).[113][52]
- Arlen Specter, United States Senator from Pennsylvania (1981–2011), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee (2005–2007), Chair of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee (2003–2005, 1997–2001), Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee (1995–1997), 19th District Attorney of Philadelphia (1966–1974), and first lieutenant in the United States Air Force (1951–1953). Republican from 1965 to 2009.[114]
- Strom Thurmond, United States Senator from South Carolina (1956–2003, 1954–1956), president pro tempore emeritus of the United States Senate (2001–2003) president pro tempore of the United States Senate (2001, 1995–2001, 1981–1987), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee (0995–1999), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee (1981–1987), 103rd Governor of South Carolina (1947–1951), member of the South Carolina Senate from Edgefield County (1933–1938), and presidential nominee for the State's Rights Democratic Party in the 1948 presidential election. Joined the Republican Party in 1964.[115][116]
- Lloyd Bentsen, United States Senator from Texas (1971–1993), 69th United States Secretary of the Treasury (1993–1994), Chair of the Senate Finance Committee (1987–1993), member of the United States House of Representatives from Texas's 15th congressional district (1948–1955), and vice presidential nominee for the Democratic Party in the 1988 presidential election.[117][118]
- John H. Overton, United States Senator from Louisiana (1933–1948), Member United States House of Representatives, 8th District, Louisiana (1931–1933). Originally a supporter of Huey Long, while in the Senate, he generally voted with the Conservative Coalition.
- Absalom Willis Robertson, Unites State Senator from Virginia (1946–1966), Member, United States House of Representatives, Virginia At Large District (1933–1935), 7th District (1935–1946), Commonwealth Attorney, Rockbridge County, Virginia (1922–1928). He was a Dixiecrat and member of the Conservative Coalition who opposed Civil Rights.
- James Eastland, United States Senator from Mississippi (1941) and (1943–1978).
- John C. Stennis, United States Senator from Mississippi (1947–1989).
- Harry F. Byrd, United States Senator from Virginia (1933–1965), Governor of Virginia (1926–1930).
- Harry F. Byrd, Jr., United States Senator from Virginia (1965–1983), Virginia State Senate 24th District (1958–1965), Virginia State Senate, 25th District (1948–1958). He was a Democrat before 1970 and an independent after 1970.
- Richard Russell, Jr., United States Senator from Georgia (1933–1971), 66th governor of Georgia (1931–1933). Russell was a founder of the conservative coalition.
- Pat McCarran, United States Senator from Nevada (1933–1954), Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nevada (1917–1919) Associate Justice, Supreme Court of Nevada (1913–1917), Nye County, Nevada District Attorney (1907–1909), Member, Nevada Assembly, Washoe County (1903–1905).
- W. Lee O'Daniel, United States Senator from Texas (1941–1949), 34th Governor of Texas (1939–1941). He endorsed the Texas Regulars.
- Rush Holt, Sr., United States Senator from West Virginia (1935–1941), Member, West Virginia House of Delegates (1931–1935), 1942–1953), (1954–1955). He was ranked the third most conservative Democrat serving in the Senate from 1932 and 1977. He was a Democrat before 1944 and a Republican afterward.
- Howell Heflin, United States Senator from Alabama (1979–1997), Chairman, Senate Ethics Committee (1987–1992), 24th Chief Justice, Alabama Supreme Court (1971–1977).
- Allen J. Ellender, United States Senator from Louisiana (1937–1972), President Pro Tempore, United States Senate (1971–1972), Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture (1955–1971), Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations (1971–1972), 54th Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives (1932–1936), He voted with the Conservative Coalition 77% of the time.[119] He signed the Southern Manifesto in 1956.[120]
- John L. McClellan, United States Senator from Arkansas (1943–1977), Member, United States House of Representative from the 6th District, Arkansas (1935–1939).
- Spessard Holland, United States Senator from Florida (1946–1971), 28th Governor of Florida (1941–1945), Member Florida Senate, 7th District (1932–1940).
- George S. Houston, United States Senator from Alabama (03-04-1879–12-31-1879), 24th Governor of Alabama (1874–1878), Member, United States House of Representatives, Alabama 5th District (1843–1849) and (1851–1861), Alabama At Large District (1841–1843), Chairman, House Democratic Caucus (1859–1861). He was a Bourbon Democrat.
- Carter Glass, United States Senator from Virginia (1920–1946), President Pro-Tempore of the Senate (1941–1945), Chairman, Senate Appropriation Committee (1933–1946), 47th Secretary of the Treasury (1918–1920), member, United States House of Representatives from 6th District of Virginia (1902–1918), Chairman, House Banking Committee (1913–1918), Member, Virginia State Senate, District 20 (1899–1902). He was a member of the Conservative Byrd Machine who opposed the New Deal and supported States Rights and fiscal conservatism.
- John S. Barbour, Jr., United States Senator from Virginia (1889–1892),Member United States House of Representatives, Virginia 8th District of Virginia (1881–1887). He was the founder of a conservative political machine, later known as the Byrd Organization, which dominated Virginia politics for 80 years.
- Wade Hampton III, United States Senator from South Carolina (1879–1891), 77th Governor of South Carolina (1877–1879), Member, South Carolina State Senate from Richland County, South Carolina (1858–1961), Member, South Carolina General Assembly from Richland County (1852–1858). He was a leader among Redeemers,[121] the Southern wing of the Bourbon Democrats.
- Lucius Q. C. Lamar, United States Senator from Mississippi (1877–1885), Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court (1888–1893). Lamar was a Southern Redeemer[121] who later became known for his advocacy of racial reconciliation.[122]
- Edward R. Burke United States Senator from Nebraska (1935–1941), Member, United States House of Representatives (1933–1935), Member, Omaha Board of Education (1927–1930), originally a supporter of the First New Deal, he opposed the Second New Deal, Franklin D. Roosevelt's court packing plan, elements of his foreign policy and opposed his reelection in 1940.
- Clyde R. Hoey, United States Senator from North Carolina (1945–1954), 59th Governor of North Carolina (1937–1941), Member, United States House of Representatives from North Carolina's 9th District (1919–1921), Member, North Carolina State Senate (1902–1904), Member, North Carolina House of Representatives (1898–1902). He was a conservative and a segregationist.
- David Worth Clark, United States Senator from Idaho (1939–1945), member, United States House of Representatives from Idaho's Second District (1935–1939).
- James A. Reed, United States Senator from Missouri (1911–1929), Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri (1904–1906), city councilor, Kansas City, (1897–1998), county prosecutor Jackson County, Missouri (1898–1900). He opposed the League of Nations and supported immigration reform to exclude Asian and African immigration.
- David I. Walsh, United States Senator, Massachusetts (1926–1947), 46th Governor of Massachusetts (1914–1916), 43rd Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts (1913–1914). He was an isolationist member of the America First Committee.
- John M. Palmer (politician), United States Senator from Illinois (1891–1897), 15th Governor of Illinois (1869–1873), he was a conservative Bourbon Democrat, who was the presidential candidate of the Bourbon Democratic National Democratic Party (United States) in 1896.
- Willis Smith, United States Senator from North Carolina (1950–1953), North Carolina House of Representatives (1928–1932), when he ran for the Senate in 1950, the liberal wing of the party opposed him, but he was aided by conservative Jesse Helms.
- Thomas E. Watson, United States Senator from Georgia (1921–1922), member United States House of Representatives from Georgia's 10th District (1891–1893), he was vice-presidential candidate of the left-wing Populist Party in 1896, and its candidate for president in 1904 and 1908. Although he was originally a left-wing Populist, in his later career he moved to the right and denounced socialism and became a white supremacist.[123][124]
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives
- Dale Alford, Member of the United States House of Representatives from Arkansas 5th District (1959–1963), Member, Little Rock School Board (1955–1959)
- William Barksdale, Member of the United States House of Representatives from Mississippi At Large District (1853–1955) and 3rd District (1855–1861). He was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg.
- John Barrow, Member of the United States House of Representatives from Georgia's 12th congressional district (2005–2015).[125]
- Iris Faircloth Blitch, Member of United States House of Representatives from Georgia's 8th District (1955–1963), Member, Georgia Senate (1947–1949) and (1953–1954), Member, Georgia House of Representatives (1947–1949), Georgia Democratic Party National Committee member (1948–1954). She was a signer of the 1956 Southern Manifesto. In 1964, she changed her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican and endorsed Barry M. Goldwater for president.
- Dan Boren, Member of the United States House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 2nd district (2005–2013) and Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 28th district (2002–2004)[126]
- Glen Browder, Member of the United States House of Representatives from Alabama's 3rd district (1989–1997), Secretary of State of Alabama (1987–1989) and Member of the Alabama House of Representatives (1983–1986)[127]
- Bill Brewster, Member of the United States House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 3rd district (1991–1997), and Oklahoma House of Representatives (1983 – 1990)[127]
- Scotty Baesler, Member of the United States House of Representatives from Kentucky's 6th district (1993–1999), Mayor of Lexington, Kentucky (1981 – 1993) and Judge of the Fayette County District Court (1979 – 1981)[127]
- Martin Dies, Jr., Member, United States House of Representatives, Texas 2nd District (1931–1945) and Texas At Large District (1953–1959), Chairman, House Committee Investigating Un-American Activities (1936–1944). A conservative, he was a signer of the Southern Manifesto.
- William Jennings Bryan Dorn, Member, United States House of Representatives, South Carolina 3rd District (1947–1949) and (1951–1974), Chairman, United States Veterans Affairs Committee (1973–1974), Member, South Carolina State Senate from Greenwood County (1941–1942), Member, South Carolina House of Representatives, Greenwood county (1939–1940), He was a signer of the Southern Manifesto. In 1966, it was reported that the conservative Liberty Lobby had given him a "Statesman of the Republic" award for his conservative voting record.
- Walter Flowers, Member, United States House of Representatives, Alabama 5th District (1969–1973), 7th District (1973–1979), a conservative Democrat, he was national chairman of George Wallace's campaign for president in 1972.
- John Flynt, Member of the United States House of Representatives from Georgia 4th District (1954–1965) and 6th District (1965–1979), Member, Georgia House of Representatives (1947–1948). He was considered one of the most conservative Democrats in the House in his time.
- Ezekiel C. Gathings, Member of the United States House of Representatives from the Fourth District of Arkansas (1939–1969), Chairman of the House Select Committee on Current Pornographic Materials in 1952, member, Arkansas Senate, 32nd District (1935–1939. He was a conservative segregationist.
- Pete Geren, United States Secretary of the Army (2007–2009), United States Under Secretary of the Army (2006–2007), Acting United States Secretary of the Air Force (2005), Member of the United States House of Representatives from Texas's 12th district (1989–1997)[127]
- Ralph Hall, Member of the United States House of Representatives from Texas 4th District (1981–2015), Chairman of House Science Committee (2011–2013), Member, Texas Senate, 9th District (1963–1973), county judge, Rockwell County, Texas (1950–1962). He described himself as a conservative Democrat, until 2004, when he switched to Republican.
- Burr Harrison, Member of the United States House of Representatives from 7th District of Virginia (1946–1963), member Virginia State Senate, 25th District (1940–1943). He was a member of the conservative Byrd Organization who supported Massive Resistance to desegregation and was a signer of the Southern Manifesto against the Supreme Court decision requiring desegregation of public schools.
- F. Edward Hebert, Member of the United States House of Representatives from the 1st District of Louisiana (1941–1977), Chairman, Armed Services Committee (1971–1975). He was an opponent of desegregation and signed the Southern Manifesto. He served on the House Committee on Un-American Activities.
- Andy Ireland, Member of the United States House of Representatives from Florida's 8th District (1977–1983) and 10th District (1983–1993). He was a Democrat until 1984, when he switched to Republican.
- Laurence M. Keitt, Member of the United States House of Representatives from South Carolina 3rd District (1856–1860)
- Dan Lipinski, Member of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois's 3rd district (2005–2021)[128]
- Alexander Long, Member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio's 2nd District (1863–1865), Member, Ohio House of Representatives from Hamilton County (1846–1850). Elected as a "free-soil" Democrat, he became a "copperhead" opponent of the Civil War, who supported states' rights and opposed emancipation and suffrage for African-Americans.
- Speedy Long, Member of the United States House of Representatives from the 8th District of Louisiana (1965–1973), District Attorney for the 28th Judicial District of Louisiana (1973–1985), he was an outspoken segregationist.
- Bill Orton, Member of the United States House of Representatives from Utah's 3rd district (1991–1997)[129]
- John Otho Marsh, Jr., Member of the United States House of Representatives from the 7th District of Virginia (1963–1971), Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs (1973–1979), Counselor to the President (1974–1977), 14th Secretary of the Navy (1981–1989). He was a Democrat until the 1980s and a Republican afterwards.
- Ben McAdams, Member of the United States House of Representatives from Utah's 4th congressional district (2019–2021), Mayor of Salt Lake County (2013–2019), and Member of Utah Senate (2009–2012).[130]
- Jim Matheson, Member of the United States House of Representatives from Utah's 2nd congressional district (2001–2013) and Member of the United States House of Representatives from Utah's 4th congressional district (2013–2015).[131]
- Larry McDonald, Member, United States House of Representatives, Georgia, 7th District (1975–1983), second president of the John Birch Society beginning in 1983.
- Otto Passman, Member, United States House of Representatives, Louisiana 5th District (1947–1977). He was known for his opposition to Foreign Aid spending.
- Collin Peterson, Chair of the House Agriculture Committee (2007–2011; 2019–2021), Member of the United States House of Representatives from Minnesota's 7th district (1991–2021)[132]
- Samuel B. Pettengill, Member, United States House of Representatives, Indiana Second District, (1933–1939), Indiana 13th District (1931–1933), Although he served in Congress as a Democrat, he later switched to Republican and was elected Chairman of the Republican National Finance Committee in 1942. He was the author of several conservative books.
- Lewis F. Payne, Jr., Member of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia's 5th district (1988–1997)[127]
- Mike Ross, Member of the United States House of Representatives from Arkansas's 4th district (2001–2013)[127]
- John E. Rankin, Member of the United States House of Representatives from Mississippi 1921–1953. A strong anti-communist, he was one of the founders of the House Un-American Activities Committee. Although he originally supported some New Deal legislation, he later supported the Conservative Coalition.
- John Rarick, Member of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana 6th District (1967–1975). Ran for president in 1980 on the American Independent Party ticket.
- L. Mendel Rivers, Member, United States House of Representatives from South Carolina 1st District (1941–1970), member, South Carolina House of Representatives, Charleston County (1934–1936). He was an ardent segregationist, a supporter of law and order politics and a war hawk during the Vietnam Conflict.
- Tommy F. Robinson, Member, United States House of Representatives from Arkansas 2nd District, (1985–1991), sheriff, Pulaski County, Arkansas (1981–1984). In Congress, he often clashed with Democratic leadership and was identified with the Boll Weevil faction of the Democratic party. In 1989, he switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican, saying the Democratic party had become too liberal.
- Armistead I. Selden Jr., Member, United States House of Representative from Alabama's 6th District (1953–1963), At Large (1963–1965), and 5th District (1965–1969), Member, Alabama House of Representatives (1951–1952), United States Ambassador to Fiji, Tonga and Western Samoa (1974–1978), United States Ambassador to New Zealand (1974–1979), United States Ambassador to Samoa (1974–1979). He was originally a Democrat until 1979, when he switched to Republican.
- Jouett Shouse, Member of the United States House of Representatives from 7th District of Kansas (1913–1919). He was known as a conservative who opposed the New Deal. He was president of the conservative American Liberty League from 1934 to 1940.
- Howard W. Smith, Member of the United States House of Representatives from the 8th District of Virginia (1931–1967), Chairman of the House Rules Committee (1955–1967). He was a member of the Conservative Coalition.
- Bob Stump, Member of the United States House of Representatives from the 3rd District of Arizona (1977-2003). He had a very conservative voting record. He was a Democrat from 1977 to 1983, and a Republican afterwards.
- Martin L. Sweeney, Member of the United States House of Representatives from 20th District of Ohio (1931–1943). He was a judge of the Municipal Court of Cleveland, Ohio (1924–1932). He opposed a peacetime draft and was considered an isolationist.
- James Traficant, Member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio's 17th District (1985–2002), Sheriff of Mahoning County, Ohio (1981–1984). After the Republicans took control of Congress in 1995, he tended to vote with them more than the Democrats. He favored immigration restriction and voted anti-abortion. When he voted for a Republican for Speaker of the House, the Democrats stripped him of all committee assignments.
- William David Upshaw, Member of the United States House of Representatives from Georgia's 5th District (1919–1927). A supporter of Prohibition, he was the presidential candidate of the Prohibition Party in 1932. He was a member of the Ku Klux Klan.
- Joe Waggonner, Member of the United States House of Representatives from the 4th District of Louisiana (1961–1979), member, Louisiana State Board of Education (January 1961–December 1961), member Bossier Parish School Board (1954–1960). He was a fiscal conservative "Boll weevil" who opposed many federal spending programs and Civil Rights legislation.
- Francis E. Walter, Member of the United States House of Representatives, Pennsylvania 24th District (1933–1945), 20th District (1945–1953), and 15th District (1953–1963). He was chairman of the House Committee on Un-American Activities.
Mayors
- William Robinson Pattangall, mayor of Waterville, Maine (1911–1913) and later chief justice of the state Supreme Judicial Court. Earlier supportive of progressive Democrats including Woodrow Wilson, Pattangall endorsed Herbert Hoover over Al Smith in the 1928 United States presidential election[133] and became an opponent of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal on conservative grounds.[134] Pattangall later switched party affiliation to become a Republican.
- Frank Rizzo, 93rd Mayor of Philadelphia (1972–1980) and Commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department (1967–1971).[135] (Former Democrat)
See also
- Black conservatism in the United States
- Blue Dog Coalition
- Boll weevil (politics)
- Bourbon Democrat
- Byrd Machine
- Conservative coalition
- Copperheads (politics)
- Democrats for Life of America
- Dixiecrat
- Factions in the Democratic Party (United States)
- Fire-Eaters
- Hispanic and Latino conservatism in the United States
- Hunkers
- LaRouche movement
- LGBT conservatism in the United States
- Libertarian Democrat
- National Democratic Party (United States)
- New Democrats
- Pork Chop Gang
- Reagan Democrat
- Redeemers
- Regular Democratic Organization
- Rockefeller Republican
- Southern Manifesto
- Straight-Out Democratic Party
- Texas Regulars
- Yellow dog Democrat
Notes
References
- Kane, Paul (January 15, 2013). "Blue Dog Democrats, whittled down in number, are trying to regroup". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
Four years ago, they were the most influential voting bloc on Capitol Hill, more than 50 House Democrats pulling their liberal colleagues to a more centrist, fiscally conservative vision on issues such as health care and Wall Street reforms.
- Davis, Susan. "U.S. House has fewer moderate Democrats". USA Today. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
- Ruth Bloch Rubin, ed. (2017). Building the Bloc: Intraparty Organization in the US Congress. Cambridge University Press. p. 188. ISBN 9781316510421.
In contrast to the halting mobilization of Insurgent Republicans and southern Democrats, the Blue Dogs' adoption of ... ideological bonafides, the Coalition worked to establish a Blue Dog brand and associate it with support for centrist policies.
- "Lobbying from the center". The Hill. 26 January 2021.
- The Reconciliation Act of 2010, Volume II, March 17, 2010, 111-2 House Report 111-443. 2010. p. 1077.
For example, in a letter dated July 9, 2009 from the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer , forty “Blue Dog” Democrats stated that ...
- [1][2][5]
- Mendoza, Jessica (June 4, 2019) "Centrist Democrats are back. But these are not your father’s Blue Dogs." Christian Science Monitor
- "McConnell stiff-arms the Pelosi agenda". www.countable.us.
- Wasserman, David (November 5, 2012). "Why 2012 Will Be a Watershed House Election". National Journal. Retrieved August 16, 2014. (subscription required)
- Elections A to Z. SAGE. 2012. ISBN 9780872897694. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
- "Political ideology among adults in the Midwest - Religion in America: U.S. Religious Data, Demographics and Statistics". Pew Research Center. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
- C. Van Woodward, The Origins of the New South, 1877–1913 (1951) pp 235–90
- Kazin, Michael (2006). A Godly Hero: The Life of William Jennings Bryan. Knopf. ISBN 978-0-375-41135-9.
- James A. Barnes, "The gold-standard Democrats and the party conflict." Mississippi Valley Historical Review 17.3 (1930): 422-450. online
- Lubell, Samuel (1956). The Future of American Politics (2nd ed.). Anchor Press. pp. 62–63. OL 6193934M.
- Robert C. Benedict, Matthew J. Burbank and Ronald J. Hrebenar, Political Parties, Interest Groups and Political Campaigns. Westview Press. 1999. Page 11.
- Voices of Protest: Huey Long, Father Coughlin, and the Great Depression. Alan Brinkley. Knopf Press (1982).
- Lemmon, Sarah McCulloh (December 1951). "The Ideology of the 'Dixiecrat' Movement". Social Forces. 30 (2): 162–71. doi:10.2307/2571628. JSTOR 2571628.
- The Politics of Rage: George Wallace, the Origins of the New Conservatism, and the Transformation of American Politics. Dan T. Carter. Simon & Schuster Press (1995).
- "Boll Weevils" in Elections A-Z (ed. John L. Moore: Congressional Quarterly, 1999). Routledge ed. 2013. pp. 27-28.
- A Colony of the World: The United States Today. Eugene J. McCarthy. Hippocrene Books (1992).
- The Disuniting of America. Arthur Schlesinger Jr. Norton Press (1992).
- Hook, Janet (October 26, 2006). "A right kind of Democrat". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 14, 2009. Retrieved September 1, 2013. See also: Dewan, Shaila; Kornblut, Anne E. (October 30, 2006). "In Key House Races, Democrats Run to the Right". The New York Times. Retrieved November 10, 2006.
- Michael. "Blue Dogs | The Blue Dogs of the Democratic Party". Bluedogs.us. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- "South Carolina – Election Results 2008". Elections.nytimes.com. December 9, 2008. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- Stein, Sam (April 15, 2010). "Walt Minnick Tea Party Endorsement: Minnick Campaign Accepts". Huffington Post.
- "Walt Minnick: The Tea Party's 'token Democrat'?". Theweek.com. April 22, 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- Cadei, Emily (August 13, 2009). "Minnick Earns Perfect Score on 'RePork Card'". CQ Politics.
- Mendoza, Jessica (June 4, 2019). "Centrist Democrats are back. But these are not your father's Blue Dogs". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
- Dumain, Emma (May 12, 2015). "20 Years In, Blue Dogs Not Ready to Roll Over". rollcall.com.
- "History - Blue Dog Coalition". BlueDogCaucus-Schrader.house.gov/. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
- "History, Blue Dog Coalition". House.gov. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
- Naftali Bendavid (July 28, 2009). "'Blue Dog' Democrats Hold Health-Care Overhaul at Bay". The Wall Street Journal.
- Weiner, Mark (February 1, 2019). "Anthony Brindisi to co-chair Blue Dogs, caucus of moderate House Democrats". syracuse.com.
- "Wordcraft Archives, November 2004". Wordcraft.infopop.cc. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- Suddath, Claire (July 28, 2009). "A Brief History of Blue Dog Democrats". Time. Archived from the original on July 31, 2009. Retrieved September 7, 2009.
- Safire, William (April 23, 1995). "On Language; Blue Dog Demo". The New York Times. Retrieved September 7, 2009.
- Parton, Heather Digby (12 November 2014). "Bye-bye, blue dog "Democrats": What the end of conservative Dems means for America". Salon. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
- Stern, Sebastian Jones,Marcus. "The New Democrats: The Coalition Pharma and Wall Street Love". ProPublica.
- Ruyle, Megan (February 26, 2013). "A new chairman at helm, New Dems seek more influence in this Congress". TheHill.
- Heilbrunn, Jacob (November 17, 1997). "The New New Democrats". The New Republic.
- Brooks, David (September 17, 2020). "Opinion | No, the Democrats Haven't Gone Over the Edge". The New York Times.
- "As Manchin balks at Dems' agenda, moderates have the most to lose". MSNBC.com.
- "Democrats: Not giving up on spending bill". Arkansas Online. December 23, 2021.
- "Here's what to watch in Congress and national politics in 2022 | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com.
- Mutnick, Ally. "Spanberger stranded as Virginia nears new congressional map". POLITICO.
- Skelley, Geoffrey (December 20, 2018). "The House Will Have Just As Many Moderate Democrats As Progressives Next Year".
- "The House passes a $2 trillion spending bill, but braces for changes in the Senate". NPR.org. November 19, 2021.
- "Changing Views of Same-Sex Marriage | Pew Research Center". People-press.org. 8 June 2015. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- Gilberstadt, Hannah; Daniller, Andrew (January 17, 2020). "Liberals make up the largest share of Democratic voters, but their growth has slowed in recent years". Pew Research Center. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
- Kennedy, Robert F. (September 30, 2014). "Joe Manchin boosts fellow red-state Dems". Politico. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- Bycoffe, Aaron (January 30, 2017). "Tracking Congress In The Age Of Trump". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- Everett, Burgess (October 29, 2019). "The new Democratic senator irritating the left and delighting the GOP". Politico. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
- Pugh, Tony (April 14, 2016). "Is Sanford Bishop a lock for a 13th term in his Georgia district?". The State. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
- Elliott, Stephen. "Cooper running for re-election". NashvillePost.com. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- Chávez, Aída (December 15, 2019). "Trump-Friendly California Democrat Is Facing His First Serious Primary Challenger". The Intercept. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
- Rogers, Alex (February 27, 2020). "AOC-backed challenger targets conservative Texas Democrat ahead of Super Tuesday primary". CNN. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- Carter, Zachary D. (July 29, 2019). "Conservative Democratic Ringleader Josh Gottheimer Gets A Progressive Challenger". HuffPost. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
- Ferris, Sarah (May 7, 2019). "The 'Velvet Hammer' leads resurgent Blue Dogs". Politico. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- Sarasohn, David (January 10, 2019). "David Sarasohn: Kurt Schrader and the dwindling Blue Dog Democrats". The Oregonian. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
- Hallarman, Tamar (May 6, 2019). "David Scott draws primary challenge from well-connected Democrat". AJC. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
- Tenbarge, Ken (November 17, 2019). "John Bel Edwards was narrowly re-elected as governor of Louisiana. He's not a typical Democrat". Business Insider. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
- Merry, Robert (October 7, 2011). "Andrew Jackson: Tea Party President". The American Spectator. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
- Busick, Sean (October 14, 2013). "Franklin Pierce, Forgotten Conservative". Nomocracy In Politics. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2016 – via Wayback Machine.
- Adler, John. "Reconstruction: Radicalism vs. Conservatism". The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- "Woodrow Wilson: The 28th President of the United States". The White House. Archived from the original on 2017-12-15.
- Hofstadter, Richard (2011). "Woodrow Wilson: The Conservative as Liberal". The American Political Tradition and the Men Who Made it. New York: Knopf. ISBN 978-0-307-80966-7.
- Little, Becky (14 July 2020). "How Woodrow Wilson Tried to Reverse Black American Progress". History.com. Archived from the original on 2020-07-16.
- Lehr, Dick (27 November 2015). "The Racist Legacy of Woodrow Wilson". The Atlantic.
- Bartlett, Bruce (6 July 2020). "Woodrow Wilson Was Even More Racist Than You Thought". The New Republic.
- Rossiter, Clinton (October 1955). "The Giants of American Conservatism". American Heritage. American Heritage Publishing Co. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
Southern conservatism in the Nineteenth Century found its most able spokesman in John C. Calhoun. There are those who deny that Calhoun was a conservative, some insisting that he was committed more deeply than he realized to Jeffersonian democracy, others that he was “the Marx of the master class,” still others that he was little better than a fabulous reactionary. Actually, these people are saying only that he was an heir of the constitutional tradition, or that he was more realistic than most Americans about the facts of class warfare, or that he sought to prevent the agrarian South from going the way of the industrial North. None of these charges removes him unequivocally from the conservative ranks.
- Gray, Ralph D. (August 21, 2017). "Thomas A. Hendricks: "The Constitution as it is, the Union as it was"". The Indiana History Blog. Indiana Historical Bureau of the Indiana State Library. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- Capehart, Jonathan (May 16, 2019). "Opinion | How segregationist George Wallace became a model for racial reconciliation: 'Voices of the Movement' Episode 6". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- Gore, Leada (January 16, 2021). "Lurleen Wallace, Alabama's first woman governor, inaugurated on this day in 1967: Vintage photos". AL.com. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- The Huntsville Times, September 20, October 9, 1966
- "Rosen, Focus on Family analyst omitted Ritter's same-sex marriage clarification". Media Matters for America. October 26, 2006. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
However, neither Rosen nor Earll informed listeners of another Post article, also from September 3*, noting that Ritter “clarified his position” on gay marriage and that Ritter said he “would keep the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman but consider adding recognition of civil unions to the statute."
- Isenstadt, Alex (September 28, 2009). "Ritter's rocky road with labor". Politico. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- "Bill Ritter on the Issues". On the Issues. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- "James Emilius Broome". National Governors Association. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- Lavietes, Stuart (March 6, 2002). "C. Farris Bryant, 87, Governor Of Florida at Turning Point". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- "Encyclopedia of Alabama: Chauncey Sparks (1943-47)". Encyclopedia of Alabama. February 13, 2008. Archived from the original on November 4, 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- "Conservative Democrat Zell Miller dies at 86". The Washington Times. March 23, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
A succession of state jobs followed, during which worked both for the ultraconservative Gov. Lester Maddox and for Maddox's political nemesis, progressive Gov. Jimmy Carter.
- "Former Kansas Gov. Joan Finney She was anti-abortion.Dies". The Washington Post. July 28, 2001. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- "Francis T. Nicholls". Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- Head, Tom (December 12, 2020). "Biography of Ross Barnett, Segregationist Governor of Mississippi". ThoughtCo. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- Sansing, David G. (July 11, 2017). "John Bell Williams". Mississippi Encyclopedia. Center for the Study of Southern Culture. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- "George B. McClellan". Ohio History Connection. Ohio History Center. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- Bucchino, Rachel (August 1, 2020). "The U.S. Presidential Election of 1876 Was Pure Chaos. Could 2020 Be the Same?". The National Interest. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
The party nominated bourbon Democrat Samuel J. Tilden, the former governor of New York, to regain the White House.
- Sviridov, V. Gabriela Centeno (May 28, 2013). "The Politics of Samuel J. Tilden" – via Academia.edu.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - "William H. Murray". Oklahoma Digital Prairie. Oklahoma.gov. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- Bryant, Keith L., Jr. "Murray, William Henry David". Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- Boyer, Peter J. (November 7, 2005). "The Right to Choose". The New Yorker. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
- Jaspin, Elliot (2007). Buried in the Bitter Waters. Basic Books. p. 89. ISBN 978-0-465-03637-0.
- Saxon, Wolfgang (December 3, 1994). "George B. Timmerman Jr., 82, Segregationist Leader in 50's". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- Garrison, Joey (October 31, 2017). "All eyes on Bredesen as Democrats seek 'game-changer' in Tennessee US Senate race". The Tennessean. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
Bredesen — a political moderate, who occasionally irritated liberals in his party over cuts to TennCare and other issues is the last Tennessee Democrat to win a statewide election, doing so in 2006 by capturing all 95 of the state’s counties. [...] The wealthy former Nashville mayor, who made his money in the health care industry, became known for his middle-of-the-road, fiscally conservative politics
- "The Politics of Personality". Texas State Library and Archives Commission. September 16, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- Branda, Eldon S. (29 July 2019). "Coke R. Stevenson". The Texas Politics Project. University of Texas at Austin College of Liberal Arts. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- Severo, Richard (June 16, 1993). "John Connally of Texas, a Power In 2 Political Parties, Dies at 76". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
Mr. Connally was in the conservative wing of the Democratic Party...
- Kilborn, Peter T. (November 6, 2002). "Conservative Senate Voice From Arkansas Loses to Moderate Democrat". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- Weiner, Rachel (April 18, 2013). "The most pro-gun Democrats (and anti-gun Republican)". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- "2004: PRESIDENTIAL PROSPECTS -- Joseph I. Lieberman; Trying Out the Perilous Leap From No. 2 to No. 1". The New York Times. December 24, 2002. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
- Tau, Byron (March 11, 2013). "Lieberman to join conservative group". Politico. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- Vejnoska, Jill (March 24, 2018). "Former governor, senator Zell Miller has died". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- Stout, David (March 23, 2018). "Zell Miller, Feisty Democrat Who Sided With G.O.P., Is Dead at 86". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- Clymer, Adam (March 22, 2002). "Herman Talmadge, Georgia Senator and Governor, Dies at 88". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- Williams, Joe (September 5, 2017). "For Joe Donnelly, a Long History of Bucking His Party". Roll Call. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- Clymer, Adam (January 22, 2015). "Wendell Ford, 90, Dies; Kentucky Senator Pushed Voting Rights". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- Grim, Ryan (December 7, 2010). "Mary Landrieu: 'Obama-McConnell Plan' Is 'Almost Morally Corrupt'". HuffPost. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- "Rating Group: American Conservative Union". Vote Smart. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- Grant, Schulte (December 27, 2011). "Ben Nelson Retiring Ahead Of 2012 Election". HuffPost. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- Eisele, Albert (August 22, 2008). "Jessamyn Conrad: political daughter, political author (with political future?)". MinnPost. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
- Nilsen, Ella (February 5, 2021). "Democrats want to go big on Covid-19 stimulus while they have the chance". Vox. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
There was a bigger group of moderate Democratic senators in the Obama era, including Kent Conrad (ND), Ben Nelson (NE), Max Baucus (MT), and Blanche Lincoln (AR) — all of whom strongly insisted on bipartisanship during pushes for stimulus and the Affordable Care Act.
- Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (June 1, 2018). "For Heitkamp, a Lift From an Unlikely Source: The Koch Brothers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- Rucker, Philip (October 14, 2012). "Arlen Specter dies; he was Pennsylvania's longest-serving senator". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
He sided with liberals on some divisive issues and with conservatives on others, leaving him with little support on either end of the spectrum [...] But he immediately drew a primary challenge from Rep. Joe Sestak, whose run from the left forced Sen. Specter to assert liberal positions on issues such as health-care reform.
- Holdman, Jessica; Shain, Andy (February 12, 2021). "USC's Strom Thurmond center could be renamed after building history panel adopts new rules". The Post and Courier. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- Espo, David (June 27, 2003). "Strom Thurmond, longest-serving senator in history, dies at 100". The Times and Democrat. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- Rosenbaum, David E. (May 24, 2006). "Lloyd Bentsen Dies at 85; Senator Ran With Dukakis". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- Lardner, George, Jr.; Babcock, Charles R. (October 29, 1988). "SEN. BENTSEN COURTLY, CALCULATING SON OF TEXAS". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- Thomas Becnel, Senator Allen Ellender of Louisiana: a biography (1996) p 245
- GPO-CRECB-1956-pt4-3.pdf. Congressional Record. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
- Jones, Robert R. (August 1972). James L. Kemper and the Virginia Redeemers Face the Race Question: A Reconsideration. JSTOR. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- Wilson, Brian (October 14, 2017). L. Q. C. Lamar. Mississippi Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- C. Vann Woodward, Tom Watson: agrarian rebel (1938) https://archive.org/details/agrarian-rebel-biography-tom-watson-1938 online].
- Wyatt-Brown, Bertram. "Tom Watson Revisited." Journal of Southern History 68.1 (2002): 3-30. online
- Walsh, Deirdre (November 14, 2014). "No more white Southern Democrats in Congress". Cnn.com. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- James, Frank (June 7, 2011). "Oklahoma's Lone Congressional Democrat To Retire". NPR.org. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
- "Rep. Mike Ross latest conservative Democrat to pass on 2012 race". Los Angeles Times. July 25, 2011.
- Mutnick, Ally. "This anti-abortion rights, Obamacare-opposing House Democrat is in trouble". Politico. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- "House's Blue Dogs Teaching Old Democrats New Tricks : Congress: After November whipping, these 21 lawmakers have rebuilt clout in the budget talks. They're being courted by White House and GOP". Los Angeles Times. 1995-12-05. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
- Richards, Connor. "Utah Democrat insists he's just as anti-abortion as his conservative opponent". Retrieved July 27, 2018.
- Camia, Catalina (December 17, 2013). "Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson won't seek new term". USA Today. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
- Amundson, Barry (June 28, 2019). "Rep. Peterson says GOP is 'dreaming' if they think he plans to retire". Duluth New Tribune. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
- August 13, 1928. REPUBLICANS: Votes Aug. 13, 1928. TIME. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
- October 17, 1934. Justice Pattangall Attacks New Deal. Colby Digital Commons. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
- Lamis, Renée M. (2009). The Realignment of Pennsylvania Politics Since 1960: Two-Party Competition in a Battleground State. Penn State Press. p. 101. ISBN 978-0-271-08577-7.