Political Alignment
Politics can be confusing, but understanding your choices shouldn't be. We provide clear, fact-based summaries of all political parties, their policies, and beliefs--no bias, no spin, just the facts.
Democratic Party
Economy
Democrats favor a larger government role in the economy. They support regulations on businesses and social welfare programs to promote economic equality. Democrats often endorse progressive taxation (higher taxes on the wealthy) to fund these programs and public services.
Immigration
Democrats tend to advocate less-strict immigration laws and often support providing a path to legal status or citizenship for undocumented immigrants already in the country. Democrats focus on integrating immigrants into society under fair conditions.
Social Policies
The Democratic Party generally holds liberal or progressive views on social issues. Democrays emphasize civil rights and equal protections for minorities, and they advocate personal freedoms in social matters. For example, Democrats broadly support legal abortion and LGBTQ+ rights as part of their commitment to individual liberty and equality.
Defense/Diplomacy
Democrats generally support a strong military but favor controlled defense over direct military action. They emphasize working with international allies (NATO, the UN) and using diplomacy to resolve conflicts before resorting to force. They also focus on non-traditional security threats like climate change and global health risks while maintaining a capable defense force.
Republican Party
Economy
Republicans support a smaller government role in the economy. They favor lower taxes and fewer regulations on businesses, believing this helps stimulate economic growth and preserves individual economic freedom. Accordingly, Republicans generally oppose extensive government social welfare programs, preferring to limit government spending in areas like welfare and public healthcare.
Immigration
Republicans place a high priority on securing the US border and enforcing immigration laws to reduce illegal immigration. Republican positions often include bolstering border security (e.g. building barriers or increasing patrols) and increasing deportations of those in the country unlawfully. Their overall goal is to limit unauthorized immigration and control legal immigration levels in the interest of national security and the rule of law.
Social Policies
The Republican Party generally holds conservative positions on social issues, emphasizing traditional values. Republicans often argue for policies that reflect family values or religious principles, and they support government intervention to uphold these norms. For example, Republicans typically oppose legal abortion as part of their more traditional moral stance.
Defense/Diplomacy
Republicans advocate for a well-funded, powerful military and believe in a "peace through strength" approach. They support higher defense spending, strong national security measures, and taking decisive military action when necessary. While they value alliances, they prioritize American sovereignty and are willing to act unilaterally to protecrt US interests. Border security is also a key part of their national defense strategy.
Independent
Registering as an independent means you are not affiliating with any political party. As a result, you cannot vote in primary elections for Democratic or Republican candidates because Pennsylvania has a closed primary system. Being an independent in Pennsylvania allows you to vote freely in general elections without party affiliation, but it limits your participation in primaries. Registering as an independent gives you the freedom to vote based on candidates and issues rather than party loyalty. If you feel that neither major party fully represents your views or prefer to avoid political labels, being independent allows you to make decisions without party constraints. However, voting restrictions should be something to consider when choosing your party registration.