Conservative Democrats are members of the Democratic Party in the US who hold conservative views. They may support gun rights, a strong military, free-market capitalism, and smaller government. They are a minority wing in the party, but can cast decisive votes. Most come from southern states and were formerly known as “Dixiecrats” or “Boll Weevils.” Conservative Democrats sometimes find themselves agreeing with Republicans, but adhere to liberal economic conceptions. They organize into coalitions and caucuses, such as the Blue Dog Democrats, who support national and financial security and bipartisanship.
In the United States, a member of the Democratic Party who holds personal political views that are conservative to those of the majority of his or her political party is known as a conservative Democrat. Although the views considered typical of a conservative Democrat change over time, many support gun rights, a strong military, education, free-market capitalism, smaller government, and fiscally conservative policies, and may be anti-abortion with a demonstrably stronger religious orientation than moderate and liberal Democrats. Like liberal Republicans, conservative Democrats are a minority wing in the party, but they can cast decisive votes on controversial policy issues.
Although conservative Democrats are elected throughout the United States, most come from southern states and were formerly known as the “Dixiecrats” or “Boll Weevils.” These terms were not always used laudatory by Democratic Party representatives who drew attention to conservative Democrats who did not vote with the party on key issues. For example, the term “boll weevils” was often applied to conservative Democrats in the 1980s who consistently voted for increased military spending, tax cuts, and deregulation of Ronald Reagan’s financial system.
Prior to 1964, both major parties were split into Liberal, Moderate and Conservative factions. As the conservative wing of the Republican Party slowly rose to prominence and eventually dominance with Reagan’s 1980 election, the Democrats underwent a realignment. Rather than grow its conservative wing, the Democrats became noticeably more moderate, with most members joining the conservative and moderate Democratic Leadership Council.
As a partial result of the Democratic Party realignment, a conservative Democrat can sometimes find himself disagreeing with the party and more agreeing with Republicans. One major point of distinction between conservative Democrats and Republicans is the adherence of the former to liberal economic conceptions over those of the latter. Additionally, a conservative Democrat may advocate for increased spending on education and other social programs that a moderate or conservative Republican would not.
Beginning in 1994, conservative Democrats in the House of Representatives and Senate began organizing into coalitions and caucuses. One of the best known of these groups in the House are the Blue Dog Democrats, whose members profess to support national and financial security as well as bipartisanship. There are other conservative Democratic caucuses in the House that have been formed by pro-life members or those who support gun rights. In the Senate, members of the Democratic Leadership Council generally adopt centrist positions on most issues and promote neoliberal tax policy.
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