The two major political parties in the United States are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. These two parties have dominated American electoral politics since the 1850s, consistently winning presidential elections and controlling Congress since the mid-19th century

• The Democratic Party , founded in 1828, is generally considered a center-left party and has evolved to support liberalism and progressive policies since the New Deal era

• The Republican Party , founded in 1854, is typically seen as right-wing, with a platform that has historically emphasized conservatism, economic liberalism, and more recently, populism and isolationism

This two-party system is reinforced by U.S. election laws and political customs, which favor a winner-take-all approach, making it difficult for third parties to gain significant power