The main difference between political parties and interest groups lies in their goals and methods of influencing government policy:

• Political parties seek to gain political power by running candidates for public office and winning elections. They aim to influence policy from the inside by holding government positions and governing. Political parties typically address a broad range of issues to appeal to a wide voter base and are flexible in their positions to maximize electoral success

• Interest groups do not run candidates or seek to hold public office. Instead, they aim to influence policy from the outside by lobbying elected officials, organizing campaigns, and educating the public about specific issues. Interest groups focus narrowly on particular causes or policy areas, such as the environment, business, or civil rights, and their members are united by these specific interests rather than broad political ideologies

In summary, political parties pursue power through elections and govern broadly, while interest groups seek to influence those in power on specific issues without directly seeking office themselves