Democrats vs Republicans: What Are Their Viewpoint On Crucial Political Topics?
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What do each member’s of each party advocate for?
As the 2024 election fastly approaches, several key issues have become extremely contested battlegrounds between Democrats and Republicans, with their views sharply diverging on many topics. In this article, I aim to bring up the two party’s distinguishing view points on crucial topics, and hope to breakdown about where each party lands in term of there ideologies and priorities on their goals for office.
Immigration
Immigration is one of the most polarizing issues between Democrats and Republicans, with both sides offering starkly different visions for how the U.S. should handle its borders and those seeking entry into the country.
Democratic Viewpoint: Democrats generally advocate for a more inclusive immigration policy that offers pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, particularly those brought to the U.S. as children (DACA recipients). They emphasize humanitarian approaches, focusing on refugee and asylum rights. President Biden’s administration, for instance, has sought to reverse Trump-era policies, such as the border wall construction and “remain in Mexico” policy, which forced asylum seekers to wait outside U.S. borders.
Republican Viewpoint: Republicans, led by figures like Donald Trump, typically prioritize national security and strict immigration enforcement. They argue for tighter border security, often emphasizing the need for a physical wall along the southern border to curb illegal immigration and human trafficking. Trump’s immigration policies, such as the construction of the border wall and stricter visa regulations, are still highly supported by the Republican base. The GOP also often calls for the reduction of legal immigration, particularly family-based immigration, and supports merit-based entry.
Abortion
Abortion rights have remained a highly divisive issue, and with the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, the debate has grown even more intense.
Democratic Viewpoint: Democrats strongly support reproductive rights and access to abortion services, pushing for federal protections to ensure that women have the right to choose, regardless of their state of residence. Kamala Harris, for instance, has spoken out in favor of codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law. The party views abortion as a critical issue of bodily autonomy and gender equality, and they aim to protect and expand access to reproductive health care, including for low-income women and those in marginalized communities.
Republican Viewpoint: Republicans, on the other hand, generally are against abortion, framing it as a matter of protecting life. Many in the party support the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, which allowed states to impose their own restrictions or bans on abortion. Republicans generally favor laws that limit or ban abortion outright, often with exceptions for cases like rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is at risk. They argue that the federal government should not overrule states’ rights to make decisions on this issue, and many Republican-led states have moved swiftly to restrict abortion access since the Dobbs decision.
Gun Control
Gun control has long been a point of contention, particularly in the wake of increasing mass shootings in the U.S.
Democratic Viewpoint: Democrats advocate for stricter gun control measures, focusing on reducing gun violence through expanded background checks, banning assault weapons, and limiting access to high-capacity magazines. They argue that common-sense reforms are necessary to prevent mass shootings and gun-related violence, which disproportionately affects marginalized communities. Kamala Harris and other prominent Democrats have spoken in favor of reinstating the federal assault weapons ban and improving gun safety laws to protect American citizens while respecting Second Amendment rights.
Republican Viewpoint: Republicans, on the other hand, generally oppose stricter gun control measures, citing the Second Amendment as a core American right. They argue that gun ownership is a fundamental personal liberty, and they often frame gun control efforts as government overreach. The GOP advocates for responsible gun ownership but rejects policies that would restrict access to firearms for law-abiding citizens. Many Republicans have called for increased attention to mental health as a solution to gun violence, rather than restricting gun rights.
Conclusion
These three issues — immigration, abortion, and gun control — highlight the deep ideological divide between Democrats and Republicans. For undecided voters, the choice often comes down to which values they prioritize more: the protection of individual rights versus collective societal safety, national security versus humanitarianism, and a government’s role in personal freedoms. As the election nears, these differences will likely continue to shape the political landscape and sway voter sentiment on who is best suited to lead the country through such divisive times.
Thank You for reading this article! Recently, the upcoming election seems to be at the forefront of any political conversation I hear. So, even though ironically I am not eligible to vote yet, I think there is no time better than now than to bring up the different view points of people who are in each party, and what they would like to see happen in the office. It is also important to note that not all Republicans or Democrats think in these ways, and there is a good portion of each party who do not agree with the general party’s viewpoints, but these were what typically the people on each party were strongly advocating for, and what the candidate for both sides were advocating for, which helps understand what the members of the two party’s like to see if their candidate is elected.
Please go check out my other articles if you found this was interesting and informing!
Videos to check out if you would like more information:
Democrats vs Republicans on abortion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68sBWA6KICE
Highlighting the importance of gun control:
Democrats vs Republicans on immigration:
Sources used for article:
- On Immigration Policy:
- “Immigration.” Democratic National Committee, 2023,
- https://democrats.org/issues/immigration-reform/.
- “Immigration and Border Security.” Republican National Committee, 2023,
- https://www.gop.com/platform/immigration/.
- On Abortion Rights:
- O’Brien, Alicia. “Democrats Rally to Protect Reproductive Rights Post-Roe.” The New York Times, 15 July 2023,
- https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/15/us/politics/democrats-abortion-rights.html.
- “The GOP’s Stance on Abortion.” Republican National Committee, 2023,
- https://www.gop.com/platform/abortion/.
- On Gun Control:
- Miller, James. “Gun Control Policies: Democrats Push for Stricter Measures.” CNN, 10 May 2023,
- https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/10/politics/gun-control-democrats/.
- “Second Amendment and Gun Control.” Republican National Committee, 2023,
- https://www.gop.com/platform/second-amendment/.
