When did the Democratic Party become liberal?

Hear this out loudPauseSince Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal coalition after 1932, the Democratic Party has promoted a social liberal platform, including Social Security and unemployment insurance.

What is the political platform of the Democrats?

Hear this out loudPauseThe party favors a mixed economy and generally supports a progressive tax system, higher minimum wages, Social Security, universal health care, public education, and subsidized housing.

What are the democratic positions?

Hear this out loudPauseDemocratic platforms seek to promote social programs, labor unions, consumer protection, workplace safety regulation, equal opportunity, disability rights, racial equity, regulations against environmental pollution, and criminal justice reform.

State of Illinois - Democratic Jobs

Illinois by Population

With over 12.8 million residents, Illinois is the sixth most populous U.S. state. Its largest city is Chicago, home to 2.7 million people. Illinois' second and third largest cities are Aurora and Rockford.

Illinois' diverse economy includes manufacturing, agriculture, technology, and services. The state is a major transportation hub with rail, road, and air connectivity. Some of Illinois' major employers are State Farm Insurance, Boeing, United Airlines, Walgreens, and AbbVie.

History

Illinois was admitted as the 21st U.S. state in 1818. Early settlers were French fur traders and American pioneers moving westward. Chicago was founded in the 1830s and grew rapidly following the construction of railroads and canals. Illinois contributed over 250,000 soldiers during the American Civil War. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Chicago became a hub of manufacturing and commerce.

Learn more Illinois history at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Largest Cities

Chicago

Located in northeastern Illinois along Lake Michigan, Chicago is the state's largest city and third largest city in the U.S. With 2.7 million residents, it accounts for over 20% of Illinois' population.

Major attractions include Millennium Park, Navy Pier, the Art Institute of Chicago, Willis Tower, Wrigley Field, and more. The city is a global financial center and transport hub with two major airports.

Learn more at City of Chicago and Choose Chicago.

Aurora

With a population of about 200,000, Aurora is Illinois' second largest city. Located in the outer Chicago suburbs, Aurora spans Kane, DuPage, Kendall and Will counties. It originated as a frontier village in the 1830s and experienced growth due to the railroad and manufacturing sectors.

Major employers include health care, education, manufacturing, and retail companies. Attractions include the Paramount Theatre, Aurora Regional Fire Museum, Phillips Park Zoo, and more.

Learn more at the City of Aurora.

Rockford

Home to over 147,000 residents, Rockford is the third largest city in Illinois. Located along the Rock River in northern Illinois, Rockford was founded in the 1830s and also grew as a manufacturing and industrial center.

Major local employers include UTC Aerospace Systems, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and Woodward Inc. Attractions include the Burpee Museum of Natural History, Anderson Japanese Gardens, Midway Village Museum Center, and the Rockford IceHogs hockey team.

Learn more at City of Rockford and Go Rockford.

Geography

Illinois spans 57,914 square miles in the Midwestern United States. It shares borders with Wisconsin to the north, Iowa and Missouri to the west, Kentucky to the south, and Indiana to the east. The Mississippi River forms its western border. Other major rivers include the Ohio, Illinois, and Wabash rivers.

Illinois has a humid continental climate with cold winters and hot, humid summers. The state's geography features plains, hills, and river floodplains. Major cities are concentrated in the northeastern and central regions.

Demographics

According to 2019 estimates, Illinois has a population of 12,812,508, making it the sixth most populous state. The Chicago metropolitan area accounts for over 65% of the state's residents.

Around 60% of Illinois' population identifies as white, 17% as Hispanic/Latino, 14% as Black/African American, 6% as Asian, and 3% as two or more races. The state's largest ancestry groups are German, Irish, and Polish.

Learn more Illinois demographics at United States Census Bureau.

Economy

In 2019, Illinois had a gross domestic product of over $880 billion, making it the fifth largest state economy. The service sector accounts for the largest share of GDP, followed by manufacturing and government.

Major industries include finance, insurance, real estate, healthcare, education, manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism. The Chicago metropolitan area drives much of the state's economy.

Learn more about the Illinois economy at Illinois.gov.

Education

Illinois is home to many top ranked universities including Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois system. The state's largest public school districts are in Chicago, Elgin, Rockford, and Aurora.

Learn more about Illinois education at the Illinois State Board of Education.

Sports Teams

Professional sports teams based in Illinois include:

NFL: Chicago Bears, Chicago
MLB: Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago
NBA: Chicago Bulls, Chicago
NHL: Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago
MLS: Chicago Fire FC, Chicago

Learn more about Illinois sports teams at Illinois High School Sports.

Attractions

Popular tourist attractions in Illinois include:

Navy Pier, Chicago
Millennium Park, Chicago
Willis Tower and Skydeck Chicago
Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield
Starved Rock State Park
Shawnee National Forest

Learn more at Enjoy Illinois.

Transportation

Illinois has an extensive transportation system. Chicago is a national aviation hub with O'Hare and Midway International Airports. Chicago's mass transit system is one of the nation's largest. Other major airports include Rockford, Moline, and Bloomington. Amtrak provides rail service to Chicago, Carbondale, and other cities.

Learn more at the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Major Cities

Chicago

Population: 2,746,388 (2020)
County: Cook
Website: City of Chicago

Aurora

Population: 200,965 (2020)
County: Kane, DuPage, Kendall, Will
Website: City of Aurora

Rockford

Population: 147,051 (2020)
County: Winnebago
Website: City of Rockford

Counties

Illinois contains 102 counties. The most populous county is Cook County, home to Chicago and over 5 million residents.

Learn more about Illinois counties at Illinois Counties Association

Cook County

Population: 5,275,541 (2019 estimate)
Website: Cook County Government
Address: 69 W. Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: (312) 603-1000

School Districts

Illinois has over 850 public school districts. The largest are:

Chicago Public Schools

Serves: Chicago
Website: CPS.edu
Address: 42 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: (773) 553-1000

Elgin Area School District U-46

Serves: Elgin area
Website: U-46.org
Address: 355 E Chicago St, Elgin, IL 60120
Phone: (847) 888-5000

Rockford Public School District 205

Serves: Rockford area
Website: RPS205.com
Address: 501 Seventh St., Rockford, IL 61104
Phone: (815) 966-3000

Aurora Public Schools District 129

Serves: Aurora area
Website: APS129.org
Address: 80 S Lincoln Ave, Aurora, IL 60506
Phone: (630) 299-5550

Democratic Jobs

Democratic Jobs: How the Democratic Party is Promoting Job Growth and Economic Opportunity

The Democratic Party has made promoting job growth and economic opportunity a key priority. Democrats believe that a strong economy that creates good-paying jobs and expands economic security for all Americans is foundational to a healthy democracy. Some of the key ways the Democratic Party is working to foster democratic jobs include:

Supporting Small Businesses

Small businesses are a major engine of job creation and economic growth in the United States. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses accounted for over 60% of net new jobs from 1993 to 2011. The Democratic Party supports policies aimed at helping small businesses thrive, including:

Providing access to capital through programs like the SBA 7(a) and 504 loan programs
Offering tax relief through deductions, credits, and lower rates
Reducing regulatory burdens and compliance costs
Expanding support for small business exports and access to global markets
Improving infrastructure like broadband Internet access critical for small firms

These initiatives help small businesses grow and create new jobs in their communities.

Investing in Infrastructure

One of the most direct ways government policy can create jobs is through investing in infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, ports, broadband networks, schools, water systems, and other public assets. According to a report by the American Society of Civil Engineers, bringing U.S. infrastructure up to a good condition would require $4.6 trillion in investment and create 2.5 million new jobs through 2025. Democrats have proposed robust infrastructure plans at both the federal and state levels that would put millions of Americans to work modernizing the country's infrastructure while also improving productivity and economic growth.

Boosting American Manufacturing

American manufacturing employs over 12 million workers and accounts for over 70% of private sector research and development spending and innovation, which fuels job growth. Democrats support revitalizing U.S. manufacturing through steps like investing in workforce training and technical education, providing tax incentives, improving access to capital, and reforming trade policies to ensure American workers and firms can compete on a level playing field. For example, President Biden has pushed policies to strengthen domestic supply chains in crucial sectors like semiconductors, batteries, critical minerals and medical supplies that will help create good new manufacturing jobs.

Raising the Minimum Wage

Democrats have consistently pushed to raise the federal minimum wage, which has been stuck at $7.25 per hour since 2009. A $15 federal minimum wage would benefit around 27 million U.S. workers according to the Economic Policy Institute. Higher wages put more money in the pockets of lower income Americans to spend, boosting economic growth, and reduce employee turnover for businesses. States including California, New York and Florida with Democratic leadership have enacted $15 minimum wages to improve worker incomes and job quality.

Expanding Access to Education and Training

Access to education and skills training empowers workers and helps businesses find qualified talent. Democrats support measures to make education more affordable and accessible, including expanding early childhood education, providing two years of free community college, increasing financial aid for higher education, and doubling federal support for Pell grants. Investments in technical training, apprenticeships, and adult re-skilling programs also help workers gain skills to qualify for high-demand, higher paying jobs in fields like healthcare and advanced manufacturing.

Promoting Union Jobs

Labor unions played a key role in building America's middle class after WWII by advocating for better wages, benefits and working conditions for their members. However, declining union membership in recent decades has contributed to stagnant wages and increased income inequality. Democrats have pushed legislation to support workers who seek to unionize and give unions more tools in negotiations to increase union jobs, which on average pay over 15% more than non-union jobs with better benefits.

Investing in a Green Economy

Fighting climate change is a top priority for Democrats that also presents enormous opportunities to create good jobs. Investments in clean energy like wind, solar and electric vehicles would support millions of jobs across industries including construction, manufacturing and engineering. The CLEAN Future Act introduced by Democrats aims to achieve a 100% clean economy by 2050 while creating over 8 million new jobs.

Supporting Entrepreneurs and Innovators

Entrepreneurs and small startups play a vital role in job creation and advancing innovation. Democrats aim to nurture entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems through steps like increasing access to startup financing programs, strengthening partnerships between universities and entrepreneurs, supporting regional innovation clusters, and improving technology transfer from federal R&D. For example, the Small Business Investment Company program deployed over $4 billion in venture capital to early stage startups during fiscal year 2021.

Conclusion

While the specific policies may evolve, the Democratic Party's commitment to fostering broad-based economic growth through creating good jobs, expanding opportunity, and strengthening America's middle class remains constant. Democrats will continue advocating for investments and reforms aimed at empowering workers, supporting businesses, building infrastructure, and maintaining U.S. competitiveness and leadership.