Democrats often endorse funding these programs and initiatives through taxation. Democrats typically advocate for civil rights of ethnic and religious minorities, and they support a safety net for individuals (such as various social welfare programs, including Medicaid and food stamps). The Democratic Party is generally associated with more progressive policies. That is a very simplified explanation what follows is a slightly more elaborate one. Republicans are often thought of as conservative, in the sense that they tend to advocate for smaller government. What is the difference between a Democrat and Republican?ĭemocrats are often thought of as liberal, in the sense that they are in favor of government playing a larger role in social affairs.