Why Are Both Major U.S. Parties Becoming More Populist?

Understanding a Political Trend Beyond Left and Right

In recent years, one word has appeared again and again in discussions about American politics: populism.

For many observers, populism has become closely associated with the Republican Party. Donald Trump’s rise, the “Make America Great Again” movement, and growing skepticism toward Washington, globalization, and traditional political institutions have all been described as signs of a new era of right-wing populism.

At the same time, a different form of populism has emerged within the Democratic Party. Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaigns, the growing influence of progressive Democrats, and debates over income inequality, corporate power, healthcare, and student debt have led many scholars and commentators to describe these developments as examples of left-wing populism.

This raises an interesting question.

If both parties are described as populist, are they actually talking about the same thing?

Populism Is a Political Logic, Not an Ideology

In everyday conversation, populism is often treated as if it were an ideology similar to conservatism or liberalism.

Political scientists, however, increasingly describe it differently.

Rather than representing a complete political philosophy, populism is often understood as a way of framing politics. It divides society into two opposing groups: “the people” and “the elite,” arguing that politics should reflect the will of ordinary citizens rather than the interests of established power.

Seen from this perspective, populism does not automatically favor free markets or government intervention, nor is it inherently conservative or progressive.

Both the political left and the political right can adopt populist rhetoric.

The Difference Lies in Who the “Elite” Is

Although both Republican and Democratic populists claim to speak for ordinary people, they identify different sources of the country’s problems.

Republican populism has increasingly focused on federal bureaucracy, mainstream media, universities, globalization, and political establishments that many conservatives believe have become disconnected from everyday Americans. As a result, it often emphasizes border security, national sovereignty, domestic manufacturing, and traditional cultural values.

Left-wing populism within the Democratic Party, by contrast, tends to focus on Wall Street, large corporations, billionaires, monopolies, and the concentration of economic power. Its priorities often include labor rights, healthcare, stronger market regulation, and reducing economic inequality.

In other words, both criticize “elites.”

They simply mean different elites.

Why Has Populism Grown in Both Parties?

The rise of populism did not happen overnight.

Over the past several decades, Americans have experienced globalization, deindustrialization, the digital revolution, financial crises, the COVID-19 pandemic, and now the rapid development of artificial intelligence.

Many manufacturing jobs disappeared.

Housing, healthcare, and education became more expensive.

Economic opportunities became increasingly uneven across different regions.

As government and public policy also became more complex, many Americans began to feel that political institutions no longer reflected their daily concerns.

Whether those perceptions are entirely accurate is open to debate. What is clear, however, is that declining trust in institutions has created fertile ground for anti-establishment politics across the political spectrum.

Is Populism Good or Bad?

There is no simple answer.

Supporters argue that populism gives voice to people and communities that have long felt ignored by political and economic elites. Issues such as wage stagnation, industrial decline, and regional inequality have received renewed attention partly because of populist movements.

Critics, however, warn that defining politics as a struggle between “the people” and “corrupt elites” can make compromise more difficult. Democratic institutions depend not only on elections, but also on negotiation, pluralism, and respect for differing viewpoints.

Like many political forces, populism can encourage necessary reform while also increasing political polarization.

Its impact ultimately depends on how it is practiced and how democratic institutions respond.

Looking Beyond Political Labels

Today, populism has become one of the defining features of American politics.

Yet focusing only on which party is “more populist” may miss the larger story.

What deserves closer attention is that increasing numbers of Americans across the political spectrum have begun to view politics through the lens of “the people versus the elite.”

That shift says as much about changing public confidence in institutions as it does about the two political parties themselves.

Understanding populism is therefore not about choosing sides.

It is about understanding how modern democracies respond when citizens begin to question who truly represents them—and why that question has become increasingly important in the twenty-first century.

By Voice in Between