Evaluating which party has kept its promises and which has failed depends on the specific issue, historical context, and political challenges (such as divided government, Senate filibuster rules, and judicial interventions). Below is an issue-by-issue breakdown:
1. Economic Inequality
- Democrats: Typically promise to reduce income inequality through higher taxes on the wealthy, increasing the minimum wage, and expanding social programs.
- Successes: Passed COVID-19 relief under Biden (American Rescue Plan), expanded Child Tax Credit (briefly), and raised corporate tax rates under Obama.
- Failures: Did not pass the Build Back Better plan, which included broader tax and social safety net reforms.
- Republicans: Often promise tax cuts, deregulation, and economic growth through free markets.
- Successes: Passed the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which lowered corporate tax rates and reduced some individual tax rates.
- Failures: Promised to reduce the national debt but instead increased it significantly due to tax cuts and spending.
Who kept promises? Republicans successfully passed tax cuts, while Democrats had mixed success in reducing income inequality.
2. Healthcare
- Democrats: Promise to expand healthcare access through programs like the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or even universal healthcare.
- Successes: Passed the ACA under Obama, expanded Medicaid in many states, reduced drug prices under Biden.
- Failures: Did not pass “Medicare for All” or a public option despite some campaign promises.
- Republicans: Promise to repeal or replace the ACA and reduce government involvement in healthcare.
- Successes: Removed the individual mandate penalty in 2017.
- Failures: Could not repeal the ACA despite controlling Congress and the presidency from 2017-2019.
Who kept promises? Democrats had more success expanding healthcare, while Republicans failed to repeal the ACA.
3. Education
- Democrats: Typically advocate for increased federal funding for public education, student debt relief, and universal pre-K.
- Successes: Expanded Pell Grants, implemented student loan forgiveness (though limited), promoted free community college (though not fully passed).
- Failures: Did not pass full student loan forgiveness as promised by some candidates.
- Republicans: Support school choice, charter schools, and reducing the federal role in education.
- Successes: Expanded charter school funding and promoted school vouchers in some states.
- Failures: Did not reduce federal oversight of education as much as promised.
Who kept promises? Mixed—Democrats have expanded education funding but fell short on student loan forgiveness, while Republicans have pushed school choice but not reduced federal influence significantly.
4. Immigration
- Democrats: Promise pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, DACA protections, and more humane immigration policies.
- Successes: Reinstated DACA protections, halted some harsh Trump-era policies, reduced family separations.
- Failures: Did not pass comprehensive immigration reform or create a path to citizenship.
- Republicans: Promise stricter border security, a border wall, and reduced illegal immigration.
- Successes: Built portions of the border wall, implemented “Remain in Mexico” policy.
- Failures: Did not fully fund or complete the wall; illegal border crossings remained high.
Who kept promises? Both have struggled—Republicans increased border security but did not finish the wall, while Democrats reversed some Trump policies but failed on broader reforms.
5. National Debt
- Democrats: Often promise a balanced approach to spending and taxation.
- Successes: Reduced deficit under Obama (after initial stimulus spending).
- Failures: Increased debt under Biden due to COVID relief and infrastructure spending.
- Republicans: Promise to reduce national debt through spending cuts.
- Successes: Pushed for spending caps in Congress.
- Failures: Increased the debt dramatically under Trump with tax cuts and spending.
Who kept promises? Neither—both parties have contributed to national debt increases.
6. Social Division & Political Polarization
- Democrats: Promise unity and bipartisanship.
- Successes: Attempted bipartisanship on infrastructure and some foreign policy issues.
- Failures: Partisan rhetoric remains high, especially on cultural issues.
- Republicans: Also promise unity, but focus on “America First” nationalism.
- Successes: Mobilized a strong conservative base.
- Failures: Contributed to increased political division, especially after the 2020 election.
Who kept promises? Neither—both parties have intensified political division.
Final Verdict
- Most successful in keeping promises: Republicans on tax cuts and border security; Democrats on healthcare expansion and some education policies.
- Most failures: Republicans on repealing ACA and reducing debt; Democrats on immigration reform and student loan forgiveness.
- Mixed results: Both parties have failed on unity and reducing the national debt.
Each party has successfully implemented some policies but fallen short on major campaign promises. The bigger problem is structural—partisan gridlock in Congress often prevents either side from fully delivering on their promises.