In contemporary politics, Republicans are viewed as conservatives, fighting for a smaller role for the government in economics and promoting the interests of big business. On issues relating to the family, republicans tend to adhere to a more traditional, narrow definition of what should be legal. The Republican party platform opposes the legalization of same-sex unions and abortion and favors abstinence only sex education.

Recent Republican candidates for President have included George W. Bush, who held the office for two terms, and Senator John McCain, the nominee for the 2008 presidential election. McCain and Bush are known for their aggressive approach to U.S. foreign policy, adhering to the notion that the best way to prevent attacks on American soil is to bring the fight to the places the terrorists are believed to be. Both Bush and McCain have supported U.S. military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan; as well as proposed actions in Iran.

In contemporary political coverage, the Republicans are represented by the Elephant and the color red. The use of the elephant dates back to the 1800's, when the republicans were depicted in a political cartoon as a raging elephant demolishing the flimsy planks of the Democratic Party. The color red is a more recent addition to republican symbolism, first appearing during campaign coverage in 2000, when all the mainstream news outlets used the color red to represent states that had a majority of republican voters. Republicans are widely thought of as being on the right side of the political spectrum, whereas Democrats are on the left.