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The Conservative coalition was a coalition in American politics bringing together Republicans (most of whom were conservatives) and the minority of conservative Democrats, most of them from the South. The coalition largely controlled Congress from 1937 to 1964 and continued as a potent force until the mid-1980s. In its heyday, its most important Republican leader was Senator Robert A. Taft of Ohio, and the chief Democrats were Senator Richard Russell, Jr. of Georgia and Congressmen Howard W. Smith of Virginia and Carl Vinson of Georgia. Between 1937 and 1964, the coalition had virtual veto power over all domestic legislation, and no important liberal laws were passed. Lyndon Johnson broke the power of the coalition in 1964-65, but it regained strength after the 1966 election. After 1990 the Republicans took control of most of the conservative southern districts, so the Southern Democrat part of the coalition evaporated.

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• New Deal Coalition
• Solid South