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Washington DC
Over the past 10 years, the Republican Party has been reshaped as an outpost of Donald Trump's views, but the Grand Old Party of US politics has a storied history far from its current right-wing avatar.
Not many know that the Republican Party was founded by anti-slavery activists in 1854.
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Along with groups like former Whigs and Free Soilers, they created the party to fight against the expansion of slavery of Africans into new areas in the United States.
Equally unbelievable when compared to the present stance of Democrats is that that party had supported slavery. The Republicans became the main opposition to the Democratic party with their fight against slavery.
Possibly the most well-known figure in the Republican party is Abraham Lincoln, who became the first Republican president and went on to serve from 1861 to 1865 till his assassination.
Lincoln's election in 1860 took place amid the conflict between the pro-slavery southern states and the rest of the union, which eventually led to the American Civil War following the secession move by the South.
Under Lincoln, the abolitionist North won the Civil War, and the Republican president made the Emancipation Proclamation, which set the US on a path towards ending slavery.
Republican party gave several other prominent presidents including Ulysses S Grant, Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan. It also has the not-so-bright record of Richard Nixon, the only US president who was forced to resign.
The slow move of the party towards conservative and right-wing politics and economic policies was cemented by Reagan, and his Republican successors George HW Bush, his son George W Bush and then, Donald Trump.
At various times, the Republicans controlled Congress and the US legislature. They had the majority in the House of Representatives in 1947-49 and 2011-2019. In the Senate, they were in the majority in the 1980s and early 2000s, wresting majority again in the 2015-2021 period.
When compared to the anti-slavery idealism of its founders which was progressive for its time, the current politics of the Republicans is almost unbelievable.
The party currently advocates free-market policies and limited government intervention in people's lives, particularly in taxation.
While it endorses individual freedom away from government authority, the party is also conservative in its fiscal and social policies.
Amplified by Trump, who has changed the composition of the Republican party in the past eight years with his relatives or allies in key positions, the Republicans have a relatively hardline approach towards immigration and race relations, appearing to favour the white majority.
Trump is an ardent opponent of immigration, particularly from Latin American and Muslim nations.
His party is also opposed to taxing the rich, and government intervention in healthcare and medical insurance.
On the issue of abortion, the current Republicans prefer the right to life to the right of choice.
Republican presidents like George Bush and George W Bush have led the meddling of the US in global issues, including W's move to export democracy that led to civil wars, conflicts and the rise of Islamic terrorism in West Asia, and at least partially caused the 9/11 attacks of 2001.
Under Trump, the Republican Party seemed to favour American isolationism, with his key slogan being Make America Great Again.
Will Trump lead the Grand Old Party back into power and shape the legislative and policy landscape of the US?
We will know in November.
(With inputs from agencies)