*The donkey as a representation of the Democratic Party came after Andrew Jackson's presidential victory in 1828.* After claiming that his opponents called him a jackass because of his stubborn personality, supporters used the term in a positive way for the candidate they liked so much. Eventually, political cartoonists adopted this representation. For over one hundred years, both parties employed cartoon depictions of animals—the GOP used an elephant—though there was no formal adoption before the mid-20th century and even today their usage remains unofficial.