- Conservative Democrats: A faction within the Democratic Party, led by figures like Al Smith, opposed some of Roosevelt's policies as too interventionist and undermining traditional values.
- Republicans: The Republican Party, which Roosevelt's New Deal policies displaced as the dominant political force, strongly opposed the New Deal. They argued that it increased government power too much, encroached on individual freedoms, and contributed to the national debt. Prominent Republican opponents included Herbert Hoover, Wendell Willkie, and Alfred Landon.
- Business Leaders: Many business leaders, particularly those in industries heavily regulated by the New Deal, opposed these regulations as harmful to economic growth and free market principles.
- Conservative Economists: Some economists, such as Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman, criticized the New Deal's Keynesian economic policies for being too interventionist and potentially destructive in the long run.
- Isolationists: A group of Americans, mostly Republicans, opposed Roosevelt's foreign policies, particularly his support for greater involvement in international affairs and efforts to aid the Allies in World War II.
- The Supreme Court: Initially, the Supreme Court declared some of the New Deal programs unconstitutional, creating tension between the Court and the Roosevelt administration.
It's important to note that support for the New Deal also varied within these groups, and there were divisions and differences in viewpoints even among opponents of Roosevelt's policies.