The Democratists were a post-Dominion War Cardassian faction that vied for control of the Cardassian Union in the aftermath of that conflict. The faction was led by Elim Garak.
It was a popular faction among the common people thanks to its ideals of creating a new Cardassia based on democracy and justice, somewhat based on the United Federation of Planets. It was composed largely of former members of the Cardassian dissident movement, the Cardassian Liberation Front and other dissidents and outspoken citizens tired of the "old ways". (The Dominion War Sourcebook: The Fires of Armageddon)