Did Republicans own slaves

The Republican Party was founded in the 1850s as an anti-slavery party, primarily opposing the expansion of slavery into new territories. While some individuals who identified as Republicans in the 19th century may have owned slaves before the party's formation, the party itself was established on principles that were fundamentally against slavery. Therefore, the party's official stance was one of abolition, contrasting with the Democratic Party, which had many members who supported or owned slaves.