Did the late Roman Republic in the 1st century BC have political parties? If so what kinds of hot button issues divided them?

by LateNightPhilosopher
nothipstertradh

The late Roman senate was loosely split into the reformers and conservatives (optimates and populares). The grachi brothers are well know populares who advocated for radical land reform, which was the biggest target of the reformers in the senate for generations. Conflict between these two parties, both in the senate and on the battle field would dominate the late Republican period. Gaius Marius and Sulla, Caesar and Pompey.