This research aimed to examine the relationships of media usage and party members’ expectations with political participation of political party members in İstanbul. The four criteria developed by Robert Dahl about participation are used according to the interest, concern, information, and activity processes. It scrutinized how political party members use social media to acquire political information, how much they are valued and positioned within their parties, and what characteristics they expect their representatives to hold. This study was carried out in three districts of Istanbul. These districts were selected from the three electoral districts in Istanbul and each one of them was assumed to represent one election district. These districts are Avcılar, Fatih and Kartal. In our study, a mixed research method based on questionnaire and interview was used. A total of 537 people was surveyed, and in-depth interviews were conducted with 21 people working at different levels in the parties in these three districts. The results indicated three main findings. Firstly, both party members preferred to follow up with what happens in political agenda using social media rather than traditional media outlets. Secondly, both party members stated that they would like to be a local assembly member or a national assembly member but have no interest in becoming a local mayor or a chairman of party’s local region/city. Moreover, both party members believed that they are not in the roles/positions they deserved and do not receive the value and importance they deserved within their parties. Finally, both party members expected their party representatives to be honest and honorable, rather than charismatic, rich, brave, and decisive, or hardworking. Overall, these findings suggest that although both parties are located on different sides of politics, there is no significant difference between Ak Party (JDP, Justice and Development Party) and CHP (RPP, Republican People Party) on these issues.