Gallup: 45% of Americans Now Identify as Independents; Democrats Lead on Lean

New Gallup data shows a record-high 45 percent of Americans identify as politically independent, and the poll found that when independents are pushed to choose, Democrats hold a 47 to 42 lead over Republicans. The rise in independent identification was driven by younger voters: more than half of those under 30 now call themselves independent, compared with roughly a third of voters over 65.

Gallup reported that the overall share identifying as independent has been rising since the mid-2000s and now exceeds each major party, which were each at 27 percent in the recent findings. Gallup and other polls cited differences among independents. CNN polling, Gallup said, found only 38 percent of self-described independents fit the classic nonaligned archetype; that group splits roughly between younger, more diverse voters who mix agreement with both parties and a largely white, mostly male group who feel disillusioned and sometimes vote third party.

An NBC poll in October, Gallup noted, reflected broad dissatisfaction with the major parties — 28 percent of voters had a positive view of the Democratic Party and 37 percent had a positive view of the Republican Party.

Key Topics

Politics, Independent Voters, Democrats, Republicans, Gallup, Young Voters