Independent Voters Surge To Record 45 Percent, Marginalize Parties

The piece examines a Gallup surge in voters who refuse to identify with either major party, notes generational shifts toward independence, questions whether independents truly favor Democrats, and argues the GOP is well positioned to win by appealing to young and unaffiliated voters while criticizing current Democratic priorities.

Ask most people how they identify politically and you’ll often get an answer that cuts through the usual noise: many Americans don’t want to be pinned down as Democrat or Republican. That trend has been growing, and it matters for every campaign strategy and political message moving forward. The shift is especially notable among younger voters, who are less attached to party labels than previous generations were at the same age.

Americans are increasingly rejecting the two major political parties, according to new polling.

Just under half, 45%, of U.S. adults now identify as independents, a new Gallup survey found.

That’s a substantial shift from 20 years ago, when closer to one-third of Americans said they didn’t identify with the Democrats or Republicans.

Gallup’s headline figure—45 percent identifying as independents—is an all-time high and a wake-up call. Among the remainder, Republicans and Democrats are split evenly at 27 percent apiece, which means the center, or at least the unaffiliated electorate, will decide many outcomes. That makes candidate appeal, clarity of message, and cultural instincts far more important than mere party loyalty.

Voters disenchanted with party labels are not a uniform bloc. Some lean left, some lean right, and many are driven by frustration with political theater rather than policy specifics. For Republicans, that opens opportunities to present a practical, results-first alternative to the status quo. We should emphasize economic common sense, respect for law and order, and a clear vision for opportunity that resonates across geography and generation.

Gallup notes that the rise in independents is strongly tied to generational patterns, with younger adults more likely to eschew party labels. Majorities of Gen Z and millennials now identify as political independents, and more than four in 10 Gen X adults do the same. Older generations remain more tethered to the two parties, but their share is shrinking as demographic turnover continues.

The recent increase in independent identification is partly attributable to younger generations of Americans (millennials and Generation X) continuing to identify as independents at relatively high rates as they have gotten older. In contrast, older generations of Americans have been less likely to identify as independents over time. Generation Z, like previous generations before them when they were young, identify disproportionately as political independents.

In 2025, majorities of Gen Z adults and millennials identified as political independents, as did more than four in 10 Gen X adults. One-third or less of baby boomers and Silent Generation adults were politically independent.

Some analysts rush to call this trend a Democratic advantage because many independents lean left. That interpretation is premature and often ignores on-the-ground realities. In cities and suburbs where Democrats have dominated, growing frustration with extreme cultural policy and mismanagement is visible among former loyalists, and that dissent can flip votes faster than pollsters expect.

I see this firsthand in liberal strongholds, where friends and family who once leaned left are increasingly uncomfortable defending party excesses. Complaints about relentless activism, a fixation on identity politics, and a lack of concrete proposals to improve daily life for working families are common. Even when critics praise certain policies out of practical necessity, admitting it often feels politically awkward for them.

Whichever party wants to win must persuade independents and the next wave of voters coming of age. That requires messages that meet people where they are, addressing cost-of-living pressures, public safety concerns, and access to opportunity. It also means avoiding the mistakes that have driven so many away from partisan labels in the first place.

Republicans are well positioned if they stick to policies that appeal broadly: lower taxes and fewer rules on small businesses, strong schools that teach fundamentals, and a secure border that restores confidence in government. These are tangible issues that resonate with voters who don’t want ideology—they want results that improve their lives.

Democrats can still win if they recalibrate, but their current trajectory risks alienating the moderate and working-class voters who decide close races. The political landscape is volatile, and the rise of independents means both parties must compete for hearts and minds rather than assume loyalty. That competition will shape the upcoming midterms and the direction of the country for years to come.

Editor’s Note: The Democrat Party has never been less popular as voters reject their extremist agenda.