A growing share of Americans are choosing not to align themselves formally with either major political party, according to new Gallup data from 2025. The findings point to a record-high level of political independence among U.S. adults, alongside subtle but meaningful shifts in how these independents lean when asked to choose between Democrats and Republicans. Taken together, the data offer a snapshot of an electorate that is both skeptical of the two-party system and still influenced by it.
In surveys conducted throughout 2025, 45 percent of American adults identified themselves as political independents. This represents an increase from 43 percent in both 2024 and 2023, and from 41 percent in 2022. The new figure also surpasses the previous record of 43 percent, last seen in 2014. While the increase may appear modest, it reinforces a long-running trend. For more than 15 years, independents have consistently made up the largest single group of voters, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with both major parties and with partisan politics more broadly.
At the same time, the proportions of Americans identifying as Democrats or Republicans have remained remarkably stable in recent years. Since 2022, roughly equal shares have aligned with each party. In 2025, 27 percent identified as Republican and 27 percent as Democrat. The numbers were similarly close in prior years, fluctuating by only one percentage point. This balance suggests that neither party has managed to significantly expand its base of formal identifiers, even as public debates and political polarization have intensified.
However, the story does not end with how Americans label themselves. Some independents, when asked follow-up questions, indicate that they lean toward one party more than the other. These leanings often matter as much as formal party identification, especially in elections. In 2025, Democratic-leaning independents outnumbered Republican-leaning independents by five percentage points. This represents a reversal from the previous three years, during which independents were slightly more inclined to lean Republican.
Several factors may help explain why independence continues to rise even as partisan leanings fluctuate. Many voters express frustration with partisan gridlock, negative campaigning, and a sense that neither party fully represents their views. For some, identifying as independent signals openness or pragmatism rather than strict ideological neutrality. Others may see it as a way to distance themselves from increasingly polarized party labels, even if their voting behavior still aligns more often with one side.
It is also important to note that identifying as an independent does not necessarily mean disengagement from politics. Independent voters often participate in elections at high rates and can play a decisive role, particularly in closely contested races. Because they are less bound by party loyalty, shifts in their preferences can quickly alter the political landscape.
The Gallup survey underlying these findings was conducted throughout 2025 and included interviews with 13,454 adults. With a margin of error of one percentage point, the results provide a reliable overview of national trends rather than precise predictions for any single election.
Overall, the data suggest an American electorate that is increasingly resistant to firm partisan identities. Independence continues to grow as a self-description, while partisan leanings remain fluid. For political leaders and parties, this combination presents both a challenge and an opportunity: winning elections may depend less on energizing a fixed base and more on appealing to a large and shifting group of voters who are skeptical, attentive, and not easily categorized.
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