Nearly half of Americans now identify as political independents rather than members of either major party, according to a new CNN poll, marking the highest level of partisan independence recorded by the network in more than a decade.
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The survey found that 47% of Americans consider themselves independents, an increase of roughly 10 percentage points since the period following President Donald Trump's first term. The figure is close to the previous high of 48% recorded in CNN polling during 2015.
Shift Away From Party Labels
Democrats and Republicans divide the rest of the population almost evenly. The poll found that 27% of Americans identify as Democrats and 26% as Republicans.
Many independents, however, still lean toward one of the two major parties. When those partisan leanings are taken into account, 39% align more closely with Democrats, 37% with Republicans, and 25% say they do not lean toward either side.
Even when respondents who initially expressed no preference were asked to choose a side, the electorate remained closely divided, underscoring the narrow political balance in the United States.
CNN's polling shows neither party has maintained a significant advantage in overall identification since 2021, when Democrats held a six-point lead. Since then, the gap between the two parties has remained at about one percentage point each year.
Registered Voters Show GOP Decline
Among registered voters, Democrats now hold a slight edge. The poll found that 31% identify as Democrats, compared with 28% who identify as Republicans, while 41% say they belong to neither party.
That represents a notable change from 2024, when 34% of registered voters identified as Republicans, 31% as Democrats and 35% as independents.
The findings suggest Republicans have lost some ground among voters since last year's election cycle, potentially adding to concerns for the party ahead of the midterm elections as Trump's approval ratings have weakened.
Younger Voters Driving Independence
Several demographic groups have moved away from Republican identification since 2024, including younger voters, men and White voters without college degrees.
Among voters under 45, only 17% now identify as Republicans, down from 26% in 2024. Democratic identification among that group has remained largely unchanged at 33%, while half now say they do not belong to either party.
Similar trends were observed among men, particularly younger men, and among White voters without college degrees, with many shifting toward independent status rather than switching directly to the Democratic Party.
Independents Less Engaged Politically
The poll also highlights key differences between independents and partisan voters.
Independents tend to be younger, with 63% under the age of 50, compared with 52% of Democrats and 38% of Republicans. They are also more likely than Republicans to live in urban areas, though less likely than Democrats to do so.
Income levels among independents are generally lower, with nearly half reporting annual household earnings below $50,000.
Politically, independents appear less engaged than partisans. Only 67% are registered to vote, compared with more than 80% of Democrats and Republicans. Just one-quarter say they regularly seek out political news.
Poll Methodology
The CNN poll was conducted by SSRS between May 7 and May 31 among 2,480 adults nationwide using online and telephone interviews. Participants were selected through address-based sampling and random cellphone number sampling. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 17 June 2026
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