Nearly half of Americans now identify as political independents rather than members of either major party, marking the highest level of partisan independence recorded in more than a decade.
A new CNN poll conducted by SSRS found that 47% of respondents consider themselves independents, a figure that has climbed roughly 10 percentage points since the end of President Donald Trump's first term. The number approaches the modern high-water mark of 48% recorded by CNN polling in 2015.
According to the survey, Democrats account for 27% of Americans while Republicans make up 26%, leaving independents as the largest political grouping in the country. Although many independent voters lean toward one party, the broader electorate remains remarkably balanced. When partisan leanings are included, 39% align more closely with Democrats, 37% with Republicans, and 25% say they do not lean toward either side.
The results suggest a notable shift away from the Republican Party since the 2024 election cycle, particularly among registered voters. The new poll found that 31% of registered voters identify as Democrats and 28% as Republicans, while 41% say they belong to neither party.
That marks a significant change from 2024, when Republicans held a three-point advantage among registered voters, with 34% identifying as Republicans, 31% as Democrats, and 35% as independents.
The movement away from the GOP appears especially pronounced among younger voters, men, and White voters without college degrees, demographics that have been central to Republican electoral success in recent years.
Among voters younger than 45, only 17% now identify as Republicans, down sharply from 26% in 2024. Yet Democrats have not been the primary beneficiaries of that shift. Democratic identification among younger voters has remained relatively stable at 33%, while fully half of voters under 45 now describe themselves as independent.
A similar pattern emerged among young men and White voters without college degrees, suggesting that frustration with the Republican Party is not automatically translating into increased support for Democrats.
Demographically, independents tend to be younger than Democrats or Republicans. Nearly two-thirds, 63%, are under age 50, compared with 52% of Democrats and just 38% of Republicans.
They also occupy a middle ground geographically. Forty percent of independents say they live in cities or urban areas, compared with 28% of Republicans and 49% of Democrats.
Economically, independents are somewhat more likely to report lower household incomes. Nearly half say they earn less than $50,000 annually, a higher share than among members of either major party.
Only 67% of independents say they are registered to vote, compared with more than 80% of Democrats and Republicans. Just one-quarter report frequently seeking out political news, reinforcing the idea that many independents are less engaged in day-to-day political debates than partisan voters.
The CNN poll surveyed 2,480 adults nationwide between May 7 and May 31 using a combination of online and telephone interviews. The survey carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points.
