A Majority of Young Voters Now Reject Both Parties

"The U.S. political system is currently experiencing previously unimaginable levels of partisan and ideological polarization. And at the same time, public disaffiliation with both major parties is reaching historic highs. Gallup has been conducting large-sample polls of partisan self-identification since the 1980s and now reports that a record 45 percent of Americans consider themselves political independents. Self-identified Democrats and Republicans each represent a dismal 27 percent."

"As recently as 2004, Democrats and Republicans were both at 34 percent of Americans, with 31 percent self-identifying as independent. This seemed normal and sustainable at the time. A long period of ideological "sorting out" between the two major parties (with liberals and conservatives joining their "natural" party and straight-ticket voting on the rise) had left them roughly equal in strength."

"But now independent self-identification is reaching levels that suggest something else is going on, and the trends may be intensifying. Gallup shows 54 percent of millennials and 56 percent of Gen-Zers are now calling themselves independents. To some extent, that reflects a perennial phenomenon; younger people typically show lower levels of political and civic engagement, often because they are moving frequently and are focused on completing educations and beginning careers and families."

The U.S. political system combines unprecedented partisan and ideological polarization with record public disaffiliation from both major parties. Gallup polling shows 45 percent of Americans now identify as political independents, while Democrats and Republicans each account for 27 percent. In 2004, both parties were 34 percent and independents 31 percent, a balance supported by ideological sorting and reliable partisan voting despite independent labels. Current trends show independent identification climbing and intensifying, with 54 percent of millennials and 56 percent of Gen-Zers identifying as independents. Younger adults often exhibit lower political engagement due to life-stage mobility, education, and early career priorities, but present disaffiliation exceeds past cohorts.

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