New poll shows 45% of US voters identify as independents, shifting away from major political parties

"SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A growing share of Americans are distancing themselves from both major political parties, a trend that's reshaping the electoral landscape nationally and in California. A new Gallup survey found that 45% of U.S. adults now identify as political independents, the highest level recorded in Gallup's three decades of tracking voter affiliation. The trend accelerated over the past year, with the biggest spike coming from voters who lean Democratic."

"California is experiencing its own version of that realignment. No-party-preference voters are now nearly tied with registered Republicans statewide, according to data from the California Secretary of State's office. For roughly every six registered Republicans, the state has five independents - a ratio that has evolved over twenty years of slow but steady changes in party identification. Democrats, however, still dominate the state by a wide margin, outnumbering either group by roughly two-to-one."

"But even with Democrats' clear numerical advantage, East Bay political consultant Jim Ross says campaigns ignore independents at their own risk. "There's frustration with both parties," Ross said. "It's hard to figure out what you should say to them and how to communicate with them." Ross says voters choose the independent label for vastly different reasons. "Some people might be moderate or conservative but want to protect abortion rights," he said. "Others might be progressive but think the Democratic Party doesn't go far enough.""

A Gallup survey shows 45% of U.S. adults identify as political independents, the highest level in three decades, with the largest recent increase among Democratic-leaning voters. In California, no-party-preference voters nearly equal registered Republicans statewide, roughly five independents for every six Republicans after twenty years of gradual change. Democrats still outnumber both groups by about two-to-one. As of December, registrations included over 10.3 million Democrats, about 5.8 million Republicans, 5.2 million no-party voters, and 1.6 million other. Independents select the label for varied reasons, increasing their strategic importance under California's top-two open primary system.

Read at ABC7 San Francisco