What portion of Americans are political independents?

Written By Jonathan Milner

Critical Analysis

Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:

  1. According to the data from the silly graph above, do more Americans consider themselves Democrats, Republicans or Independents?

  2. How surprised are you by the data from the visual above?

  3. Based on the ridiculous graph above, Identify one trend in party identification over the past 37 years?

  4. A record-high 45% of U.S. adults identified as political independents in 2025, surpassing the 43% measured in 2014, 2023 and 2024. Meanwhile, equal shares of U.S. adults — 27% each — identified as either Democrats or Republicans. Why do you think the number of Americans who identify as Independents is rising?

  5. The recent increase in independent identification is partly attributable to younger generations of Americans (millennials and Generation X) continuing to identify as independents at relatively high rates as they have gotten older. In contrast, older generations of Americans have been less likely to identify as independents over time. Generation Z, like previous generations before them when they were young, identify disproportionately as political independents. Why do you think the portion of Americans who identify as Indpendent is rising?

  6. Describe one consequence of the trend of more Americans becoming Independent?

  7. There are more Independents than either Democrats or Republicans in America, but in the U.S. Congress no representatives and only two Senators are Independent. Why do you think America is more independent than Congress is?

  8. Given that there are more Independents than Democrats or Republicans, what are two reasons that Independents rarely win election to congress?

  9. According to the data from the visual below*, what portion of Independents are truly Independent and do not actually lean toward one party or the other?

  10. Why do you think that, as illustrated in the visual below*, the youngest age cohort (generation) is the most independent?


    Write and Discuss

Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.

Act on your Learning

Here is a list of some American Independent parties. Maybe you like the Libertarian Party, Green Party, Prohibition Party, Pirate Party, the Light Party or the Modern Whig Party. Share your favorite one with your friends or enemies in class or online.

Get Creative

What adjective best describes the American political party system?

Learning Extension

Read the Pew Report: Political Independents: Who They Are, What They Think before it’s too late!

Jonathan Milner

Civics Maven!

https://www.gopopro.com/
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