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

https://abc7news.com/post/poll-record-number-americans-now-identify-
political-independents-shifting-away-democrat-republican-parties/18530800/

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.

As of December, more than 10.3 million voters are registered as Democrats, 
with about 5.8 million registered as Republicans and 5.2 million as no 
party and 1.6 selecting "other."

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."

Why independents matter even more in California's "top two" system
California's open primary rules heighten the influence of voters outside 
the parties. Under the "top two" system, candidates advance to the 
November ballot only by finishing among the two highest votegetters - 
regardless of party.

That means campaigns often need coalitions that cut across traditional 
partisan lines.

Ross says the surge in leftleaning independents highlights a gap in 
California's stillforming 2026 gubernatorial race.

"There's no Mamdani in the race," he said, referring to New York City's 
progressive new mayor. "Finding a path in this race is something a lot of 
candidates are still trying to figure out."

With independent voters now comprising one of the most dynamic - and 
unpredictable - segments of the electorate, both parties may face a 
challenge: courting a growing bloc that increasingly wants something 
different from what either side is offering.


-- 
November 5, 2024 - Congratulations President Donald Trump.  We look 
forward to America being great again.

We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that 
stupid people won't be offended.

Every day is an IQ test. Some pass, some, not so much.

Thank you for cleaning up the disasters of the 2008-2017, 2020-2024 Obama 
/ Biden / Harris fiascos, President Trump.

Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the 
The World According To Garp.  Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood 
queer liberal democrat donors.