You know the common adage, we are more divided than ever, more partisan too.
Well, a growing number of Americans are just tuning out all the partisan noise, and a new Gallup poll proves that. 49% of Americans now identify as independent, as opposed to a dead heat of 25% for the Democratic Party and 25% for the Republican Party. In the middle of 2020, only 39% of voters identified themselves as independents in the same poll. This may spell slightly less than ideal news for the Democrats, as those identifying with their party dropped 3%, while the GOP identifiers only dropped a point.
Axios notes that the Gallup pollster said that youth caused the sharpest rise in political independence. Especially Generation Z, which was the most independent on the list out of any other age group.
Respondents said the reason they identify as independent is because of extremism displayed in both parties, no longer giving them a political home. The other reason is a deep distrust of political institutions previously held dear. Think the presidency, supreme court and congress.
This may spell good news for the Libertarian Party, America’s third biggest political party. While their nominee, Jo Jorgenson, only got 1% in the 2020 election, former Congressman Justin Amash is seriously considering a run for president under the Libertarian Party banner. While there are only half a million registered Libertarians within the US, their registration has seen a 92% spike in the last decade, and 23% of Americans generally identify themselves as having libertarian beliefs. With a qualified Congressman as their standard bearer, the Libertarian Party might just be able to make a few waves next year.
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