politics
CNN Poll: 47% of Americans Identify as Independents, 27% as Democrats, 26% as Republicans
A May 2026 CNN/SSRS survey of 2,480 adults shows independents at their highest share in more than a decade, with Republicans losing ground among registered voters and younger adults.
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A CNN survey conducted by SSRS from May 7–31, 2026, found that 47% of Americans now identify as independents. The poll of 2,480 adults nationwide showed Democrats at 27% and Republicans at 26%. 7 percentage points.
Com reported. Among registered voters, 41% identified as independents, 31% as Democrats and 28% as Republicans.
The decline in Republican identification since 2024 has been concentrated among younger voters. Just 17% of voters under age 45 now call themselves Republicans, down from 26% in 2024. Democratic identification among that group held roughly steady at 33%, while 50% said they belonged to neither party.
When independents who lean toward a party are included, 39% of Americans align with Democrats and 37% align with Republicans. Twenty-five percent do not lean toward either party even after being asked to choose. Independents skew younger than partisans.
Sixty-three percent are under age 50, compared with 52% of Democrats and 38% of Republicans. Twenty-five percent of independents say they frequently seek out the latest political news.
Nearly half report annual household income below $50,000. The survey was written by CNN polling director Jennifer Agiesta with contributions from Ariel Edwards-Levy and Edward Wu.
