The news is mixed for Republicans as Gallup provides new insight on the political parties with which Americans are identifying, or, increasingly, not identifying.

Gallup found that only 25% of Americans now identify with the Republican Party when given the choice of Republican, Democrat or independent. This is a lower number than we have seen at any time since 1988. Self-identified independents have risen to a new high of 42%. Democrats are in between at 31%.

We can expect the predictable take from those within the party to explain the decline. Many conservatives will argue the decline is because elected officials don’t follow “the platform” and “don’t stand for anything.” Moderates will claim the decline is because the party has become “too conservative” and has “lost the center.”

Gallup suggests both arguments miss the mark.

“The rise in political independence is likely an outgrowth of Americans’ record or near-record negative views of the two major U.S. parties, of Congress, and their low level of trust in government more generally,” says… Read More